Teacher Resources
Watch this video to learn more about VEX IQ (2nd generation) STEM Labs, and the structure of these lessons. Reference the Facilitation Guide linked below for specific information on how to prepare and lead this STEM Lab Unit in your classroom. Beneath this video and link are additional resources available to support you as you implement the Castle Crasher Unit with your students.
Facilitating Castle Crasher
Getting Started
Watch this video to learn more about how to get started with this STEM Lab Unit in your classroom.
After watching the video, you can use these articles about student self-assessment and co-creating learning targets to start the conversation with your students.
Building Your First Robot
Follow along with this video to build an IQ (2nd gen) BaseBot. This will provide you with helpful tips and information beyond the build instructions while you build your first robot.
You can also share this with your students if they need additional assistance while building.
Teaching with VEXcode IQ Python
Watch this video to learn more about the resources to support you teaching this STEM Lab Unit with Python in your classroom.
After watching the video, see the Python resources for additional facilitation support as you implement this Unit with your students.
VEXcode IQ Python Resources for this Unit
Using Pseudocode
Watch this video to learn more about using pseudocode with your students to help them build a conceptual understanding of their code.
For more information about the steps for using pseudocode with your students, see the article linked below.
Planning and Implementation
Facilitating the Castle Crasher Unit
View the Facilitation Guide to find support as you facilitate each of the Lessons in this Unit. An answer key for the Check Your Understanding Questions throughout the Unit are also provided for reference while you complete the Unit with your students.
Facilitating This Unit
Check Your Understanding Questions Answer Key
VEX IQ Leaderboard
The VEX IQ Leaderboard is a fun and interactive tool that can be used to display and document student performance in STEM Lab Unit challenges and competitions, keeping students engaged with each other and the competition.
Pacing Guide
Teachers and schools desire a plan for instruction that aligns with their goals. Check out our recommendations for pacing instruction based on the school calendar, the classroom schedule, student learning needs, and combining VEX IQ with VIQC Virtual Skills.
Cumulative Pacing Guide
Materials Needed
Here is a list containing everything you need to implement this IQ STEM Lab Unit into your school or classroom.
Master Materials List
Standards Alignment
VEX IQ STEM Lab Units align with Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and Common Core Math standards. View the following sheets to see where and how these standards are reached in the Units.
Rubric
Below is the debrief conversation rubric used with students and teachers for summative assessment at the end of the Unit, as well as an article on facilitating effective debrief conversations with your students.
Debrief Conversation Rubric
Letter Home
The Letter Home can be shared with your classroom guardians to communicate what students are doing and learning through the Castle Crasher Unit in the classroom, and how they can continue this learning at home. This Letter Home can also be personalized to meet your classroom community's needs.
Castle Crasher Letter Home
Facilitation Support
Learn more about facilitating productive and meaningful conversations with students as they are building, collaborating, coding, and building resilience through the VEX IQ STEM Lab Units, with these Knowledge Base articles.
Facilitating Engineering Conversations with Students Facilitating Coding Conversations with Students Using Pair Programming for Student Collaboration Building Resilience with Effective Feedback
Customizing Resources
The Facilitation Guide, Check Your Understanding questions, and Letter Home are available as editable Google Docs and Sheets, so you can copy and personalize them to best fit your needs. These articles will guide you through how to make a copy of these documents in your personal Google Drive, or download them for editing with Microsoft Word.