MindLabs Classroom Bundle Set - Energy and Circuits, Forces and Motion

Lesson plan details:

Energy and Circuits:

This lesson series focuses on concepts of energy through circuits.  The engineering design process, and specifically the steps of troubleshooting designs in order to make improvements is the focus of the lesson.  The storyline follows Atom and Anne, a robot team, trying to fix circuits broken by the villainous Dr. Stonebreaker. Each lesson is approximately 60 minutes long, with flexibility to adapt to shorter or longer sessions.

Each lesson has available a scripted lesson plan and a PDF slide deck.

Lesson 1 Atom’s Energetic Escape Summary:

• Students are introduced to Atom, Anne, Dr. Pixel, and Dr. Stonebreaker; the characters who will teach students about energy and circuits in subsequent lessons. In this lesson, students begin learning about energy, what forms it can take and how it can be stored.

Lesson 2 Energy Transforms Summary:

• Students learn about different forms of energy and how they can transform. Students learn what electricity is and then create a simple circuit using a AA battery and light bulb.

Lesson 3 Circuit Connections Summary:

• Students learn how to troubleshoot and how to apply troubleshooting to open circuits.

Lesson 4 Beware the Short Summary:

• Students learn about short circuits and how to apply troubleshooting to short circuits.

Lesson 5 Design to Save the World Summary:

• Students will create circuits using augmented reality subject to criteria and constraints and learn to follow a defined engineering design process.

Forces and Motion:

This lesson series focuses on concepts of force and motion through simple machines.  The "Ask" step of the engineering design process is emphasized through questioning stakeholders about the Science and Engineering Practice of determining Criteria and Constraints.  The storyline follows Reggy, a mascot, building a course using simple machines for his ball to travel on for a competition at a local fair.  Collaboration processes are emphasized with available mini lessons.  Each lesson is approximately 45 minutes long, with a time flexible, creative design element available at the end of each day.

Each lesson in the provided folder has a scripted lesson plan and a PDF slide deck.

Lesson 1 Force and Meet Reggy Summary:

• Students are introduced to Reggy, the character who will teach students about force and motion as they use simple machines in subsequent lessons.  In this lesson, students will become familiar with the Mindlabs App and how to use it. Collaboration using Communication Skills is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR with Springs.

Lesson 2 Energy and Meet Coach James Summary:

• Students will review or be introduced to the core concepts of Energy (potential and kinetic), Force, and Motion by Coach James, a mechanical engineer. They will also be introduced to the Science and Engineering Practices of determining Criteria and Constraints.  Collaboration using Communication Skills is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR with Criteria.

Lesson 3 Levers and Characteristics Summary:

• Students learn about a lever and how to change the characteristics of objects to change the results or performance of their design.  Optional content reviews the use of the Feeling buttons and the Reflection section of the notebook. Collaboration using Teamwork Skills is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR with changing characteristics of objects.

Lesson 4 Simple Machines and Engineering Design:

• Students learn about simple machines and how simple machines benefit athletes when they meet a stakeholder - the basketball para-athlete Sheryl.  The engineering design process is reviewed.  Students utilize these simple machines to solve challenges.  Collaboration using Teamwork Skills is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR with multiple simple machines.

Lesson 5 Simple Machines and Inertia:

• Students review simple machines that can be used in the competition. They experiment with the concept of inertia.  

Lesson 6 Simple Machines and Friction

• In this lesson, a new stakeholder, Charleigh the cheerleader, guides students through her area of expertise, of exciting the audience! Students will complete the challenges that target the idea of friction. Collaboration using Effort is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR with simple machines as students consider how to design a course to excite.

Lesson 7 Rotation and Improving Results

• In this lesson, a new stakeholder, the crowd, gives students the chance to review the criteria for success!  Testing and Improving the Performance is emphasized through learning to use the “Results” section of the notebook.  Students will complete the challenges that target the idea of rotation. Collaboration using Teamwork Skills is the focus of flexible time for creative design in AR as students practice documenting their design iterations.

Lesson 8 Engineering Design and Collaboration

• In this lesson, students will put together everything they have learned about force and motion, simple machines, and engineering design to help Reggy and their team design a course for the Mascot competition.  The engineering design process is directly applied to Reggy’s problem statement. Optional suggested content emphasizes giving feedback on collaborative skills.

Lesson 9 Final Improvements and Presentation

• In this lesson, students finalize their design through further testing and improvement.  Students showcase their work to their classmates.  Final reflections are encouraged as students celebrate the success of their designs.