Overview

Grades

3+ (Ages 8+)

Time

40 minutes per lab

Unit Essential Question(s)

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?

Unit Understandings

The following concepts will be covered throughout this Unit:

How to efficiently manipulate pieces when building.
The concepts of stability and balance in design.
How to use spatial language to describe the position of objects.

Lab Summary

Click on the following tabs for a summary of what the students will do and learn in each lab.

Lab 1 - Kit Introduction

Main Focus Question: What is the VEX GO Kit?

Students will explore the VEX GO Kits, in order to prepare them for safe, organized and effective use of the materials for future builds.
Students will identify the VEX GO pieces and their features, in order to identify how they function in a build.
Students will gain an understanding of best practices in taking care of their kits.
Students will be introduced to the concept of "builds" in VEX GO robotics projects.

Lab 2 - NASA Flagpole

Main Focus Question: What are pins, standoffs, and the Pin Tool?

Students will continue to explore the VEX GO Kits by working together to build the tallest, free-standing flagpole. They will practice manipulating the plastic pieces with regard to attaching and detaching them and maneuvering the pins and standoffs.
While students are working in groups, they will share their ideas using spatial language.
Students will develop design and building skills through the construction of a flagpole to be placed on the surface of Mars.

Lab 3 - Launch Pad

Main Focus Question: What are plates and beams?

Students will gain skills in building using beams and plates as well as explore the concept of stability and balance.
Students will be tasked with building an aerospace launch pad to act as a bridge. They will bridge the gap from one GO Tile to another.
Students will design and discuss using spatial language and then iterate on their build.

Lab 4 - Spaceship

Main Focus Question: What are connectors?

Students will continue to gain experience with the VEX GO Kits by constructing a spaceship for their Astronaut using connectors.
Using the Engineering Design Process, students will design and build two spaceships, the first where the Astronaut is exposed and then a second where the Astronaut is enclosed.
Students will communicate their designs through labelled sketches of their build and the use of spatial language.

Lab 5 - Mars Buggy

Main Focus Question: What are wheels, axles, and gears?

Students will learn to manipulate wheels, axles, and gears through the design and construction of a Mars Buggy vehicle.
Students will design and build a functional Mars Buggy using wheels and axles from the VEX GO Kit. Students will use the Engineering Design Process to plan, build, and test their initial design.
Students will be exposed to physical gear pieces and experiment with how they can be incorporated into their build. Students will engage in spatial reasoning to envision the movement between gear pieces.

Lab 6 - Mars Base Build

Main Focus Question: How do I use multiple VEX GO plastic pieces strategically?

Students will advance their understanding of building from previous Labs by creating a base on Mars using the VEX GO Kit.
Students will be asked to create a Mars Base considering certain criteria and the constraint of only using materials from the VEX GO Kit . They will use the Engineering Design Process to iterate on their Mars Base.
Students will work in groups and communicate their ideas using spatial language through diagrams and discussions.

Unit Standards

Unit Standards will be addressed in every Lab within the Unit.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS 3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.

How Standard is Achieved: Beginning in Lab 2, students are given a specific list of criteria with the constraint of using only VEX GO Kit pieces to create their design of a NASA Flagpole.

Each Lab also limits the pieces available to students to help them become proficient in the use of a specific type or types of pieces within each Lab. They will build on those skills with each Lab as they learn to use more pieces.

Each challenge also introduces at least one other criterion to the students to build the tallest tower, create a launch pad that spans a tile, build a spaceship that is exposed then enclosed, design a buggy that has free-moving wheels, or building a Mars Base that can use any piece from the kit.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.1: Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

How Standard is Achieved: Students will be encouraged by the teacher to use spatial language and spatial vocabulary throughout the Unit. During each Mid-Play Break, students will be asked to describe their builds from Play Part 1.

In Lab 2: NASA Flagpole, Lab 3: Launch Pad, and Lab 6: Mars Base, they will be asked how their designs could have been designed stronger, and students will use spatial language while engaging in a discussion about stability and balance.

In Lab 4: Spaceship and Lab 5: Mars Buggy, students will be asked how changing criteria might affect their designs and then be given that challenge. Each class discussion during this Unit should include spatial language.

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