Educational resources - Drax

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  1. Drax Virtual Tours
  2. Key Stage 2 tour videos
  3. Key Stage 3 tour videos
  4. Cruachan Virtual Tour
  5. Indoor Ted from Drax
  6. STEM challenges
  7. Electricity explained
  8. Drax frequently asked questions (FAQs)
  9. History
  10. Recent news and announcements
  11. Contact Us
  12. Back to top
Educational resources

Educational resources

Educational outreach is the central focus for the visitor centre teams at Drax Power Station, North Yorkshire and also at our Scottish sites, Cruachan pumped-hydro Power Station and Tongland Power Station. Usually we show thousands of visitors around these sites each year explaining how we make electricity. However, whilst this is currently not possible, please find a number of videos, stories and activities created by our teams to help development during these unprecedented times. Our virtual tours have been split into two series, distinguishing between primary and secondary school levels, whilst our website articles are more suitable for older children, further education students and adults.

Drax Virtual Tours

Unfortunately, at the moment we can’t accept visitors at the power station, but we’re delighted to share parts of the tour and process with you.

We created the first series of virtual tours to be aimed at Key Stage 2 – primary level (7-11 years old). This was then followed with a second series aimed at Key Stage 3 – secondary level (11-14 years old). The sessions are a mixture of information and science on how we make electricity at the power station. They cover a range of topics from the type of fuel we use and why to how the electricity gets to your home.

Each series is in eight parts, which can be watched separately or in sequence and cover:

Series One (Key Stage 2):

Series Two (Key Stage 3):

We hope you enjoy watching. To read further, please take a look at our ‘electricity explained’, Drax FAQs series and history stories, which explore several of the same topics covered in the virtual tours.

Key Stage 2 tour videos

  • Biomass and the Carbon Cycle [Key Stage 2 - Part 1 of 8]

  • Transportation [Key Stage 2 - Part 2 of 8]

  • Biomass Storage Domes [Key Stage 2 - Part 3 of 8]

  • Pulverising Mills [Key Stage 2 - Part 4 of 8]

  • Boilers [Key Stage 2 - Part 5 of 8]

  • Turbines [Key Stage 2 - Part 6 of 8]

  • Generators [Key Stage 2 - Part 7 of 8]

  • Transformers and The National Grid [Key Stage 2 - Part 8 of 8]

Key Stage 3 tour videos

  • BECCS [Key Stage 3 - Part 1 of 8]

  • Power Generation and Transmission [Key Stage 3 - Part 2 of 8]

  • Pulverising Mills and Efficiency [Key Stage 3 - Part 3 of 8]

  • Boilers [Key Stage 3 - Part 4 of 8]

  • Cooling Towers - [Key Stage 3 – Part 5 of 8]

  • Condensers [Key Stage 3 - Part 6 of 8]

  • Biomass and the Carbon Cycle [Key Stage 3 - Part 7 of 8]

  • Generators [Key Stage 3 - Part 8 of 8]

Cruachan Virtual Tour

Indoor Ted from Drax

An online educational resource for parents, teachers and students from Drax and Outdoor Ted created to support the curriculum during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) lockdown. The STEM challenges are designed for children but can be enjoyed by all the family at home!

View on Medium

STEM challenges

  • Paper Chain Challenge

  • Grow a Rainbow!

  • Farfetched Flying Gliders

  • The Strength of Shapes!

  • The Tin-Foil Boat Challenge!

  • Extraordinary Eggs

  • Grow your own Apple tree

  • Puzzling pictures

  • Marvellous Minibeasts

  • Strength of Shapes — Part II!

  • Make your own lava lamp

  • Water Cycle in a Bag

  • Leak proof bags

  • The Strength of Shapes — Part III

  • Seeking Sunlight!

  • Balancing Act!

  • Marble Run

Electricity explained

  • Can we see electricity?

  • Could Great Britain go off grid?

  • Does electricity have a smell?

  • How electricity is made

  • How to switch a power station off coal

  • The great balancing act: what it takes to keep the power grid stable

  • What makes a mountain right for energy storage

  • Why does electricity have a sound?

Drax frequently asked questions (FAQs)

  • What is biomass?

  • What is reforestation and afforestation?

  • What is carbon capture usage and storage?

  • What are negative emissions?

  • What is climate change?

  • What is the national grid?

  • What are ancillary services?

  • What is decarbonisation?

  • What is carbon dioxide?

  • What is renewable energy?

  • What is a biomass wood pellet?

  • What is electricity trading?

History

  • History of Drax Power Station

  • Drax Power Station: A rail history

  • The history of Cruachan Power Station

  • The men who built a power station inside a mountain

  • A brief history of Scottish hydropower

  • 14 moments that electrified history

  • The renewable pioneers

  • The history of the pylon

  • The 182-year history of electric vehicles

  • How turbines came to power the world

  • The turbulent history of coal

  • 4 of the longest running electrical objects

  • 7 of the biggest TV moments in UK electricity history

  • Vikings, airships and ash: the history of Barlow Mound

  • Harry harks back to his head for heights – 50 years on from building giant power station chimney

Recent news and announcements

  • 16 September 2020 - Drax supports post-Covid recovery with new Scottish apprentices

  • 8 June 2020 - Virtual work experience launched at Britain’s biggest power station

  • 27 May 2020 - Virtual tours of 'Hollow Mountain' Cruachan Power Station to support home learning

  • 18 May 2020 - Virtual tours of Britain's biggest power station to support home learning

  • 11 May 2020 - Drax delivers laptops for learners to keep schools and students connected during COVID-19 crisis

  • 7 May 2020 - Drax delivers laptops for learners to keep Scotland's schools and students connected during COVID-19 crisis

  • 29 April 2020 - Drax delivers laptops for learners to keep schools and students connected during COVID-19 crisis [Dumfries & Galloway]

  • 21 April 2020 - Drax delivers laptops for learners during COVID-19 crisis

  • 20 February 2020 - Haven Power commits to help boost employability and skills for students in Ipswich

  • 11 February 2020 - Applefields School visits Europe's biggest carbon saving project

  • 24 January 2020 - Waltham Leas Primary Academy visits Europe's biggest carbon saving project

  • 22 January 2020 - Drax pledge to lead the energy industry on social mobility

  • 10 January 2020 - Trafford College visits Europe’s biggest carbon saving project

  • 9 January 2020 - Drax Power Station's 2020 apprentice scheme opens to applicants

Contact Us

Drax Visitor Centre: [email protected]

Cruachan Visitor Centre: [email protected]