STEM Labs

VEX EXP Activities

These activities offer more ways to engage with the VEX EXP Kit, providing simple one page exercises that blend STEM concepts with curricular content in fun and engaging ways.

They are designed to be easy to follow for independent student use, giving them great flexibility in terms of classroom implementation. Activities can be used as part of a teacher's lesson, as an extension activity, or as a scaffolding strategy to support differentiated learning.

Each one is designed with Step by Step instructions for students to complete the activity, as well as "Level Up" prompts for additional challenges, and "Pro Tips" to highlight techniques and concepts around building, and coding.

Click on one of the tiles below to access a VEX EXP Activity.

Engineering

Advanced Scavenger Hunt

Two EXP kits used in the activity to explore the functionality of various EXP pieces.

Use the EXP Education Kit Poster and your Kit to learn how pieces work together.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

At a Distance

Angled view of the EXP BaseBot with an attached Distance Sensor on an EXP Field with Buckyballs.

Use the distance sensor to avoid hitting obstacles!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Basebot Driver

EXP BaseBot in a cartoon city environment.

Navigate a city maze using the Controller. First, build the city, then drive in it!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Can You Name That Part?

EXP parts poster that provides a visual representation of all the pieces included in the VEX EXP Kit.

Play a game to find parts of the VEX EXP Kit!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Circumference Circle

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot and a circle drawn on a large piece of paper with a diameter of 300mm.

Draw a circle using your BaseBot!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Code a Code

EXP Robot Brain with a project running and the screen flashing red to communicate a secret encoded message.

Code a secret message using the Brain screen!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Color Sensing

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot with an attached Optical Sensor on an EXP Field with 3 blue Buckyballs.

Use the Optical Sensor to travel from Buckyball to Buckyball!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Courier Clawbot

Top down view of the EXP Clawbot with a diagram of the robot's intended route. The robot will start by closing its claw around a Buckyball, then drive it 900mm to the right and 300mm up to the delivery location.

Create an autonomous delivery robot’s route.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Controller

Defend the Castle

Angled view of the EXP Clawbot on an EXP Field with 3 Buckyballs each sitting on a ring to complete the Defend the Castle activity.

Drive your Clawbot to build a wall and defend your castle!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Dodge it

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot with a path marked ahead that will dodge two obstacles by driving around them.

Build a project to avoid objects in your path!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Drive Forward and Reverse

EXP BaseBot with an arrow in front of it marked as 12 inches and pointing forwards and backwards to indicate motion.

Autonomously move your robot forward and backwards

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Controller

Driver Configurations

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot on an EXP Field near a Buckyball that the robot will drive around as fast as possible.

Test your robot driving skills with four different driving configurations!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Follow the Light

EXP BaseBot with an attached Optical Sensor and a flashlight being shone in front of it.

Drive your robot using a flashlight!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Controller

Forward, Lift, Reverse

EXP Clawbot on an EXP Field with a Buckyball placed at the far end that the robot will drive to and collect.

Which direction is faster when moving an object?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Get a Grip

Two EXP Wheel pieces connected to a Channel piece to test friction and grip.

This activity will help you test the grip of the different VEX EXP tires!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Hang Out

Example of a device built from EXP pieces that can hang off of the side of a desk the farthest.

Can you build a device that hangs out the largest distance off your desk?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

How Big Are Your Teeth?

Side view of an EXP 60 Tooth Gear, with the teeth count marked as 60 and the diameter marked as 2.5 inches.

Can you calculate the pitch of your gears and sprockets?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Hue Test

EXP BaseBot with Optical Sensor attached and pointing towards a red Buckyball to measure its hue.

How does ambient light affect color detection with the Optical Sensor?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Level Up

EXP Clawbot next to the Level Up field, featuring four posts of different heights that the robot must place rings on.

Use a list to place rings on posts of different leveled heights!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Magic Movement

EXP BaseBot with an attached Distance Sensor and a hand held in front of the robot.

Use the Distance Sensor to magically move your BaseBot!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Controller

Navigate the Maze with Driver Control

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot on an EXP Field with walls of kit pieces creating a maze.

Drive your BaseBot using the Controller to solve a maze.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Play Ball

Diagram of a baseball field for the EXP BaseBot to run around. From home base to first, second, and third bases the distance between each is 600mm and they are in a diamond shape.

Use comment blocks to organize running bases.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Protect the Castle

EXP Basebot on an EXP Field with a castle in the middle built out of Buckyballs and rings. The path the robot should take is marked as a square circling around the castle.

Protect the castle from intruders!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Put a Ring on It

EXP Clawbot with a ring in its claw and its arm raised to drop the ring onto a post.

Explore arm designs to place rings on tall posts!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Rebound

Top down view of the EXP Clawbot with a Field setup to hit a Buckyball off of a wall and into a scoring zone.

Use your EXP Clawbot to play a fun scoring game.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Ring Drop

EXP Clawbot with a ring in its claw and its arm raised to drop the ring onto a post.

Decompose the challenge to plan your path for success!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Ring Rescue

Example rescue pulley device made out of EXP pieces that is using a chain and gears to lift a fallen ring up a cartoon oceanside cliff.

Use your design skills to create a contraption to rescue the Ring!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Robot Waiter

Top down diagram of the EXP BaseBot in a restaurant environment, with a path marked to reach the kitchen while not bumping into the tables. The path to the kitchen is 300mm up, 900mm to the left, and then 200mm up.

Your robot is training to be a waiter at a new restaurant in town.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Rubber Band Car

Example car build made out of EXP pieces that is powered by a single rubber band.

Can you design and build a car powered only by a single rubber band?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Scavenger Hunt

Two EXP kits used in the activity to explore the functionality of various EXP pieces.

Use the EXP Education Kit Poster to learn more about your VEX EXP Kit and find all the pieces described.

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Sensor Maze

EXP BaseBot with an attached Optical Sensor and a maze of Buckyballs to navigate.

Use the Optical Sensor to solve a maze!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Science

Solar System

Diagram of the EXP BaseBot representing the Sun with a line marked as 10000mm representing the scaled distance to a Buckyball labeled as Neptune.

Create a model of the solar system using your BaseBot!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Spin Your Wheels

The EXP BaseBot with one of its back wheels highlighted in yellow.

Can you calculate how fast your wheel spins using measurements from a VEXcode EXP Project?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Square Dance

Top down view of the EXP BaseBot on an EXP Field driving along a marked square path.

Code the BaseBot to drive in a square!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Stack Crasher Challenge

EXP BaseBot next to a stack of two rings on top of a Buckyball.

Code the BaseBot to knock down a stack of game pieces!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

Tallest Tower Challenge

A tall tower built out of connected EXP Beam and Channel pieces.

Can you build a taller freestanding tower than your partner using the same 10 pieces?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Engineering

The Claw

Top down view of the EXP Clawbot on a 3 by 3 EXP Field, with a ring on the left side of the Field. The left column of tiles is highlighted red and the right column of tiles is highlighted green.

Explore claw designs to move a ring on the Field!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

The Wave

EXP Clawbot demonstration of the intended EXP project for this activity, where the robot moves 150mm ahead and raises and lowers its arm three times sequentially.

Get through to the other side without touching an obstacle!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Coding

Tic Tac Toe

Top down view of the EXP Clawbot playing a game of tic tac toe using rings and the game board marked out with tape. A label shows that each game square should be 300mm by 300mm.

Get three in a row!

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >

Controller

Triple Transfer

The EXP Clawbot on an EXP Field setup with three Buckyballs at the far end that the robot must move to a new location.

How fast can you move three Buckyballs to a new location?

Google Doc > .docx > .pdf >