Our Discovery Boxes have been curated to give teachers access to artefacts and materials that woud otherwise be difficult to source, in order to bring the materials, minerals and mining topics in the secondary school curriculum to life.
Using the contents of the box will help you to put the materials topics in the curriculum into context and show students how materials have helped to change the technology that we rely on every day.
What is in a Discovery Box?
For over 25 years schools have had access to presentations which feature a large collection of artefacts and materials. As much as possible the contents of the boxes mirror those that have successfully been used in schools for many years to bring the materials topics in the curriculum to life and highlight the importance of materials science and engineering to society.
Examples of materials include: smart materials (e.g. thermochromic polymers, shape memory alloys, quantum tunnelling composite), samples of a wide range of polymers including recycled materials, samples of a range of metals and alloys which are all the same size to allow easy comparison, examples from aerospace, medicine and communication-related applications, examples of modern materials such as carbon fibre composite, Kevlar, nano-coated materials and silicone and examples of traditional and functional textiles. It is envisaged that the collections will continue to grow and evolve as new samples are acquired.
The physical samples are accompanied by a comprehensive package of support literature including Power Point presentations and detailed notes about each of the samples. Ideas for activities that can be done with the samples will be developed in conjunction with teachers on an ongoing basis.
How do I borrow a Discovery Box?
The Discovery Boxes are available to IOM3 School Affiliate Service subscribers. In addition to these handling collections, subscribing to this free service also provides access to a wide range of other resources to support your teaching, including online subject knowledge enhancement literature, teacher CPD events and activities for young people. If you are not already a subscriber, you can sign up here.
If you would like to borrow a box please complete the booking form by clicking on the link below. We will then get in touch with a booking contract and invoice for your loan. Please check that the box will be covered by your school insurance for the duration of the booking.
How long can I borrow a box for?
Is there a charge to borrow a box?
Our fee for delivering and collecting the box will depend on your location and is typically around £100, this includes the courier charge and a small admin fee. Once you have submitted your booking form we will get in touch to confirm the fee.
If the box is returned to us with samples damaged, broken or missing we reserve the right to charge up to £400 for their repair or replacement.
The IOM3 Education & Outreach Trust offers STEM Intervention Access grants of up to £350 and we welcome applications for grants to fund the Discovery Boxes.
How will I get the box?
If you would like to book a Discovery Box, please click below and complete our simple booking form.
Get in touch to check availability before booking or find out about our other initiatives for schools.
Find out more about how the IOM3 Education & Outreach Trust can provide funding for your school.
