Implementing VEX GO STEM Labs

STEM Labs are designed to be the online teacher’s manual for VEX GO. Like a printed teacher’s manual, the teacher-facing content of the STEM Labs provides all of the resources, materials, and information needed to be able to plan, teach, and assess with VEX GO. The Lab Image Slideshows are the student-facing companion to this material. For more detailed information about how to implement a STEM Lab in your classroom, see the Implementing VEX GO STEM Labs article.

Goals and Standards

Goals

Students will apply

How to use the VEX GO Kit’s components in a build.

Students will make meaning of

How to identify that pins and standoffs are used to connect VEX GO pieces.
How to manipulate the kit materials safely and effectively when building.

Students will be skilled at

How to assemble and detach components using pins and the Pin Tool.
How to identify and use pins, standoffs, beams, and plates.

Students will know

How to assemble and detach VEX GO connectors and components.
How to identify VEX GO pieces and their functions.

Objective(s)

Objective

Assemble and disassemble pieces from the VEX GO Kit.
Explain that pins and standoffs are used to attach components.

Activity

Students will practice manipulating the pieces from the VEX GO Kit to build a structure during Play Part 1.
Students will explain how they utilized standoffs and pins in their build, during informal and formal discussions.

Assessment

Students will build a flagpole for their Astronaut, using only provided pieces from the VEX GO Kit in Play Part 2.
Describe their build and design process using part names, descriptions and functions during informal and formal discussions.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS 3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

How Standard is Achieved: In Play Part 1, students will be given only 15 VEX GO pieces to build a flagpole for their Astronaut. They will have to brainstorm and share their ideas as well as their first round of designs during the Mid-Play Break. During this discussion, students will compare different solutions for how to build the flagpole, while taking the constraint of the number of pieces into consideration. During Play Part 2, students are given 10 more pieces and again, asked to build a flagpole under the constraint of the number of pieces.

Additional Standards

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

ISTE - (3) Knowledge Constructor - 3d: Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

How Standard is Achieved: Throughout the entire Lab, students will be presented with the real-world application of building a particular structure. They will be asked to design and build a flagpole for NASA under certain real-world issues, such as material constraints.

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