Laser Cutters & Engravers iBlock Topics

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.)

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.

Designing a Board Game

iBlock Objective:

Board games are experiencing a tremendous revival, fueled by new styles of gaming. A shift from luck and conflict to strategy and cooperation has brought new players into the genre. In this iBlock, students will plan a game, research game mechanics, design their play area and pieces, and then determine how to play-test their creation. Finally, they’ll examine how to package and publicize their game, and maybe even present a sales pitch to interested buyers.

Grade Band: 6-8
Primary Foci: ELA, Engineering
Secondary Foci: Art, Marketing
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: 3D printer
Related Industry Sectors: Arts, Media, & Entertainment; Marketing, Sales, & Services

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and artmaking approaches in creating works of art or design. (NYS Learning Standards for the Arts, VA. Cr2.1.7a.)

Geometric Self-Watering Planter

iBlock Objective:

Are you looking for a creative, project-based way to teach your students about computer-aided design? In this iBlock, students will construct a geometric self-watering planter in Tinkercad. This project will utilize advanced skills in CAD software and challenge students to think mathematically while designing.

Grade Band: 6-8
Primary Focus: CAD
Secondary Focus: Geometry
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: 3D printer, laser cutter, micro:bit soil moisture sensor
Related Industry Sectors: Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources; Marketing, Sales, & Services

Here is a sample NGSS standard for this iBlock:

6-7.G Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume.

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)

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)

Tiny Houses

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.

Grade Band: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Primary Focus: Science (Elementary), STEM (Middle)
Secondary Focus: Math and Engineering (Elementary), Human Impacts and Engineering (Middle)
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Possible Suggested Technologies: littleBits STEAM Kit, 3Doodler, Squishy Circuits
Related Industry Sectors: Engineering & Architecture; Marketing, Sales, & Services

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)