Design & Make

Try a science experiment or find something to design and make with these downloadable resources.

Ahoy There!

Get creative and make your own signal flags to fly in your window.

Brunel & Shakespeare

Brunel was a big fan of Shakespeare. Create your own masterpiece like one of Brunel’s Shakespeare inspired paintings.

Create a Portrait

Sophia Hawes, Brunel’s sister, was a talented portrait painter. Why not try drawing your own portrait?

Create a Work of Art

Brunel drew this horse when he was only 6! Now it’s your turn to create a work of art.

Decorate a Shell

Engraved seashells were popular in Victorian times. What would you draw on a shell?

Design A Dessert

Design a dessert fit for a Victorian dining room table.

Design & Make A Bridge

Become an engineer like Brunel and design your own Bridge to cross the Avon Gorge.

Great Exhibition

Thousands of people visited the Great Exhibition in 1851. What would you put in a Great Exhibition for the 21st century?

Make A Paper Peepshow

Get creative and make your own pocket size world to peer into using this paper peepshow.

Make a Sextant

Make and use a sextant so you can find out your latitude, perfect for a starry night.

Make A Ship’s Biscuit

Bake your own ship’s biscuit – warning – not very tasty!

Make a Thaumatrope

Make your own Victorian toy!

My Museum

What would you put in a museum to represent you?

Renkioi Hospital

Create a paper hospital ward

Setting Sail

Make a paper sailing ship and see how quickly you can get it to sail along a table.

Shadow Puppets

Make your own show with shadow puppets!

Trap A Rat

Rats were a huge problem on board the ship, can you help by designing a rat trap?

What’s for Dinner?

Use a menu from a Victorian voyage to plan a meal to eat onboard the SS Great Britain

Why does the SS Great Britain have holes in it?

Become a scientist and discover what happens to metal in water.

Why Do Ships Float

Ever wondered how metal ships float?