iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Getting a class pet is an exciting event for students! In this Class Pet PBL (Project-Based lLearning) iBlock, students will learn about different class pets, then choose a robot to represent a particular pet. They will also propose a good classroom home for it and design a presentation to convince the class to vote for their idea. If students are convincing, their pet might even be selected!

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Develop questions and participate in shared research and explorations to answer questions and to build knowledge. (NYS Next Gen. ELA: 2W6)

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Animals of all sorts are an exciting topic for young students, especially animals as impressive as dinosaurs in this Design a Dinosaur PBL iBlock! In this project-based learning iBlock, students will embark on a journey to discover unknown facts and features about different types of dinosaurs. They will learn about different dinosaurs and their features, and from there, design their own dinosaur and the habitat it would call home. To guide their design, students will research several dinosaur species and determine the features for their own species. Once they have decided upon the features, they will move on to the design of their dinosaur’s habitat. For both tasks, students will be challenged to add creativity through different artistic elements.

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Ask questions based on observations to find more information about the natural and/or designed world(s). Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. (NGSS: K-2-ETS1-1)

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

It is the not-too-distant future and humankind is getting ready to take the next great step in space exploration: a colony on Mars! Intrepid individuals with skills in various STEAM areas are called to assist in planning and building the future colony, and the most daring of them will live there as the very first Martians! In this Mars Colony: Engineering Expedition PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will research space exploration, Mars, and survival essentials before planning for a historic trip to populate a new planet. Students will need to plan and build solutions for the essentials — habitat, transportation, communication, and more. Together, we can bring humanity to the next era of its development.

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

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. (NGSS: MS-ETS1-1.)

iBlocks Project Based Learning 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 Reimagining Public Transportation PBL (Project-Based Learning) 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. (NGSS: 3-PS2-1)

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

For over 100 years, amusement parks have garnered the love of many families through their incredible rides. In this Robotics: Robotic Amusement Park PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will research various amusement park rides so that they can design and build their own dream ride. Along the way, they’ll test their design and make improvements. Finally, the students will get their creations ready for their grand debut, and even bring their rides together to create a class theme park.

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis of the test results, in order to improve it. (NGSS: MS-ETS1-4)

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

Here is a sample NYC P12 Science Learning standard for this iBlock:

Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. (NGSS: 3-5-ETS1-1)

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. (NGSS: 4-PS3-2.)

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Storytelling has been around for centuries — it is a fundamental part of being human and an essential learning tool. Our ancestors would tell stories that were passed down from generation to generation with nothing more than their imaginations. Now, we are still telling the same stories, but in new and innovative ways that both speak to our past and look forward to the future. In this Storytelling Through the Ages PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will develop a new story and work through the process of storyline creation, character development, narrative arc, developing props & visuals, and presenting their final product. Finally, students will bring storytelling into the 21st century by coding a robot or program to tell their story!

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

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others. (NYS Next Gen. ELA: 3-5SL1)