Circular logo with the word 'ARCHIVE' in uppercase navy blue letters in the center, surrounded by a black line and a green outer ring.
A graphic design with a tractor and banners containing the words "Engineering Educates," "Farmvention," and "Challenge," highlighting themes of engineering, innovation in farming, and agricultural challenges.

Engineering Educates builds on the success of the award-winning Greater Manchester Engineering Challenge launched in 2018 by the University of Manchester’s Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH).

Designed and run in partnership with leading STEM sector organisations and charities, the campaign offers primary and secondary teachers with ready-to-use resources that are learner-focused, inclusive and non-competitive. A perfect response to making real links between Science, Design & Technology, Maths and Computer Science.

Every two years the challenge focus changes. This archive provides teachers with direct access to resources developed for previous campaigns. All are open access for use.

The Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge was launched in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union in 2022. All resources are archived here for downloading.

The resources involve 3 different pathways tailored to inspire 7-14 year olds to think as engineers in the context of British farming. Each pathway includes sequences of five curriculum-linked sessions. Learners apply their knowledge and skills from maths, science, design technology and computing and are written by teachers-for teachers.

The pathways lead learners through the Engineering Design Cycle with links to contemporary issues related to environmental sustainability. When thinking and working as engineers, learners solve problems that are true to the challenges farms face, with ample opportunity for creativity, imagination and teamwork.

Circular infographic illustrating the engineering design process in agriculture, including steps: Farmers identify problems, share with engineers, engineers research and develop solutions, collaborate and create prototypes, test and gather evidence, use data to improve. Each step is represented with icons and illustrations of farmers, engineers, and technology.
Infographic showing the UK Schools Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge. Highlights include 1,274 UK schools, 61 engineers and farmers matched with schools, and 128,350 children aged 7-14 involved. 112 schools joined NFU live webinars with questions for farmers, and over 3,000 pupils attended webinars. Curriculum areas include science, math, design and technology, and computing. Features sustainable development goals and international reach, with quotes from teachers, and a TV set display about sharing agricultural innovations on BBC Countryfile. The background depicts a farm scene with farmers, crops, wind turbines, and farm animals.

Choosing a pathway for your learners

Pathways are age related:

Age 7 - 9 years: Cattle Carers
Age 9-11 years: Soil Defenders
Age 11-14 years: Sustainable Farming

Illustration of a hand holding a handful of grains with wheat stalks in the background, surrounded by text emphasizing organic wheat.

7-9 years

Learners are introduced to British farming, with particular focus on arable farming.
They create 3D models, develop and test prototypes and use micro:bits to automate their designs.

Age 9-11 years

Learners explore and create solutions to improve cattle health and living conditions, focusing on uses on British dairy farming.
They create and automate 3D models to improve communication between animals and farmers.

What’s been the impact?

A logo for 'Cattle Carers' featuring a black background, a green circular border, and a stylized cow grazing on green grass inside the circle.

Age 11 - 14 years

Learners explore the environmental impact of farming and investigate how to balance the emission of greenhouse gases and its removal. A key feature of this challenge is sustainability on British farms. They design and create solutions for farms of the future.

A logo with a hand holding a reusable grocery bag filled with vegetables, and the words 'Sustainable Farms' above in green text.
Diagram titled 'Soil Defender Challenge' showing five sessions of a curriculum for 7-9 year olds related to soil and farming, aligned with STEM, including segments on asking questions, imagining and planning, creating, and improving, with illustrations and an outdoor farm scene at the bottom.
An educational poster titled 'Cattle Carers Challenge' shows a curriculum aligned with STEM for 9-11-year-olds, including sessions on British farming, cattle climate, calf playtime, mechanisms for living, and cow Fitbit. The poster features a science corridor with illustrations of fields, farmers, farming equipment, and wind turbines.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of activity and impact from the Engineering Educates Farmvention campaign. By drawing directly on issues raised by NFU members, the campaign focused on creating opportunities for 7-14 year old pupils to investigate the issues challenging UK farming communities with an engineering mindset.

3 separate pathways focused on the technological developments revolutionising agriculture and enabling farmers to make increasingly accurate data driven decisions. This sought to address the fact that too often practical school science learning is superficial and lacks depth, with pupils engaged in prescriptive practical work that lacks purpose (Bianchi et al, 2021).

Infographic titled 'Sustainable Farming Challenge' shows a flowchart of engineering design process steps, aligned with STEM curriculum for grades 11-14. It includes stages: Ask, Imagine & Plan, Create, and Improve. The process connects to topics like Sustainable Farms, Asking about Farming & Agriculture Engineering, Finding a balance, Sustainable Growing Challenge, Big Machines Challenge, and Environmental Monitoring Challenge. STEM areas include Mathematics, Science, Design Technology, and Computing. Background features illustrations of farms, technology, and people working outdoors.
Cover page of the legacy report for the Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge, featuring a farm landscape with people, cows, and wind turbines, and multiple organization logos at the bottom.