This lesson is for students that already have knowledge and experience with Cube-lets. They will quickly review what the sensor and action cubes do, and will now have more of an opportunity to experiment with the logic/thinking cubes.
Students will also discuss different fields of Engineering and the design process that engineers use, and use that process as they complete new Cube-lets challenges. (No previous knowledge to the Engineering Design Process is necessary.) (Most appropriate for grades 4-8. High School students would benefit as well.)
Lesson Time: 45-60 minutes
Student Activity 1: Students will be presented with a real-world scenario, and within their small groups will answer questions as an Engineer approaching a solution to the specific problem.
Adult Demonstration: Our Wizard will review Sensor Cube-lets and Action Cube-lets, and then introduce the Logic/Thinking Cube-lets.
Student Activity 2: Students will have new Cube-lets challenges to work through. As they problem solve, they will practice the Engineering Design cycle by defining the problem, building a potential solution, and then testing their innovation.
Group work: Students will work in groups of 2-4 students. In order to save time, teachers are asked to create the groups before our Wizard arrives.
Science Standards:
3.PS.3: Heat, electrical energy, light, sound and magnetic energy are forms of energy.
4.PS.2: Energy can be transferred from one location to another or can be transformed from one form to another.
6.PS.4: An object’s motion can be described by its speed and the direction in which it is moving.
7.PS.4: Energy can be transferred through a variety of ways.
8.PS.2: Forces can act to change the motion of objects.