Primary challenges (ages 3-11)


Typically completed by 3-11 year olds, CREST Star and SuperStar challenges relate to everyday experiences. Children complete eight activities to gain a CREST Award, with each activity taking between 45 minutes and one hour to complete.

The activities are designed to be easy-to-run and low-cost. You don’t need to be a teacher, have a science background or have access to specialist equipment to run them. The packs contain helpful hints and tips for you to use, explaining the scientific themes and offering guidance on conversation topics for your children.

There are more CREST approved resources that have been developed by our partners and providers specific to your region.


To browse the packs, click the buttons below or scroll down.

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All Star challenges

  • Text
  • Cosmic
  • Materials
  • Association
  • Registered
  • Stella
  • Plants
  • Encourage
  • Astro
  • Timers
  • Rainbow

Scrap Yard Scraps

Scrap Yard Scraps Activity Card It’s a cold winter’s day. Cosmic and Gem are at the car scrap yard with their Aunt Stella. She is looking for a new motor to make her wiper blades work. There are parts of cars piled everywhere around the yard. “Where could it be going with that?” she wonders. “Come and look Cosmic,” she whispers as she peers down the hole where the mouse has gone. “Do you think all those things will keep it warm?” asks Gem. “I don’t know,” replies Cosmic. “Let’s find out,” says Gem. SCRAP YARD SCRAPS “I wonder how I will find anything in all this mess?” asks Aunt Stella. But Gem couldn’t wait to find out. In amongst all the wrecks, she spots a tiny, weenie mouse carrying a big piece of sponge from an old car seat. There they can see a big pile of scrap yard scraps that the mouse has collected – fabric, sponge, strips of bubble wrap, parts of old carrier bags, fluffy scraps of wool, pieces of foil and old newspaper. Have you ever tried keeping things warm? What did you use? Your challenge Find out if the materials found in the scrap yard will keep the mouse warm.

Discuss Talk to your buddy about how you will find out which is the best material for a warm mouse nest. SCRAP YARD SCRAPS Getting started SCRAP Choose YARD some SCRAPS materials. You could wrap them round little plastic bottles filled with warm water or round warm potatoes. What will you use to measure the temperature? You could test with your hands or you could use a thermometer. How can you make sure the test is fair Test your ideas Can you think of anything else you would like to try? Share your ideas Draw a picture of the mouse in its nest using the materials you have chosen. Extra things to do Find out if the materials are soft enough for a mouse nest. Do they need to be waterproof? Find out what animals use to keep warm? Do all animals gather scraps? British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236

Star level

Collections of one hour challenges recommended for children aged 3-7 years that relate to children’s everyday experiences. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the CREST Star page.


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SuperStar level


Collections of one hour challenges recommended for children aged 7-11 years that relate to broader situations that children are likely to have come across. Find out more about this level and how to gain a CREST Award on the CREST SuperStar page.


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