iBlock Objective:

Getting a class pet is an exciting event for students! In this iBlock, students will learn about different class pets, then choose a robot to represent a particular pet. They will also propose a good classroom home for it and design a presentation to convince the class to vote for their idea. If students are convincing, their pet might even be selected!

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Develop questions and participate in shared research and explorations to answer questions and to build knowledge. (NYS Next Generation ELA Standards, 2W6)

iBlock Objective:

It’s crucial that today’s students become fluent in computer science skills and concepts. In this iBlock, students will build their computer science fluency as they conduct research on a topic of their choosing and develop a fully functional coding application to help them gain a better understanding of their research. Students will utilize computer programming software to go through the process of finding, organizing, classifying, and presenting research. In addition, students will create a visual and written plan for the logic of their program and create a fully functional program that takes user input and answers the student’s original question.

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering. (HS-ETS1-2)

iBlock Objective:

When we think about trucks, we often think of fire trucks or pickup trucks, but there are so many other trucks to explore! In this iBlock, students will learn about different types of trucks as well as their unique functions. Students will research the specific uses for each truck and the impact that these trucks may have on a community. After the research process, students will choose a type of truck to design and utilize STEM and/or consumable materials to assemble the truck and have it perform the intended tasks. To make their truck roadworthy, students should work with peers, repair the truck as needed, and design a presentation to show off their auto creations!

Focus of the iBlock:

An iBlock provides a cross-curricular, holistic learning approach by structuring your learning content with a primary and secondary subject focus (see this in action below). But because iBlocks are also customizable and expandable, these foci can change to suit your school’s needs, should you choose to tailor your iBlock.

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Develop a simple model based on evidence to represent a proposed object or tool. (K-2-ETS1-2.)

iBlock Objective:

In this iBlock, students will learn about inclusivity, game controller design, and the gaming industry. Then, they’ll work towards creating a game controller for a gamer with disabilities to use with a simple coded video game. This iBlock takes students through the engineering design process from research on disabilities and the history of the game controller to designing and building an assistive controller and simple game, to improving their device and hosting an arcade event!

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. (MS-ETS1-2)

iBlock Objective:

When most people think about weather and climate, they immediately check the news or their favorite weather app. Is it going to rain today? Will there be flooding? With the threat of severe or hazardous weather, it is important to consider what we can do to protect ourselves, our homes, and our communities. With a focus on flooding, it is our mission to determine how best to protect and preserve resources, people, and communities during times of severe weather. How would you tackle the threat of a flood? In this iBlock, students will consider how and why floods form as well as specific areas of concern. Students will then engineer a lifted house or system to best prepare for, and protect people during severe flooding conditions.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard. (3-ESS3-1)

Geography plays an important role in how people live, beginning by influencing which communities occupy given areas. As Native American communities began to settle and adapt to their environment, they were challenged by climate and terrain conditions, such as dry land, extreme cold, or high mountain ranges, as well as natural resources. As a result, they developed patterns of behavior. Some groups resorted to behavioral patterns such as migration, while other Native American groups chose to use the land and resources around them to structure more permanent homes. In this iBlock, students will explore how geography influenced the lives of different Native American communities. Then they will design and construct a redesigned model of a Native American home structure.

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Write informative/explanatory texts to explore a topic and convey ideas and information relevant to the subject. (3-5-W2)

iBlock Objective:

Animals of all sorts are an exciting topic for young students, especially animals as impressive as dinosaurs! In this iBlock, students will embark on a journey to discover unknown facts and features about different types of dinosaurs. They will learn about different dinosaurs and their features, and from there, design their own dinosaur and the habitat it would call home. To guide their design, students will research several dinosaur species and determine the features for their own species. Once they have decided upon the features, they will move on to the design of their dinosaur’s habitat. For both tasks, students will be challenged to add creativity through different artistic elements.

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Ask questions based on observations to find more information about the natural and/or designed world(s). Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. [K-2-ETS1-1]

iBlock Objective:

Millions of people around the United States take a train to work each day. Some of these commuters live a short distance from their destination, but many travel over an hour just to get to work! Can you imagine a workweek where a minimum of 2 hours each day is spent commuting? As the number of people commuting only continues to grow, innovators are continually seeking to make transportation more efficient by building faster trains that can carry more passengers. In this iBlock, students will develop an understanding of efficiency by building their own model train, capable of either going faster, or carrying more weight than their peers.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balance and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object. (3-PS2-1)

iBlock Objective:

What’s in the water? The world’s rivers and streams are a priceless resource, but various forms of pollution pose a threat to water quality. Scientists carry out studies to determine physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water to get an accurate understanding of water quality. It’s critical that we know the current status of water-quality conditions and how and why those conditions have been changing over time. With a better understanding of water quality, the growing need to protect the world’s water resources may be better understood. So how do scientists assess whether river ecosystems are being protected? What does it entail to study a river’s “health”? In this iBlock, students will engineer a device or system that will sample an environmental parameter that indicates water health.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect Earth’s resources and environment. (5-ESS3-1)

iBlock Objective:

In our technologically advanced society, we can now program robots to compete for us! Students will show off the very best of this new age of technology while learning about the importance of the past. In this iBlock, students will research the history of past sporting events and create robots to compete in specific games for their very own futuristic robotic field day!

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample NYC P12 Science Learning standard for this iBlock:

reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. (3-5-ETS1-1)

iBlock Objective:

Rube Goldberg Machines accomplish a simple task through an elaborately humorous and overcomplicated method. In this iBlock, challenge your students to think outside the box and discover the unexpected kinetic properties in everyday objects as they design their own Rube Goldberg Machine (RGM). In order to build their contraption, students will research and explore simple machines and chain reactions and how they both relate to the world around them. From ideation to interaction, students will engage in creative thinking, critical reasoning, and teamwork as they engineer these truly unique machines.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Make observations to provide evidence that energy is conserved as it is transferred and/or converted from one form to another. (4-PS3-2.)

iBlock Objective:

The Earth-Sun-Moon system impacts our tides, seasons, and perceptions of time. In ancient times, engineers created some of the very first tools to measure time, including the sundial. In this iBlock, students will be challenged to design their own device to track time. Using CAD software, they will first design, and then 3D print, their device.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky. (5-ESS1-2)

iBlock Objective:

Storytelling has been around for centuries — it is a fundamental part of being human and an essential learning tool. Our ancestors would tell stories that were passed down from generation to generation with nothing more than their imaginations. Now, we are still telling the same stories, but in new and innovative ways that both speak to our past and look forward to the future. Students will develop a new story and work through the process of storyline creation, character development, narrative arc, developing props & visuals, and presenting their final product. Finally, students will bring storytelling into the 21st century by coding a robot or program to tell their story!

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others. (NYS Next Generation ELA Standards, 3-5SL1.)

iBlock Objective:

With the world population estimated at around 7.7 billion, concerns rise over issues like housing, natural resource use, and environmental impact. Tiny houses have emerged as a movement and potential solution to mitigate our demands on energy consumption and our lifestyle footprint. Throughout this iBlock, students will explore energy consumption and efficiency, identify ways in which tiny homes can address efficiency concerns, design and engineer a tiny home solution model, and present their models at their very own home show.

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Obtain and combine information from books and other reliable media to explain phenomena. (4-ESS3-1)