ULTIMATE STEM CHALLENGE
STUDENT RESOURCE
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ULTIMATE STEM CHALLENGE 2021 : A HOME FOR NATURE
Take part in bp ’ s challenge to help improve biodiversity – and win prizes for yourself and your school .
THE CHALLENGE
We rely on the intricate balance between animals and plants to provide us with all the things we need to survive and thrive on Earth , but with animal and plant species in decline all over the world , that balance is in danger .
So , this year , the BP Educational Service Ultimate STEM Challenge invites young people across the UK to come up with a design for an amazing wild area that includes natural and technical solutions for improving biodiversity in school grounds , at home or in the community and helps to tackle the decline in our native wildlife .
Who is it for ?
The challenge is open to 9- to 14-year-olds across the UK . Entries will be judged in two categories : age 9-11 ( KS2 ) and age 11-14 ( KS3 ). Students may enter as individuals or teams of three to four .
Prizes
A winner will be chosen from each age category , as well as an overall challenge winner . The overall winner will receive a £ 3,000 prize to spend on creating their home for nature , while the category winners will receive £ 1,000 each .
Terms and conditions apply .
HOW TO ENTER
It ’ s easy ! Pupils simply need to :
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Find out as much as they can about biodiversity , why it matters and how it can be improved .
Get creative and come up with a design for a wild area that uses natural and technical solutions to provide a home for nature and maintains and improves biodiversity in their local area .
Record their ideas as a sketch , plan or labelled diagram , on the entry form , or even create a painting or computer model .
How long will it take ?
A maximum of two to three hours ( over two lessons ) in the classroom and a 15-to 20-minute homework task .
Deadline and submission
The competition closes Wednesday 3rd March 2021 .
Entries can be submitted by : Email : bpusc @ nationalschoolspartnership . com Fax : 020 7509 6651
Freepost : We Are Futures , Ultimate STEM Challenge , 1-2 Paris Garden , London , SE1 8ND
SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Everything you need is available to download at bp . com / bpes and includes :
• Kick-off biodiversity video lesson : Wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan introduces your pupils to the challenge . She then explains the concept of biodiversity , helps them find out why we all need to care about it , and inspires them to improve it , by showing them the amazing things people are doing all over the world .
• Delivery guide : Everything you need to deliver the lessons and homework tasks and prepare and to inspire your pupils for the challenge .
• About biodiversity activity sheet : To record what pupils have learned in the video lesson .
• Homework task sheet : Support pupils as they research the decline of biodiversity in their local community , find potential sites for their home for nature and collect ideas for their design .
• Entry form : To record and explain each home for nature .
• Freepost label : Submit your entries free of charge .
Curriculum links
The Ultimate STEM Challenge supports students to develop their
skills and knowledge in several curriculum areas including science ( interactions and interdependencies , relationships in an ecosystem ), geography ( human and physical processes , environment , climate , human activities and natural systems ), design and technology / technologies and computing .
Taking part will help your students use their scientific knowledge and understanding to create natural and technological solutions and can also help students develop :
• scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding when finding out about interdependence and biodiversity , its importance , reasons for its decline and how we can improve it
• the scientific knowledge required to understand the implications of science , today and for the future
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essential skills : listening , speaking , problem-solving , creativity , staying positive , aiming high , leadership and teamwork .
Why is it worth spending time on this in school ?
• Teach about the hot topic of biodiversity and inspire your students with something they really care about .
• High quality , curriculum-linked resources support objectives in science , geography , design and technology and computing curricula .
• Help your students discover why biodiversity is in the news and understand how it links to climate change , sustainability and the future of our planet .