This lesson introduces learners to the fascinating world of automata; kinetic sculptures powered by simple mechanical systems. Through hands-on fabrication using laser cutters, vinyl cutters, and 3D printers, learners will design and assemble an automaton that integrates cams, gears, and linkages to create purposeful movement. Learners will explore the principles of mechanical movement (including cams, gears, and driveshafts) and apply their knowledge to create dynamic scenes. 3D Printer Laser Cutter Vinyl Cutter Classroom Materials Fab-in-a-Box…

Over the course of three days, participants will collect and analyze climate data from various software. The collected data will be analyzed by AI and visualized using graphic software to create impactful designs. On the last day, participants will be introduced to digital fabrication, transforming the data into a digital manufacturing prototype.   على مدار ثلاثة أيام، سيقوم المشاركون بجمع وتحليل بيانات المناخ باستخدام برامج مختلفة. سيتم تحليل البيانات التي تم جمعها بواسطة الذكاء الاصطناعي…

Lesson Summary: “Guiding Growth: Training Plants Through Light Mazes” In this interdisciplinary STEM lesson, students explore how plants respond to their environments by observing and guiding the growth of pea plants through 3D-printed maze boxes toward a light source. Students begin by watching videos and images of plant phototropism to spark curiosity about how plants move and respond to light. They then use Tinkercad to design and modify three enclosed boxes of varying difficulty, each…

Lesson Summary In this lesson, students will explore the basic needs of plants and how their external structures—roots, stems, and leaves—support their survival and growth. Students will identify the environmental factors necessary for plant health, including water, sunlight, and nutrients. Building on this understanding, they will design and create bioplastic planting pots using renewable, plant-based materials. Students will plant bean seeds in their bioplastic pots and observe how the material supports plant needs, paying special…

This activity was devised to provide an experiential, Next Generation Science Standards-based, Project-based, model lesson for preservice elementary teachers on how to design science lessons grounded in making and fabrication on the topic of Electronics.  Classroom Materials Yikes, the Power Went Out Materials: 🔌 Basic Materials for Simple Circuit Lessons Batteries (AA or coin cell – safe and easy to handle) Battery holders (with leads) LEDs (assorted colors) Alligator clips (easy to connect components without…

In this lesson, we will be teaching upper primary school students how to use Micro:bit to program a small robot car. This is a bit of an advanced coding program for Micro:bit, so I suggest running through the tutorials on the Microsoft makecode website first with students.   To see the results, check here! Computers Classroom Materials Create an RC car with upper primary. Cutebot kit   Two Micro:bits an iPad or computer with Microsoft…

The idea of this lesson is to have students build a simple circuit in a box designed to be a simple game of matching words or definitions to concepts. On the surface the box can have images and words that are related in some way. Each word or image has a metallic contact next to it. The box also has an LED on its face and 2 “probes” coming out of its side. If the…

In this lesson, students will learn about renewable energy, circuits, and create a solar power car to combine their learning. Laser Cutter Classroom Materials Solar power car for primary students The big part of this lesson is the car itself, which a kit can be purchased online. I found one on amazon but we bought our kits from Taobao in China for much, much cheaper. We bought one kit per student. If you have the…

Students will design and create a Voronoi-style 3D-printed lamp shade using MakeMyVase, model and fabricate a base for the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, and incorporate components from the Adafruit Electronics Playground Express Kit. They will program the lamp to include interactive features such as light adjustments, sound activation, and decorative motion using Adafruit MakeCode. The project will be completed with personalized vinyl decals designed and cut using a Brother ScanNCut machine.   This project integrates…

In this project, students will design and build an electronic circuit that mimics the touch sensory system, exploring how neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signaling. Using 3D-printed neuron models, students will practice soldering and transfer their designs from breadboards to sculptural circuitry, blending biology, engineering, and art to deepen their understanding of sensory pathways.   3D Printer Soldering Irons & Accessories Computers Sensory Circuit Simulation Neuron Model by SpaceKnight: 3D model of a neuron…

