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VEX GO Teacher Resources

Find Lab summaries, build instructions, content, standards, and more.

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VEX GO Pacing Guides

View the Cumulative Pacing Guide to see all VEX GO STEM Labs, Activity Series, and Activities in one place.

Cumulative Pacing Guide

Google Doc .xlsx .pdf

View the 1:1 Pacing Guide to see VEX GO STEM Labs and Activity Series in a suggested sequence.

1:1 Pacing Guide

Google Doc .xlsx .pdf

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VEX GO Activities

Bring Coding and STEM to life with these fun and easy to use VEX GO activities.

Activities

VEX GO STEM Labs & Activity Series

Select a Unit or Activity Series below to view the STEM Labs or Activities available inside.

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Engineering

Intro to Building

Top down view of Col. Jo at a table looking at an assortment of VEX GO pieces laid out to show the various sizes, shapes, and colors of pieces in the Kit.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 240min
  • 6 Labs

Explore the VEX GO Kit to learn the names and functions of key pieces by building structures to take on a voyage to Mars.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do we manipulate materials when building?
  • How can a design be affected by a constraint on materials?
  • How can we communicate our design ideas and use the design process when working with a group?

Science

Physical Science

Colonel Jo holds the handle of the Unpowered Super Car and is running behind the car, pushing it forward on a path in a park.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 200min
  • 5 Labs

Build and modify the Super Car to explore predicting an object's continued motion, change in motion, or stability.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can we use patterns of change to predict an object’s continued motion, change in motion, or stability?
  • How does force affect motion?

Data

Data Detectives: Bridge Challenge

Alt Image
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 5 Labs

Learn about what data is, what a sensor is, and how sensors report data, so that you can learn to collect and use data to make and support claims about authentic problems. Become a bridge inspector, and use the Eye Sensor on the Code Base to help you assess bridge safety with sensor data.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What is a sensor?
  • What is data?
  • How can we use data to help us solve problems?

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizens

Colonel Jo waving to a Code Base 2.O in a desert environment. Three symbols are in the upper left of the image. From left to right, they are asterisk, asterisk, question mark.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Learn about digital citizenship as you practice collaborating and using technology in safe, responsible, and respectful ways. Explore how technology impacts the world around us.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can we improve our coding projects by incorporating the needs, perspectives, and ideas of others?
  • How does new technology change the way people live and work?

Coding

Mars Rover-Surface Operations

GO Code Base with a Touch LED attached on a cartoon surface of Mars. Colonel Jo the astronaut stands beside the robot.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Help scientists by coding the Code Base to act as a rover and collect samples on Mars!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I solve a challenge with the Code Base and VEXcode GO?

Coding

Mars Rover-Landing Challenge

Code Base with Eye Sensor on a cartoon version of the surface of Mars. The robot is approaching a rock that an astronaut is pointing towards.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Code the Code Base to detect obstacles and clear the landing area for a Mars landing.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I solve a challenge with the Code Base and VEXcode GO?

Coding

Mars Rover-Exploring Mars Geology

Alt Text
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 160min
  • 4 Labs

Use the Electromagnet and Eye Sensor on the Code Base to collect, analyze and sort Martian rock samples like the Mars rovers.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I solve a challenge with the Code Base and VEXcode GO?

Science

Day and Night

Colonel Jo holds a globe of the Earth in front of a space background with the sun in the sky, showing how the earth is positioned on its axis.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Build a model with VEX GO to show how the Earth spins on its axis to create the day/night cycle, and to explain why the sun appears to move across the sky.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can I use VEX GO to demonstrate that Earth rotates on its axis once approximately every 24 hours causing the day/night cycle?

VEX GO Competition

Mars Math Expedition

VEX GO Competition Base 2.0 Hero Bot on the Mars Math Expedition Competition Field delivering a sample to the Lab.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 5 Labs

In this VEX GO Competition STEM Lab Unit students will drive a Hero Robot to collect samples, rescue a rover, lift a rocket ship and more in the Mars Math Expedition Competition!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I work with a team to win a VEX GO Competition?

