A big shout out to Prairie Lakes AEA for being innovative and finding ways to resource new curricular opportunities for the schools it supports!
New to Prairie Lakes AEA lending library is Cubelets!
Cubelets are magnetic blocks that introduce children of all ages to robotics, coding, and design thinking.
Cubelets come in three types: Sense blocks, Action blocks, and Think blocks. Sense blocks are black, Action blocks are clear, and Think blocks are different colors. Most Cubelets have five connection faces and one special face, which identifies the function of that Cubelet. Others have six connection faces and their function is indicated by their color. Every Cubelet has a small LED light in one corner. When the Cubelet is part of a robot and the robot’s Battery block is turned on, the LED light is on, too. The LED light shows that the Cubelet is getting power and talking to its neighbors. Each Cubelet robot must have one Battery block which powers all the other blocks in the robot. Each connecting face of a Cubelet has three conductors. The outer ring and magnets conduct ground; the inner metal ring conducts power; and the center pin conducts data from one Cubelet to the next. These three conductors must connect with their neighboring counterparts in order for two Cubelets to communicate.
Definitely check out the Cubelets' website!
With the roll-out of the new NGSS Standards, in particularly, the standards on Engineering Design, the functionality of Cubelets was a perfect segway to guide students.
ETS1-1-Engineering Design
Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
ETS1-2-Engineering Design
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
ETS1-3-Engineering Design
Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success
ETS1-4-Engineering Design
Develop a model to generate data for interactive testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
I approached our MS Science teacher - Mr. Tony Johnson - with the opportunity to experience the Cubelets with his classes. He was very eager for his students to "give it a try."
This is what Mr. Johnson had to say, "The students enjoyed working with the blocks, designing robots and experimenting with the different functions. They ended up using the process exactly how it was intended, making a design and then having to go back and modify it and test again."
I had the pleasure of visiting the Science classroom when the students were interacting with the Cubelets. It was awesome to witness their creativity, problem-solving strategies, and design thinking as well as the collaboration that took place. Students even used the bluetooth cube, paired it with their own digital devices, and discovered new possibilities through this exploration.
The Cubelets have already been reserved for Mr. Johnson to use in his classes next Fall.