This is a primary lesson that helps students get familiar with Tinkercad for 3D design during the winter season. 3D Printer Winter 3D snowman iPad or computer 3D printer   KS1 – Observe and make notice of seasonal changes.   Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria.   Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology.  …

Student will learn to design and construct clay bells that are enhanced with electronics Computers Clay Bells + Electronics Clay Access to kiln Glazes Rolling pins Slab templates 3D printed molds Clay tools Access to water Plastic for covering clay Waxed thread Microcontroller + power source OR LEDs + wire or conductive tape Access to MakeCode Sketchbooks + pencils and colored markers or pencils Students will demonstrate an understanding of properties of clay, developing hand-building…

In this lesson, 4th-grade students will integrate their Scratch coding skills with media literacy concepts. Students will analyze a print advertisement by identifying persuasive techniques and create an interactive Scratch project that demonstrates their understanding. Computers Scratch Coding + Advertising Technique Analysis Hard copies of printed advertisements (link) Pencils and paper for students to take notes, plan their work before working iPads or computers for every student     Students will: Demonstrate their understanding of…

In this lesson, students will explore the relationship between heart rate, physical activity, and emotions using a pulse sensor and an RGB LED. By integrating biology, physics, and programming, students will measure their pulse, analyze how physical exertion or stress affects heart rate, and modify a microcontroller-based system to display real-time feedback. Through hands-on coding, students will customize the LED colors to represent different pulse rates and add personalized messages in Armenian when no pulse…

The “Sustainable Solutions: Building a Smart Greenwall for Urban Environments” project integrates renewable energy and urban greening to enhance sustainability education. Students will collaborate across disciplines to design and construct a Greenwall using recycled solar panels and automated watering systems. This hands-on project will deepen their understanding of renewable energy, biodiversity, and the societal benefits of sustainable practices. By working in teams, students will develop technical skills in electronics and programming, alongside soft skills like…

Working together with the Science area, students will build a model of a greenhouse and include in the model automation systems to handle some of the tasks associated with it.   When designing the automation systems on their models, students will learn to recognize opportunities for applying technology to an existing facility to make it easier to operate. They will also learn how technology is used in real life in similar places and when it…

In this lesson, students use robots to explore physics, coding, and engineering. They calculate kinetic energy by measuring their robot’s speed and mass while completing a maze. Then, they program and adjust their robots to compete in a sumo wrestling challenge, trying to knock a ping pong ball off their opponent’s robot. Students also practice teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving by improving their designs and strategies. The lesson connects coding and science and encourages real-world thinking…

This series of lessons focuses on developing a battery-operated Wi-Fi lamp. The focus is on developing the program mode, particularly controlling an LED strip, and the basics of HTML programming. 3D Printer Soldering Irons & Accessories Computers Hand Tools Structure and Function of a WiFi Lamp LED-Stripe with 12 LED, ESP8266 WIFI, Switch, USB-C-charger module, recharchable battery, wire, battery-holder, 3d-Printer, PC with Arduino-IDE   Problem-Solving Skills: Students identify the technical requirements for the project. Integrating…

For the freshman skills class, students have been learning that in the real world, you often need to connect multiple disciplines to solve problems, which culminates in a CSI unit trying to figure out who stole an item. In Psychology, Juniors have learned about the physical response your body has to lying, and why they happen (and why other things might also make that happen). In Physics, Juniors learn Ohms Law. Physical Computing, Juniors have…

 This lesson connects music, visual arts, art history, physics, and programming, During the lesson students will be encouraged active listening and creative expression through abstraction and light painting. Students will explore the works of a classic and contemporary composer while learning about Vasily Kandinsky’s synesthetic approach to translating sound into visual form. lesson will start remembering words of Kandinsky “Lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and… stop thinking!”, they will engage…