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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 building the Pendulum.

 1 per group

Build Instructions

For building the Pendulum.

 1 per group

Robotics Roles & Routines

Google Doc / .docx / .pdf

For student organization and reference throughout the Lab.

 1 per group

Engineering Design Process Organizer

Google Doc / .docx / .pdf

This sheet allows students to think in terms of the Engineering Design process while building and using the iterative process.

 1 per group

Measuring Tool

For measuring in Play Part 1 and 2.

 1 per group

Pre-Built Pendulum

For use by teacher in Engage.

 1 for teacher facilitation

Pendulum Challenges

Google Doc / .pptx / .pdf

For use by students in Play Part 1 and 2.

 1 per group

Pencils

To fill out the Robotics Roles and Routines Sheet.

 1 per group

Lab 1 Image Slideshow

Google Doc / .pptx / .pdf

Visual aids for teacher facilitation.

 1 per group

Pin Tool

For help with building.

 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 Doc / .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.

  1. Hook

    Have you been on a swing? How does that make you feel? How does it stop? That swinging motion is also found in a tool called a pendulum. What do you think this swinging motion could be used for in an invention?

    Today we are going to engineer one and see what we can discover.

    Note: If students are new to VEX GO, use the Get Ready...Get VEX...GO! PDF book and Teacher’s Guide (Google Doc / .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.

  2. Leading Question

    How can we use a pendulum today?

  3. Build Students will build the pendulum.

Play

Allow students to explore the concepts introduced.

Part 1

Students will explore through challenges to learn how to operate the pendulum.

Mid-Play Break

Students will discuss how they used the iterative process to build and explore the pendulum.

Part 2

Students will continue to identify solutions to challenges through team collaboration using the pendulum.

Share

Allow students to discuss and display their learning.

Discussion Prompts

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