VEX GO Competition

Ocean Science Exploration

Close up view of the Competition Advanced robot lifting the lid of the clam shell on the Ocean Emergency field.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 5 Labs

In this VEX GO Competition STEM Lab Unit, students will drive a Hero Robot to move sensors, fix a pipeline, open a clam, deliver a pearl and more in the Ocean Science Exploration Competition!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I work with a team to win a VEX GO Competition?

VEX GO Competition

Village Engineering Construction

The Competition Advanced 2.0 Hero Robot lifts the water tower on the Village Engineering Competition Field.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 5 Labs

In this VEX GO Competition STEM Lab Unit students will drive a Hero Robot to rebuild houses, plant and weigh crops, lift the Water Tower, and more in the Village Engineering Construction Competition!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I work with a team to win a VEX GO Competition?

VEX GO Competition

City Technology Rebuild

Competition Hero Robot pressing the mechanism to release the rocks on the City Technology Field.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 5 Labs

In this VEX GO Competition STEM Lab Unit students will drive a Hero Robot to bring medicine to the Hospital, lift fallen trees, clear rocks from the roadway and more in the City Technology Rebuild Competition!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I work with a team to win a VEX GO Competition? 

Engineering

Simple Machines

Colonel Jo stands beside a table with the VEX GO Inclined Plane build set up in the midst of rolling the blue wheel down the ramp in an experiment.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 160min
  • 4 Labs

Build and test simple machines in order to examine how they change the direction or strength of a force in order to make work easier.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can we conduct an investigation to observe cause and effect relationships?
  • How do simple machines make work easier?

Engineering

Animal Rescue

Astronaut assembling a ladder out of GO pieces to rescue a kitten from a tree.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 3 Activities

Explore building techniques to design and build a Ladder, Raft, and Mobile Rescue Vehicle to save the day!

Activities in this Series

  • Ladder Rescue
  • Raft Rescue
  • Mobile Rescue

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Science

Fun with Formations

Astronaut posing in front of a large, naturally-formed canyon.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 4 Activities

Explore landform formation by building models of canyons, sand dunes, and deltas with your VEX GO Kit!

Activities in this Series

  • Colossal Canyons
  • Drifting Dunes
  • Dynamic Deltas
  • Formation Creation

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Art

Spirograph Art Show

Astronaut using a GO motor to spin and draw with the Spirograph build.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 3 Activities

Use the Spirograph to create patterns and artwork with different gear configurations in this Spirograph Art Show Activity Series.

Activities in this Series

  • Spirograph
  • Gear Up Your Creativity
  • Spirograph Artist

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Math

Fractions

Colonel Joe stands against a purple background holding the base of the Fractions build in one hand and a GO beam in the other.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 40min
  • 1 Lab

Explore equivalent fractions using the Fractions build and your VEX GO Kit pieces to compare fractions by size.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What do the numerator and denominator of a fraction tell you?
  • What patterns or relationships are there between equivalent fractions?

Engineering

Pendulum Game

Colonel Jo stands beside a raised VEX GO Pendulum build with an arm raised, and the pendulum in motion, indicating Jo's release of the pendulum.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Build and engineer a game using the motion and force of the pendulum to knock over objects.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can I design a pendulum solve an authentic problem?
  • How can I use the iterative process to continue to design and learn from my mistakes?

Science

Fun Frogs

Colonel Jo skips through a grassy area surrounded by each of the animals in the Frog Life Cycle build - a tadpole, froglet, tadpole with legs, and adult frog.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Investigate the different phases of the frog life cycle.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do organisms change over their life cycle in relation to their environments?
  • How can writing be used as a tool by scientists and other jobs?

Science

Island Expedition

Astronaut holding a map and standing on top of the Topo Map build, exploring it.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 3 Activities

Chart out new territory using topographic maps and the Topo Map build in this exploration-based Activity Series.

Activities in this Series

  • Topo Map Island
  • Island Designer
  • Island Mapper

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Coding

Code Base

Code Base to the left with Colonel Jo behind the robot. To the left of Jo in the background is a VEXcode project to indicate that students will be coding in the Unit.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 160min
  • 4 Labs

Use the Code Base and its sensor iterations to explore robot behaviors, controls, commands, and sensors through navigation challenges.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can I use VEXcode GO with my robot?

