Pacing Guide
This unit should be implemented to supplement student learning on the concepts of introductory building and coding with VEX GO.
STEM Labs can be adapted in various ways to fit into any classroom or learning environment. Each STEM Lab includes the following 3 sections: Engage, Play, and Share (optional).
Each STEM Lab in this unit can be completed in as little as 40 minutes
Section Summary
The Engage and Play sections, which contain the primary learning activities, can be completed within 40 minutes. The Share section, which enables students to express their learning is optional, but estimated at around 3-5 minutes per group.
Click on the tabs below to view descriptions of the Engage, Play, and Share sections of the STEM Lab.
The Pacing Guide
The pacing guide for each Lab provides step-by-step instructions on What, How, and When to teach. The STEM Lab Pacing Guide previews the concepts that are taught in each section (Engage, Play, and Share (optional)), explains how the section is delivered, and identifies all the materials that are needed.
Making This Unit Fit Your Unique Classroom Needs
Not every classroom is the same, and teachers face a variety of implementation challenges throughout the year. While each VEX GO STEM Lab follows a predictable format, there are things that you can do in this Unit to help make it easier to meet those challenges when they arise.
- Implementing in less time:
- Have students watch the Remote Control tutorial video to shorten the instruction in Lab 1.
- Rather than having students test all four different Drive Modes, select one mode for all groups to test to shorten Lab 1.
- To briefly summarize the coding instruction in Lab 2, have students watch the Driving Your Robot tutorial video to learn about Drivetrain blocks and the Sequencing tutorial video to explain the importance of the order of blocks in a project.
- Reteaching Strategies: If students are struggling to build a successful project in Lab 2, show them the Sequencing tutorial video to reiterate the importance of sequence in building a project that works as intended.
- Implementing in a smaller space: The slalom course in Labs 1 and 2 can take up significant classroom space. For a smaller space, have students use the legs of classroom chairs as the gates of their own slalom course.
- Extending this Unit: To explain the coding and project flow of the [Wait until] block used in Labs 3 and 4, have students watch the Wait Until True tutorial video. Have students make modifications to the projects in either Lab and test the changes to better understand how the [Wait until] block works in a project.
- If students get done building at different times, there are a number of meaningful learning activities early finishers can participate in as the rest of the group finishes building. View this article for several suggestions about how to plan for engaging students who finish building earlier than others. From establishing classroom helper routines to completing short activities, there are many ways to keep all students engaged throughout class building time.
The following VEXcode GO resources support the coding concepts that are taught in this STEM Lab Unit. Above are some ways to use these resources to support your implementation needs from catching up for missed class time to remote learning and differentiation. Below is more information about these resources, so you can be confident and prepared for the suggested implementations or when using these resources to best suit your own unique teaching environment.
VEXcode GO Resources
Concept | Resource | Description |
---|---|---|
Remote Control Driving |
Remote Control Tutorial Video |
Describes how to remote control drive a Code Base in VEXcode GO. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Driving Your Robot Tutorial Video |
Describes basic movements using the [Drive for] and [Turn for] blocks in a project. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Drivetrain Moves & Turns Example Project |
Shows the Drivetrain blocks in a project to drive the Code Base in a specific shape. Use this with students for additional practice or exploration with building basic movement projects. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Turning Your Robot Tutorial Video |
Describes the difference between the kinds of Drivetrain turn blocks. Use this to expand the coding instruction in Lab 2. |
Drivetrain Commands |
Turning Accurately Example Project |
Shows the different kinds of Drivetrain turn blocks used in a project. Use this with the Turning Your Robot tutorial video for an additional challenge. |
Sequencing |
Sequencing Tutorial Video |
Defines sequence and explains the importance of ordering blocks in a project so the robot performs as you intend it to. |
Project Flow |
Wait Until True Tutorial Video |
Describes how the [Wait until] block is used with sensor data to control the flow of a project. |
Using VEXcode GO Help
In this Unit, the VEXcode GO projects are provided for the student either in the form of example projects or images of projects to recreate. You can use the Help feature together with your students as an extension tool to explain how specific blocks are functioning in one of the projects.
After reading the description for, or with your student, you can ask students to describe how the block functions in the project they are working on. If students want more practice with a specific block, have them look at the example provided and ask them what the robot will do in the project shown, then you can help them make connections to how that is similar or different to the project they are working on in the Unit.
Blocks in this Unit include:
- [Drive for]
- [Turn for]
- [Drive]
- [Stop driving]
- [Wait until]
- <Pressing bumper>
- <Found object>
- <Detects color>