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 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.

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 plan out their family’s vacation to visit important water features in Virginia, then write a fiction story about their vacation.

In this lesson students will understand that their name, home address, and their phone number is personal information. Students will also understand that they should not share this personal information with anyone online as well as strangers and why this is so important.

Students will explore the visible spectrum by observing how different amounts of colors can affect the appearance of light.

Co-authored with Kaitlin Read and Udaya DatlaCan you remember a time you've been sick? Why aren't you still sick? How did you get better?Join Udaya Sree Datla, a doctoral student in translational biology, medicine, and health at Virginia Tech, as she presents Infections, Germs, and Immune Cells. The accompanying lessons and resources provide students with an introduction to germs, the immune system, and the career path of an immunologist, all while emphasizing the importance of handwashing and incorporating a computer science twist. The second lesson capitalizes on an opportunity to integrate computer science by introducing students to the career path of computer programming and constructing a set of step-by-step instructions (algorithms) either independently or collaboratively to sequence the steps of handwashing. These resources are part of the Advancing Computer Science Education Grant to support the implementation of Virginia's Computer Science Standards of Learning in partnership with Floyd County Public Schools with additional support from Virginia Tech's Center for Communicating Science and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology.  

Students will create a fictional story using a graphic organizer to plan details by breaking the story down into smaller parts before writing.

The student will write a step by step list and begin to practice/understand sequencing and order of events.