About EngQuest

What started over ten years ago as a simple idea to provide one engineering project suitable for primary aged students, has now expanded into a fun, hands-on, problem-solving learning program, offering eleven exciting projects for lower primary, primary and middle years students across Australia.

EngQuest, an initiative of Engineers Australia, is delivered FREE of charge to Australian schools, and, amazingly, had more than 40,000 students participate in 2011.

Lower primary, primary and middle years students work in teams, at their own pace, applying their problem-solving skills to designing, constructing and unravelling exciting engineering projects.

Would you and your students like to construct a catchment or a water wheel? Why not try building a bridge using straws, or even a giant newspaper dome large enough to accommodate the entire class?

Dedicated EngQuest representatives are available to provide you with ongoing support throughout the program. They will also attempt to help you find an engineer to visit your school (please be aware that this is not always possible).

EngQuest is great fun for all involved!

The EngQuest website has everything you need

This bright, fun and highly-interactive website has been built to support you with your EngQuest projects. The website is easy to use and navigate and includes many exciting features.

Teachers' access to the following resources and projects is available as soon as you register:

• Primary and middle years students have the following choice of 11 projects:

  • Rebuild a community
  • Construct a solar cooker
  • Construct a water wheel
  • Construct a catchment
  • Construct a catapult
  • Construct a lifting machine
  • Construct a pull-along toy
  • Construct a straw bridge
  • Construct a newspaper dome
  • Construct a model house
  • Publish a book

• The choice of seven projects for lower primary students is also exciting. They can:

  • Rebuild a community
  • Construct a solar cooker
  • Construct a water wheel
  • Construct a catchment
  • Construct a catapult
  • Construct a straw bridge
  • Publish a book
• Every project has easy-to-follow instructions, background information and accompanying cross-curricular lesson ideas and student activity sheets.
• Projects include direct links to the Australian Curriculum Science and/or Mathematics learning areas where appropriate.
• Every participating student receives a gift and a colourful merit certificate!
• Interactives that are ideal for use on IWBs, either for introducing a project or for review.
• Students can discuss their projects and ask questions via the 'Ask an engineer' forum.
• You can quickly and easily request a visit from an engineer to your school (Please be aware that this depends on the availability and location of volunteer engineers).
• Students have their very own fun and colourful section of the EngQuest website.

What teachers are saying about EngQuest...

EngQuest teachers were surveyed and:

• 98% of participating teachers surveyed stated that EngQuest had helped their students achieve curriculum outcomes in maths, science and technology,
• 96% of those surveyed stated that the teacher background information and resources available were very useful,
• 90% of those surveyed stated they were likely to participate in EngQuest again in the future.

Teacher testimonials

"EngQuest really got us thinking and had everyone actively involved at all times. Students simply collected recyclable materials for use in this project. Although there were a few sceptics at the beginning, our resulting simple machines surprised and amazed us all! What a great program!"
Kate Seyer, Ringwood North Primary School, VIC
 

"A challenging task that was something different and fun, and as one of my students said, 'This is cool; it's great we are not doing school work and the time goes really quickly.' How fantastic, school tasks that are considered fun by my students!!!"
Jacqueline Woodcock, Mabel Park State School, QLD
 

"From the moment my students were introduced to EngQuest, they were hooked. Many logged on to the website at home to watch the interactive home page and find out more about the challenge. The hands-on nature of the program has captured the students' imaginations. The different topics have provided a variety of choices for my students, making it appealing to both the boys and girls who were participating. Finally, this program has enabled the 'building of bridges' between students who normally find it difficult to work together - the process of planning, designing and implementing has facilitated some great lessons in cooperative learning."
Jane Bollum, Southern Highlands Christian School, NSW

Involve your students in EngQuest today - it's easy!

Step 1

Register FREE to access all the project instructions and supporting educational resource material.

Step 2

If you are new to EngQuest, read the 'Getting started' section of this website (once registered you will have access to this) and select an EngQuest project.

Step 3

Encourage your students to visit the EngQuest website to read the background information on their project.

Step 4

Organise students into 'engineering teams' (groups of three are ideal) to begin work on their project.

Step 5

Provide access for your students to the 'Ask an engineer' forum and perhaps put in a request online for an engineer to visit your school.

Step 6 - when finished

When finished the project, complete the short online 'Completion Form' to ensure your students receive their merit certificates and participation gift. You can even submit photographs or videos of students' work to Engineers Australia to display your students' achievements.