CREST Star is a UK-wide award scheme enabling children, usually aged 5 - 11, to solve science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) problems through practical investigation.

Launched in 2007 CREST Star is used in over 3000 primary and special educational needs schools across the UK as well as several international schools overseas.

Our activities focus on a mixture of hands-on practical work and discussion, encouraging children to work independently of adults. They are designed to be used in a club, in lessons, or outside of school. You don't need a science background or even to be a teacher to run them. Full notes are provided as part of the resources including a list of everything you need to for the activity.

Many of the activities can be used to support home schooling and are suitable for individuals. As well as a choice of investigations for each award, club organisers can also choose activities from a variety of accredited partners either by visiting a science centre, downloading activities from the web, or booking an outreach visit.

"The CREST Star resources have  been used to run clubs, teach whole class sessions and much more with great success. The breadth of access to teachers and young people through this project is impressive." - Sue Williams - AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust

The awards

CREST Star has three awards:

• Star (usually ages 5-7) - 8 investigations
• SuperStar (usually ages 7-9) - 12 investigations
• MegaStar (usually ages 9-11) - 3 projects

Star and Superstar activities last approximately 1 hour. MegaStar projects are made up of 3 linked activities and require around 5 hours per project.

As children progress through the awards there is increased emphasis on independent working. Download some activities.

Guiding principles

The CREST Star scheme has five guiding principles:

• solve a relevant, science-based problem, set within a context
• work in pairs or small groups, independently of adults
• take part in practical, hands-on science activities
• think and talk about science
• share ideas using a variety of media

Running a CREST Star club

You don't need to be a teacher or have a science background to run a CREST Star club.

AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust have developed a CPD unit that introduces science clubs and the benefits of running a science club. It aims to give ideas on how science clubs can be run successfully in a number of different ways and how a typical science club session is run.

The unit provides examples of activities to run and places that you can go for ideas and help. Watch the CPD unit online.

How to register

To register for the CREST Star scheme contact your local coordinator.

For international orders please contact us by email at creststar@britishscienceassociation.org or call our head office on +44 (0)20 70194943.