Developed by the Science Museum of Western Virginia, this educator outline is intended to assist in guiding middle school-aged students through various activities using the Rokit Smart robot kit. The Rokit Smart utilizes Arduino, a widely-used open-source environment for programming that enables users to create interactive electronic objects.  Designed through modules, the activities can be grouped to fit after-school, summer camp, or other student enrichment needs.  

Developed by the Science Museum of Western Virginia, this educator outline is intended to assist in guiding middle school-aged students through various activities using the Rokit Smart robot kit. The Rokit Smart utilizes Arduino, a widely-used open-source environment for programming that enables users to create interactive electronic objects.  Designed through modules, the activities can be grouped to fit after-school, summer camp, or other student enrichment needs.  

Developed by the Science Museum of Western Virginia, this educator outline is intended to assist in guiding middle school-aged students through various activities using the Rokit Smart robot kit. The Rokit Smart utilizes Arduino, a widely-used open-source environment for programming that enables users to create interactive electronic objects.  Designed through modules, the activities can be grouped to fit after-school, summer camp, or other student enrichment needs.  *Module 4 is meant to be done after Modules 1-3 are completed. 

Students will use knowledge of cycles, specifically the water cycle, to connect to the function of programming loops.

Students will learn the process of the scientific method by using whole group interaction. Students will get a front row seat at learning the steps in the scientific method process. They will learn to use their scientific method checklist to make predictions on what they think will happen when you conduct the three different experiments. This can be used over the course of one week.Day one: hedgehog experiment Day three: volcano experiment Day five: rocket launch 

Students will view a whole group video about responsibility and we will discuss being responsible with various things such as information, technology, and classroom items (the sensory items) We will also discuss taking turns and sharing, etc. Students will then be split into 5 groups and rotate through various sensory items. These items include a calm down corner, stretchy fidget strings, pop it squeeze balls, multi colored quiet fidget toys, and slow rising squishy balls. Throughout these rotations, the teacher will remind students of the responsible behaviors expected.   

After reviewing tips for following instructions, students will use plane figures to create a mystery image using their teacher's algorithm. Unfortunately, the teacher's directions are not very precise. Students will lend a hand by giving detailed feedback to debug and clarify the set of ordered instructions to successfully build a snowman.   

Students will be able to explore the different types of soil by planting and monitoring their own plants!  Using the soil book, soil kit, and different soil, the students will have hands-on experiences learning about soil.  Dive into the different soil types and allow your students access to expand their knowledge using creativity and hands on experiences! 

Do you think you know everything about the planets?? Come see how strong of a password you can make for the planets!

Students will simulate the taxes placed on the colonists without having representation and visually represent the loss of wealth for the colonists and the wealth gained by Parliament and the Monarchy by using Google Sheets to create charts. 

Using an escape room,  theater students will learn the importance of being safe online and sharing public vs personal information.

Which is better? Let’s track the differences between collecting weather data outside and collecting the weather online? What will we notice? Then you’ll get the chance to play weather reporter and report on all the data you collected.

Students will publish a class website about visiting a country after completing research on the internet. Students will use a variety of resources to explore how we stay connected globally, as well as look at how technology has changed the way information is shared around the world. Students will describe how their website might be viewed or accessed around the globe and how it might impact those who see it.

Students will review the continents, oceans, and Cardinal directions by traveling across the world using BeeBots (i.e., robots) or grid paper. Students will plan routes to get from one continent to another by making a step-by-step description.

You know those Choose Your Adventure books where you get to decide what happens next?  This lesson is similar to those.  The first part of the lesson will be spent analyzing how to solve hardware and software problems that may occur with our Chromebooks.  The second part of our class we will be working in small groups to determine if we want to troubleshoot or reboot some scenarios from Jamestown’s Starving Time.  You need to be prepared to: scan QR codes, make some tough decisions, and defend your thinking. 

The students will utilize Tinkercad to create models about science concepts (e.g. SOL 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7)

The class will collect data, make a graph (digital and paper), and interpret outcomes to answer questions.

Students will use seven KEVA planks and their creativity to build items specified by the teacher. The lesson is designed for lower primary.  Adapted from: KEVA Educator’s Guide  https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/f7460f98/files/uploaded/KEVA%20Educator%20Guide%20Lesson%20Plans.pdf

How do you find out if a tornado or hurricane is coming? Can you predict it yourself or do you have to rely on the weather channel to tell you? What happens when they miss detecting a storm? Let’s dive in and look at ways that technology can help predict powerful storms!