Discover STEM Lab, Grades 5-6 - LE Bluetooth (iPad Only)

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NOTE: This product's components have been updated as of December 2018

• Grades: 5-6
• Students: Up to 18
• Contact Hours: 70+
• Curriculum Sample

For the ultimate enrichment tool for grades 5-6, the Discover STEM Lab can be easily integrated into after-school programs, classrooms and any other learning environment. This curriculum was designed to be specifically useful for late elementary students as they begin to transition to more difficult subjects in middle school. Each module encourages independent student exploration while being educational and entertaining to get students excited about learning!

 

Component Kits

• Science Module: Discover Dynamics (1x)
• Technology Module: Discover Robotics & Programming (1x)
• Engineering Module: Discover Engineering (1x)
• Mathematics Module: Discover Renewable Energy (2x)

Discover Dynamics

• Students: 1-3
• Contact Hours: 12+

Materials:

• Building instructions for seven roller coaster models
• Fun with physics activity book
• 780 building manipulatives from fischertechik with advanced flex-rails, metal balls, motor and 9V battery
• Compartmentalized Gratnell storage bin with lid

Project Topics:

1. Centrifugal force
2. Force of gravity
3. Acceleration
4. Law of conservation of energy
5. Pulses

 

Discover Robotics & Programming

• Students: 1-3
• Contact Hours: 25+

Materials:

• Discover Robotics and Programming LABCards (20-card curriculum printed on heavy duty no-tear paper)
• RiQ step-by-step building instructions printed on heavy duty no-tear paper
• The Brain and Cortex user guide printed on heavy duty no-tear paper
• Expanding file folder for easy access and storage of all no-tear curriculum pages
• Specialized PCS robotic controller, The Brain
• Bluetooth dongle
• Available in BLE for iPads or Classic for all computers Android-based tablets
• USB cable
• Advanced sensor pack including 1 ultrasonic, 1 light, 2 touch, 2 infrared, 2 LEDs, and 5 sensor cables
• 2 9V DC motors and 2 motor cables
• Rechargeable 11.1V LiPo battery and DC wall adapter
• Advanced engineering manipulatives from fischertechnik
• Compartmentalized Gratnell storage bin with lid

Project Topics:

1. RiQ robot build
2. Drag-and-drop programming in Cortex
3. Connecting The Brain
4. Basic motor commands: ON, ON FOR, SET PWR
5. Advanced motor commands: REVERSE, THIS WAY, THAT WAY
6. Local and global commands
7. Logic commands: REPEAT, LOOP
8. Miscellaneous commands: BEEP, WAIT, NOTE, SPACER, BREAK
9. Subroutines
10. Procedures and calls
11. Advanced logic commands: IF, IF NOT, IF ELSE
12. Touch sensors and LEDs

 

Discover Engineering

• Students: 1-6
• Contact Hours: 25+

Materials:

• Building instructions for 12 simple machine models
• Printed Discover Engineering student guide
• 642 building manipulatives from fischertechnik including gears, axles, motors, and 9V batteries

Project Topics:

1. Pulleys
2. Levers
3. Wheel and axle
4. Power transfer
5. Flexible power systems
6. Gear trains
7. Worm gears
8. Complex machines
9. Speed ratios
10. Power ratios
11. Drive train
12. Power transfer

 

Discover Renewable Energy

• Students: 1-6
• Contact Hours: 8+

Materials:

• 2 sets of building instructions for 4 solar-powered boats and cars
• 2 solar power activity books
• 2 sets of 160 building manipulatives from fischertechnik including solar panel, solar motor, and boat hull
• Compartmentalized Gratnell storage bin with lid

Project Topics:

1. Solar energy
2. Hydropower
3. Wind power
4. Electricity
5. Energy storage

Standards Alignment

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
• MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• MS-ETS1-3: Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
• MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Common Core State Standards for Math

• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP5: Use appropriate tools strategically.
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP7: Look for and make use of structures.
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.G.A.2: Draw (freehand, with ruler and protractor, and with technology) geometric shapes with given conditions.

Common Core State Standards for Language Arts

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3: Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.4: Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7: Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).