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 calculate average speed.

Students will make meaning of

How to calculate the average speed of something, by calculating the distance traveled and dividing it by the total time.

Students will be skilled at

Measuring time.
Measuring distances.
Calculating average speed.
Predicting average speed.

Students will know

That speed is a relationship between total time and distance traveled.

Objective(s)

Objective

Students will calculate the speed of the Super Car.
Students will apply correct measurement units when measuring time and distance.
Students will accurately predict the average speed of the Super Car using data from previous trials.

Activity

In Play Part 1, groups will determine the total time and distance traveled by the Super Car by collecting data during Trial 1.
In Play Part 1 and 2, groups will apply correct units when collecting time and distance data to find the Super Cars average speed.
In Play Part 2, groups will estimate the speed of the Super Car based on previous trials.

Assessment

In Mid-Play Break, the class will work together to calculate the Super Car’s average speed using the data collected from Play Part 1.
In Play Part 1 and 2, groups will apply correct units when collecting data.
In Play Part 2, groups will estimate the Super Car’s speed and compare the final calculated average speed with the predictions.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS 4-PS3-1: Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.

How Standard is Achieved: Students will learn how to calculate speed during the Mid-Play Break. Their ability to calculate speed will help students to compile evidence on how speed is related to the energy of the object. During Share, students will be able to explain how fast the Super Car is moving by explaining the steps to how they calculated the average speed of each of the Super Car trials and connect that speed to the energy of the Super Car.

Showcase Standards

Common Core Math Standards (CCSS)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.A.1: Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units including km, m, cm; kg, g; lb, oz.; l, ml; hr, min, sec. Within a single system of measurement, express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Record measurement equivalents in a two-column table.

How Standard is Achieved: In Play Part 1 and 2, students will use appropriate measurement units when collecting data and finding the Super Car’s average speed.

Additional Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS 3-PS2-2: Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.

How Standard is Achieved: In Play Part 1, students will document the distance traveled by the Super Car and the time it takes to travel that distance. In Play Part 2, groups will predict the future motion of the Super Car using the data from Play Part 1. They will then conduct trials to test their predictions.

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