Skip to main content

3rd & 4th

Pair Programming Puzzles


Olympics Scratch Project 

STEM Class: 3rd and 4th Grade Curricular Goals

In years five and six of STEM class, the focus is on understanding that systems -- as well as objects -- can be designed and modified, developing an awareness that engineers work within constraints, and improving the integrity of tests to generate more accurate information about the performance of a design idea.

Design Sensitivity and Maker Empowerment
Looking Closely Exploring Complexities Finding Opportunity for Making
I can identify parts, purposes, and complexities of a given object. I can analyze an object’s place within a system by considering the relationships of the parts to the whole. I can list a variety of ways that an object could be improved and transformed.



Engineering Design Standards
Defining Engineering Problems Generating and Modeling Ideas Testing and Evaluating Ideas Refining Ideas
I can define a problem that can be solved by engineering. I can identify and list conditions for success and describe possible constraints. I can generate multiple solution ideas and compare the strengths and weaknesses of each. I can identify how each idea meets or does not meet success criteria. I can create a fair test for assessing ideas. I can analyze outcomes of tests. I can use collected data and information about failure points to modify a design.


Computer Science
Computer Programming Computational Thinking and Computer Literacy
I can make decisions about when to use loops, events, and conditionals when programming a computer or a robot. I can create my own algorithm to program a solution to a task.

I can decompose a programming task into smaller, manageable pieces.

With help, I can debug code.


STEM Class Principles
Imagine Possibilities Dig Into Mistakes Embrace Challenges Ask Questions Share and Show Kindness

3rd & 4th Grade Projects 2019-2020:

  • Create a Marble Run Component
  • Gratitude Parade Floats
  • Robot Exploration
  • Scratch Olympic Sports Project
  • LED Constellations

Popular posts from this blog

7th & 8th Graders Showcase Automata!

  Several times each year, our school specialist team works together to create integrated units of study, where students explore a common theme through each of our content areas -- art, music, library/multimedia, PE, and STEM. Our 7th and 8th graders recently completed a Winter Carnival themed unit, where they worked on creating products or performances to showcase during a special carnival event for students in grades PK-2. In STEM class, students designed, built, and improved automata, which are mechanical devices that generate motion through a series of spinning cams, axles, and cam followers. Image Source: Adafruit The following success criteria guided the work for our 7th & 8th grade students: The automata must have a winter theme. The automata must feature at least one element that spins, goes up or down, or moves side to side. The automata design must include at least 10 different materials. Additionally, students were challenged to create a...

Technology Club: Scratch

For the past two months, second and third grade students participating in our after school Technology Club have been using the block-based coding tools in Scratch to create animations. In the club, students tinkered with graphic design, sound, and coding to bring their ideas to life. Check out some photos of their designs!

7th & 8th Graders Code In Python

In their first computer science project of the year, our 7th and 8th graders took a big step in their journeys as programmers -- moving from block-based to text-based coding. In previous STEM projects, students have used tools that allow them to snap together code "blocks" to make things happen. In this unit, they were responsible for typing commands to tell the computer how to execute actions. The image below shows the difference between text-based coding and block-based coding. While there are many different text-based coding languages, our 7th & 8th graders learned skills in Python, due to its beginner-friendly nature. Still, making this transition is not easy, so students were provided with resources and modules to work through that allowed them to have some starting directions and then challenged them to stretch their thinking by generating their own additions and modifications. Here's a look at a project, called "Turtle Race," in action:  https:...