Math

Battle Boats

Colonel Jo stands at a table, holding the Battle Boats build in front, placing a VEX GO piece as a boat on the grid.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 40min
  • 1 Lab

Create the Battle Boats game on a coordinate plane to plot points.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What is a coordinate plane?

Engineering

Creature Feature

VEX GO creatures Crawler, Ed, and Flopper are shown moving across their respective natural environments.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 4 Activities

Meet and investigate the unique VEX GO Creatures that live on an island, and prepare for the Creature Feature Race in this Activity Series.

Activities in this Series

  • Meet Crawler
  • Meet Ed
  • Meet Flopper
  • Creature Feature Race

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Science

Look Alike

Colonel Jo sits at a table against a pink background with several different builds from the Bunny Traits build on the table and in Jo's hands.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 40min
  • 1 Lab

Explore the characteristics of living things and notice similar and different traits.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do living organisms pass on traits?

Engineering

Parade Float

Parade Float Unit Tile
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 120min
  • 5 Labs

Design, build, and code a float for a parade using the VEX GO Kit.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can anything be engineered to solve an authentic problem?
  • How can the iterative process be used to create a sequence of movements for the float to accomplish in the parade?

Science

Super Bowler

Astronaut sitting on top of the Slingshot Car, ready to be launched with the car.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 3 Activities

Build and launch a Slingshot Car to prepare for a bowling game in this Activity Series.

Activities in this Series

  • Away We GO!
  • Tension Tester
  • Super Bowler

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Coding

Robot Jobs

Code Base robot in a cartoon warehouse with arrows on the ground indicating the path of the robot. Colonel Jo is in the bottom right corner holding a box.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 160min
  • 4 Labs

Build and code a Code Base robot to perform a job that is dull, dirty or dangerous.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do I solve a challenge with the Code Base robot and VEXcode GO?

Coding

Self-Driving Code Base

Col Jo astronaut wearing a hard hat and holding a Slow construction sign while standing next to a GO Code Base - Eye Down build.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 3 Activities

Code your self-driving Code Base to use an Eye Sensor to detect brightness and colors in this Activity Series.

Activities in this Series

  • Move Until Line
  • Stop Sign
  • Construction Zone

Google Doc >  .docx >  .pdf >

Science

Super Car

Colonel Jo stands beside a VEX GO Super Car on a racetrack with a checkered flag in hand, indicating the start of a race.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 120min
  • 3 Labs

Investigate the variables that affect the movement of the Super Car.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What affects how the Super Car moves?

Coding

Ocean Emergency

Colonel Jo and a Code Base robot with a plow attachment on the front standing along the shoreline of a cartoon beach covered with trash. Jo and the robot are in the process of collecting the trash.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 120min
  • 3 Labs

Apply coding skills to help clean up the ocean using Code Base and VEXcode GO.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What is code?
  • How can I make my robot move?
  • How can I solve a problem using my robot?

Engineering

Helping Hand

Colonel Jo standing against a green background with the VEX GO Adaptation Claw raised in one hand.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Investigate and modify the Adaptation Claw to help solve authentic problems.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How can I use tools to help solve authentic problems?
  • How are mechanisms used in everyday life and work?

Science

Magnet Car

The VEX GO Magnet car sits to the right with a strong horseshoe magnet to the left, attracting and repelling various magnetic materials, including Col. Jo who is flying through the air away towards the magnet.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 40min
  • 1 Lab

Students use the Magnetic Car to investigate the properties of magnetism and magnetic force.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do magnets interact with each other and with other objects?

Design

Pantograph

Colonel Jo stands at a table with the VEX GO Pantograph build on it, moving the pencil to create a scaled drawing.
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 80min
  • 2 Labs

Explore how to create scaled drawings and use them in design challenges.

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • How do the mechanics of the Pantograph build help it create scaled drawings?
  • How can we use tools to create models that communicate our ideas?
  • How is the Pantograph useful in real-life contexts?
     

Coding

Robot Arm

robot arm
  • Grades 3-5
  • Ages 8+
  • 200min
  • 5 Labs

Work with the Robot Arm, and its adaptations to learn what robotic arms can do and how they work!

STEM Lab Essential Questions

  • What is a robot arm?
  • How does a robot arm work?