Pacing Guide

This unit should be implemented to supplement student learning on the concepts of Coding and Problem Solving.

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 Connecting To Your Robot and Configuring Your Robot tutorial videos to shorten the instruction in Lab 1.
  • To combine Labs 2 and 3 into a shorter time, show the Driving Your Robot tutorial video to show students how to use [Drive for] and [Turn for] blocks in a project.
  • You can prescribe one robot job for the entire class in Lab 4 to teach the STEM Lab in a shorter period of time, with a more coding oriented focus.
• Reteaching Strategies: If students are struggling to build a successful project in Labs 3 and 4, show them the Sequencing tutorial video to reiterate the importance of sequencing to building a project that works as intended. Have students who need more practice with Drivetrain commands watch the Driving Your Robot tutorial video before beginning the challenge in Lab 4.
• Extending this Unit: You can show students the Turning Your Robot tutorial video to learn about different Drivetrain turn blocks, and how they are used. Offer students an additional challenge to use a different turning block in their projects during Labs 3 or 4.
• 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

Using VEXcode GO Help

You can use the Help feature together with your students as an additional means to explain how specific blocks are functioning in a project. After reading the description for, or with, your student, you can use the example shown for extra practice with that block. Ask students to describe what the robot will do in the project shown, and help them make connections to how that is similar or different to the project they are working on.

Blocks in this Unit include:

• [Drive for]
• [Turn for]