High School iBlock Topics

Building Literacy: Design a Comic Book

From images, to text, to color palette, there is a lot to consider when designing a comic book. How are comics similar to a short story? How are they different? In this iBlock, students will investigate the history of comics and various comic texts before creating their own masterpiece. With attention to how established comic artists perfect their craft, these modules will help unleash creativity and provide a new means of expression. Finally, students will bring all of their hard work together as they create their very own comic convention.

Grade Bands: 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: ELA, Art
Secondary Focus: Communications, Visual Design
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Related Industry Sectors: Arts, Media & Entertainment, Communication

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. (Anchor Standard 10)

Building Literacy: Develop a Play

How does a story change when it’s developed into a play? In this iBlock, that’s exactly what students will explore as they become playwrights. Before writing their play, students will take a closer look at the history of theatre and play structure, then they will write and perform an original one-act play. Considerations will be made to set design, costuming, sound, lighting, casting, and blocking. Students can even consider how they could convert their play into a movie. It’s time to “break a leg!”

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: ELA, Performing Arts
Secondary Focus: Communications
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: Glowforge, 3D printer
Related Industry Sectors: Arts, Media & Entertainment, Communications

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Synthesize knowledge from a variety of dramatic forms, theatrical conventions, and technologies to create the visual composition of a drama/ theatre work. (HS Advanced TH:Cr1.1.III a.)

Coding a Classification System

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.

Grade Band: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Physical Computing and Computer Programming
Secondary Focus: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: Piper, pi-top
Related Industry Sectors: Information & Communication Technologies

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)

Create a Video Game

iBlock Objective:

Within the last 40 years, video games have been an essential part of our media entertainment. From arcades to home consoles, and now to our smartphones, video games have found many outlets in which new audiences can be reached. In this iBlock, students will create their own compelling video game from start to finish using Bloxels, and then create their own official video game reviews.

Grade Band: 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Literacy
Secondary Focus: Engineering Design
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Required Technologies: Bloxels, Makey Makey (extension only)
Related Industry Sectors: Arts, Media, & Entertainment

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Determine the key ideas or conclusions of a source; trace the source’s explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the source. (Next Generation ELA Standards, 9-10RST2)

Design Your Own Escape Room

iBlock Objective:

Escape room games are a fun amusement, but they also provide an opportunity to explore the history of new gaming formats, problem-solving skills, and even storytelling. In this iBlock, students will learn more about the history and culture of this “new” form of entertainment, and then plan, design, and construct their very own!

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: Design Thinking
Secondary Focus: Problem Solving and Engineering
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Related Industry Sectors: Design, Cryptology

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

9-12.CY.4: Evaluate applications of cryptographic methods.

Escape Room iBlock now with Breakout EDU

Breakout EDU provides an opportunity for students to play active roles in their classrooms. Watch engagement soar as students become immersed in the game – asking questions, solving problems, and participating in group discussions.

Engineering an Assistive Game Controller

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!

Grade Band: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Engineering, Programming
Secondary Focus: ELA, Communication
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: littleBits, Sparkfun, Makey Makey, 3D printer
Related Industry Sectors: Scientific Research & Engineering; Manufacturing & Product Development

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)

Financial Literacy

iBlock Objective:

You may have heard it said before, but it’s never too early to start preparing for your financial future. In this iBlock, students will explore key concepts in personal finance and map out a plan in order to give them a secure financial future. Tasks include creating a budget, preparing savings and credit accounts, building an investment portfolio, and presenting the final product.

Grade Band: 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Economics and Financial Literacy
Secondary Focus: Future Readiness
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Related Industry Sectors: Finance, Business

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Spending 12-9: Having an organized system for keeping track of spending, saving, and investing makes it easier to make financial decisions.

Growing a Hydroponic Garden

iBlock Objective:

Agriculture has always been one of the building blocks of human civilization. Humanity has changed a lot since civilization first began, and that includes the way we grow our plants. In this iBlock, students will explore different agricultural structures and incorporate emerging resources to cultivate a technologically enhanced botanical space. Students will also tackle challenges like growing plants in space-conscious environments for a rapidly growing population, and together discover the future of sustainable gardening.

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: Ecology, Engineering
Secondary Focus: STEM
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: Farmshelf, pi-top 4
Related Industry Sectors: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems. (HS-ESS3-4)

Prosthetics

Description

Technology and design have had a major impact on the function of modern-day prosthetics. They’ve also served to make prosthetics more accessible. In this iBlock, students will navigate through the Engineering Design Process to design and develop a prosthetic device. To complete this task, students will explore 21st century skills such as critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration. Solutions can include computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, circuitry, and more.

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: Design, Fabrication, and Engineering
Secondary Focus: STEM and Problem-Solving
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Additional Suggested Technology: 3D printer
Related Industry Sectors: Medical Technology, Scientific Research and Engineering

Here is a sample NGSS standard for this iBlock:

Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. (HS-ETS1-3)

Robotics: Robotic Assembly Line

iBlock Objective:

During the Industrial Revolution, assembly lines greatly improved manufacturing efficiency and in turn, production capacity. We are now in a new age of advanced technology and once again manufacturing is changing — but this time because of robotics, not a new manufacturing framework. In this iBlock, students will learn about the history of assembly lines, the future of assembly lines, and then build a robot to function in an assembly line environment.

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: Robotics
Secondary Focus: Engineering
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: ROBOTIS STEM, Sparkfun, Sphero RVR, UBTECH
Related Industry Sectors: Scientific Research & Engineering; Manufacturing & Product Development

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

Here is a sample K12 CSTA COMPUTER SCIENCE standard for this iBlock:

Modify, remix, or incorporate portions of an existing program into one’s own work, to develop something new or add more advanced features. (1B-AP-12)

Robotics: Robotic Field Day

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!

Grade Band: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Robotics
Secondary Focus: Engineering
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: ROBOTIS Kits, UBTECH, 3D printer, Cubelets
Related Industry Sectors: Scientific Research & Engineering; Information & Communication Technologies; Hospitality, Tourism, & Recreation

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)

Rube Goldberg Machines

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.

Grade Band: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Problem Solving and Engineering (Elementary, Middle) / Engineering and Physics (High)
Secondary Focus: Design and ELA (Elementary, Middle) / ELA and Business (High)
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: littleBits, Cubelets, Sphero, 3D printer, etc.
Related Industry Sectors: Scientific Research & Engineering; Arts, Media, & Entertainment

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.)

Space Systems: Engineer a Telescope

iBlock Objective:

Scientists have been trying to see and explore the mysteries of the universe for centuries. Over time, our understanding of space and the technology available to view the mysteries found there has evolved. In this iBlock, students will learn about the evolution of the telescope and the optical science that makes them work. Using their new or expanded knowledge, students will design and build a telescope, using 3D printed materials and other consumables, to make their own observations about space!

Grade Band: 9-12
Primary Focus: Astronomy, 3D Printing
Secondary Focus: Engineering
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: 3D printer
Related Industry Sectors: Scientific Research & Engineering

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system. (HS-ESS1-4)