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 groups to build Super Car. |
1 per group |
|
Pre-Built Super Car |
For groups to use in trials in Play Part 1 and Play Part 2 to calculate average speed. |
1 per group |
|
Super Car Build Instructions (PDF) or Super Car Build Instructions (3D) |
If the Super Car is not built before the Lab, students will use the build instructions to build the Super Car. |
1 per group |
|
Data Collection Sheet (Google / .docx / .pdf) or Lab 3 Example Data Collection Sheet (Google / .docx / .pdf) |
For groups to write down their calculations from Play Part 1 and Play Part 2. |
1 per group |
|
Editable Google Doc for organizing group work and best practices for using the VEX GO Kit. |
1 per group | |
|
For teachers and students to reference throughout the Lab. |
1 for teacher facilitation | |
|
Measuring device |
For groups to calculate the total distance the Super Car traveled in the trials. |
1 per group |
|
Tape |
For groups to mark the distance traveled by the Super Car. |
1 per group |
|
Time keeping device |
For groups to calculate the total time it took the Super Car to travel a specific distance in the trials. |
1 per group |
|
Pencils |
For groups to fill out the Data Collection sheet and Robotics Rules & Routines sheet. |
1 per student |
|
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.
-
Hook
Have you ever seen a race car either in person or on TV? What do you think is faster- a race car or the car you have at home? Students will make predictions about which is faster and explain their reasoning.
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.
-
Leading Question
Let’s find out how to calculate the average speed of our Super Car.
-
Build
If the Super Car build is not assembled, the students will use the Build Instructions to build the Super Car.
Play
Allow students to explore the concepts introduced.
Part 1
As a class, students will work in groups to collect data and learn how to calculate average speed. Students will use measure and mark 40cm (~16 in) for the Super Car to travel using tape. Next, they will use a stopwatch to record how long it takes the Super Car to travel 40cm (~16 in). Students will record the data on a Data Collection sheet to figure out calculations in Mid-Play Break.
Mid-Play Break
Guide students how to calculate average speed by taking the distance the Super Car drove divided by the time it took the Super Car to get from start to finish. Speed = Distance/Time. Have groups calculate the average speed of the Super Car from the trial in Play Part 1.
Part 2
After calculating the average speed during Mid-Play Break, students will estimate and calculate the average speed of the Super Car with three different variables. Students will turn the knob 2 times, 3 times, and 5 times, then calculate the average speed. After, students can compare their predictions and results. Students will use a Data Collection sheet to record data and figure out calculations.
Share
Allow students to discuss and display their learning.
Discussion Prompts
- How can we use our data to make predictions about the average speed of the Super Car?