Key Stage 2 Mission - Inspiring The Future

Your mission is to Stop the River Invaders! What are they? Where are they? And what can be done?

This is a classroom-based STEM challenge – which is fun and thought-provoking – for Key Stage 2 students, youth groups and home learners.

Get involved and you’ll learn about the invaders – ugly and invasive plants, taking over and taking control of our rivers and canals. We need to outsmart them. The good news is that we have experts on hand from the Canal & River Trust who have various skills and expertise to annihilate these predators. However, they’re looking for more solutions as the invaders are not going away. They critically need new ideas to control them and protect wildlife.

The challenge

A new fast-growing plant has taken over a local river. It is spreading quickly, choking up the river and harming wildlife as well as causing boats to get stuck.

We need you to become part of the River Rescue Team. Your mission is to think of a smart way to control the plant and protect the river.

What will be your approach to completing the challenge?

How pupils can respond:

Build Something
Design a tool, device, machine or perhaps an app that helps control or track the plant.

Tell People
Create a poster, sign, or short campaign to teach others about the problem.

Ideas should be simple, realistic and practical.

For teachers:

Time: 1-2 lessons, or this can be set and completed as homework
Where: Classroom, home or youth group
Teamwork: Teams or solo entrants are welcome

Why it matters

Invasive plants are just that – they absolutely take over and monopolise. They have an effect on…

other plants – choking them and reducing the positive plants and variety of species
animals – limiting the space for them to swim and feed and affecting diversity
people – blocking rivers and canals, affecting journeys and enjoyment of the outdoors
water quality – by taking nutrients out of the water and reducing oxygen levels

Image showing four different types of invasive plant - floating pennwort, Himalayan balsom, Japanese knotweed and Water Fern.

What pupils will gain

This challenge brings multiple benefits, with plenty of learning and skills development. By taking part pupils will:

Discover a variety of jobs they can aspire to, including scientists, engineers and wildlife experts.
Understand about invasive plants and why they can be a problem for rivers, wildlife and the environment.
Think of and design an idea that helps manage or control a genuine problem.
Work together as a team to share ideas and make decisions, OR if working solo, how to solve problems independently.
Clearly explain their idea using a poster, slideshow or short video.
Link school subjects to the challenge.

Judging Criteria

Prizes!

1st Place: STEM-related class trip up to £800 + certificates for all team members
2nd Place: £250 STEM resources voucher + certificates for all team members
3rd Place: £100 STEM resources voucher + certificates for all team members

Plus: All participating pupils receive a digital participation certificate. Prizes will be awarded to the supervising school or group.

Helpful resources

To support pupils in the challenge, the following resources are available:

Next steps and how to enter

Download your resources – everything you need is right here:
– Mission: Stop the River Invaders – Powerpoint Presentation
– Teacher Guide – Stop the River Invaders
– Challenge Entry Form – to be included with your entry
Introduce the challenge
Use the powerpoint provided, and the teacher guide to present the mission and challenge to your class.
Form teams or set independent work
Final checks
If building a model, make sure you’ve captured how amazing it is in a poster or a slideshow. Review the judging criteria and terms and conditions so you (and your pupils) understand the key considerations – make adjustments as needed.
Select Entries
Choose which entries to submit – there is no limit to the number of submissions.
Submit Your Entry
Complete the entry form below and upload your supporting files by 5pm on 12 June 2026.

Do you want to be part of the online gallery?

If you wish to have your pupils’ entries displayed in our online gallery as well as Canal & River Trust’s website, please select the tick box on the entry form. If not, leave it unchecked.

Thank you for your participation and best of luck to all participants!

KS2 Mission Entry Form 2026

Submit your entries for the “Stop the River Invaders” mission here. Please include your entry form and supporting documents.

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Teacher name*

First Last

Teacher job title*

Teacher email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

School*

School Name

School postcode*

Number of entries*

Competition Terms and Conditions*

Mission: Stop the River Invaders!

Key Stage 2 Competition Terms and Conditions
1. Entry Requirements
Entries must clearly respond to the Mission: Stop the River Invaders! challenge brief. Submissions should identify the invasive plant problem and present a clear, age appropriate idea to help manage or prevent its spread.

2. Eligibility
The competition is open to Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 7–11) in:
o Primary schools
o After school or youth groups
o Home education settings
Entries must be supervised by a teacher, group leader, or parent/carer.

3. Team or Individual Entries
o Pupils may enter individually or as part of a team.
o There is no minimum or maximum team size.
o There is no limit to the number of entries submitted by a school or group.

4. Submission Format
o Entries may be presented as a poster or slideshow, as outlined in the challenge brief.
o All content must be combined and submitted as one digital file.
o Digital submissions must be in PDF format, with a maximum file size of 120MB.
File Naming Format
Files should be named as: [School] [Local Authority] [Group Name or Student’s Name] Example: Riverside Essex JohnSmith

5. Health and Safety
o Pupils must not touch or handle real invasive plants as part of this challenge.
o All ideas should be theoretical, modelled, or illustrated only.

6. Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, 12 June 2026.
Late submissions may not be accepted.

7. Judging Panel
Entries will be judged by a panel that includes at least one representative from the Canal & River Trust. Judging decisions are final.

8. Judging Criteria
Entries will be assessed on:
o Understanding of the problem
o Creativity of the idea
o Practicality (could it realistically help?)
o Clarity of explanation
o Teamwork (for group entries)

9. Original Work
All entries must be the original work of the pupils. Adult support is allowed for supervision, but ideas should come from the children. Plagiarised work may be disqualified.

10. Language Requirement
Entries must be in English, or include an English explanation provided by the supervising adult.

11. Prizes
🏆 1st Place: STEM-related class trip up to £800 + certificates for all team members
🥈 2nd Place: £250 STEM resources voucher + certificates for all team members
🥉 3rd Place: £100 STEM resources voucher + certificates for all team members
Plus: All participating students receive a digital participation certificate Prizes will be awarded to the supervising school or group.
No cash alternative is available.

12. Winner Announcement
Winners will be notified in late June 2026.
Selected entries may be showcased online in July 2026.

13. Use of Entries
By entering, schools and supervising adults give permission for Inspiring the Future and the Canal & River Trust to:
o Display
o Share
o Reproduce entries
for educational and promotional purposes related to the challenge. Pupils and schools retain ownership of their original work.

I agree to the competition terms and conditions.

File upload*

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 120 MB.

If uploading non-PDF files, label each page with [School] [Local Authority] [Group Name or Student’s Name] Example: RiversidePrimary Essex JohnSmith