Summary
Materials Needed
The following is a list of all the materials that are needed to complete the VEX GO Lab. These materials include student facing materials as well as teacher facilitation materials. It is recommended that you assign two students to each VEX GO Kit.
In some Labs, links to teaching resources in a slideshow format have been included. These slides can help provide context and inspiration for your students. Teachers will be guided in how to implement the slides with suggestions throughout the lab. All slides are editable, and can be projected for students or used as a teacher resource. To edit the Google Slides, make a copy into your personal Drive and edit as needed.
Other editable documents have been included to assist in implementing the Labs in a small group format. Print the worksheets as is or copy and edit those documents to suit the needs of your classroom. Example Data Collection sheet setups have been included for certain experiments as well as the original blank copy. While they offer suggestions for setup, these documents are all editable to best suit your classroom and the needs of your students.
Materials | Purpose | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
VEX GO Kit |
For students to build the Magnet Car. |
1 per group |
For students to build the Magnet Car. |
1 per group | |
Pre- built Magnet Car |
For teachers to use as a demonstration during the Acts and Asks section. |
1 for teacher facilitation |
Various magnetic and non-magnetic items, such as coins, paper clips, chair leg, pencils, tissue box, etc.) . |
For students to use as test objects. |
1-2 for teacher facilitation and 6 items per group |
Two additional magnets of different sizes. |
For students to use to move the Magnet Car. |
2 per group |
Visual aid reference for teacher facilitation. |
1 for whole class | |
Pencil |
For completing the Roles & Routines checklist and Data Collection Sheet |
1 per group |
Brown Paper Bag |
For teachers to use as a demonstration during the Engage section. |
1 for teacher facilitation |
Data Collection Sheet (Google / .docx / .pdf) or Lab 1 Data Collection Example (Google / .docx / .pdf) |
Editable Google Doc for organizing for students to record data during the Play section. |
1 per group |
Editable Google Doc for organizing group work and best practices for using the VEX GO Kit. |
1 per group | |
VEX GO Tiles |
To create the challenge course. |
4 Tiles per Challenge Course |
Masking Tape |
To mark the start and finish of the challenge course. |
1 roll per class |
To help remove pins or pry beams apart. |
1 per group | |
Get Ready...Get VEX...GO! PDF Book (optional) |
To read with students to introduce them to VEX GO through a story and introductory build. | 1 for demonstration purposes |
Get Ready...Get VEX...GO! Teacher's Guide (optional) Google / .pptx / .pdf |
For additional prompts when introducing students to VEX GO with the PDF Book. | 1 for teacher use |
Engage
Begin the lab by engaging with the students.
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Hook
Hold up a brown bag with a piece of iron or other magnetic material inside. Have a student reach into the bag without looking and describe what he/she is feeling. The students will discuss what it could be. Use one of the magnets and place it on one side of the bag. Release your hand, so the metal in the bag is “holding up” the magnet. Have the students discuss further and guess what is inside the bag. Show them the object inside the bag.
Note: If students are new to VEX GO, use the Get Ready...Get VEX...GO! PDF book and Teacher’s Guide (Google / .pptx / .pdf) to introduce them to learning and building with VEX GO. Add an additional 10-15 minutes to your lesson time to accommodate this additional activity.
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Leading Question
What kinds of things can stick to a magnet?
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Build Magnet Car
Play
Allow students to explore the concepts introduced.
Part 1
Students will predict which of the six items they receive from the teacher will stick to a magnet. They will record the objects and the materials that the object is made of. They will test the magnetism of the items and record their results. Each group will share their results with the other groups looking for a common characteristic between the magnetic objects.
Mid-Play Break
Students will analyze and discuss the results of the trials to find common properties of the items that were attracted to the magnets on the Magnet Car. Through this discussion students will identify that magnetic objects contain metal such as iron, cobalt, or nickel.
Students will also be introduced to magnetic poles and how they interact with the magnetic poles of other magnets.
Part 2
Students will experiement with using the magnetic force of an additional magnet to push or pull the Magnet Car without touching it. Students will complete a challenge course where they have to "drive" the Magnet Car from start to finish with the magnetic force of an additional magnet.
Share
Allow students to discuss and display their learning.

Discussion Prompts
- If magnetic fields are invisible, how can we know they are there?
- How did the size and strength of a magnet affect its ability to push and pull?
- How are magnetic force and distance from an object related?