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.

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)

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:

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:

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)

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)