Strawbees iBlock Topics

Engineering for Hazardous Weather: Taking Flood Control to New Heights

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

When most people think about weather and climate, they immediately check the news or their favorite weather app. Is it going to rain today? Will there be flooding? With the threat of severe or hazardous weather, it is important to consider what we can do to protect ourselves, our homes, and our communities. With a focus on flooding, it is our mission to determine how best to protect and preserve resources, people, and communities during times of severe weather. How would you tackle the threat of a flood? In this Engineering for Hazardous Weather: Taking Flood Control to New Heights PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will consider how and why floods form as well as specific areas of concern. Students will then engineer a lifted house or system to best prepare for, and protect people during severe flooding conditions.
  • Grade Band: 3-5
  • Primary Focus: Weather
  • Secondary Focus: Engineering
  • Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
  • Suggested Product Category: 3D Modeling (incl. 3D printers, laser & craft cutters), AR/VR, Physical Computing
  • Teq Product Alignment: ClassVR, Makerbot, Merge, Strawbees, Ultimaker
  • Academic Alignment: Science, Engineering, STEM
  • CTE Alignment: Construction, Energy & Natural Resources
An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).
Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:
Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard. (NGSS: 3-ESS3-1)

Fashion for Function: Smart Wearables

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Wearable technology has changed quite drastically since the first items hit stores. Some of the most drastic changes and innovations in “smart” wearables have been focused on making them aesthetically pleasing while also serving a purpose, whether that’s fashion, health, or entertainment. In this Fashion for Function: Smart Wearables PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will design a unique piece of wearable technology that fulfills a function. Who knows — maybe one day it will climb to the top of gift idea lists!
  • Grade Band: 6-8
  • Primary Focus: Design, Fabrication, Engineering
  • Secondary Focus: ELA, Marketing
  • Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
  • Suggested Product Category: 3D Modeling (incl. 3D printers, laser & craft cutters), AR/VR, Electronics/Circuitry Kits, Physical Computing
  • Teq Product Alignment: 3Doodler, Cricut, Maker & Coder, Makerbot, Makey Makey, Strawbees, Ultimaker, xTool
  • Academic Alignment: Engineering, Art & Design, Coding, Science, STEM
  • CTE Alignment: Advanced Manufacturing, Arts, Entertainment, and Design, Healthcare & Human Services
An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).
Here is a sample content standard for this Fashion for Function: Smart Wearables PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock:
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. (NGSS: MS-ETS1-2)

Robotics: Robotic Amusement Park

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)

Rube Goldberg Machines

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Rube Goldberg Machines accomplish a simple task through an elaborately humorous and overcomplicated method. In this Rube Goldberg Machines PBL (Project-Based Learning) 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.

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.)

The Phys. Ed iBlock

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

Calling all creative minds and game enthusiasts! Get ready to combine the power of physical education, health, and recreation through a project-based exploration that follows the engineering design process! This pathway will guide you in creating a solution that promotes healthy living and movement. Are you ready to combine the power of physical activity, mental challenges, and focus-boosting activities into a brand new physical activity? Get your athletic shoes ready and your innovation caps on. We’re about to develop a fun and engaging way to get our bodies moving and even sharpen our minds and focus!
Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:
Identifies/ applies strategies to improve health-enhancing behaviors. (NY Phys. Ed Learning Standards: 3.2.6-7)

Tiny Houses

iBlocks Project Based Learning 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 Tiny Houses PBL (Project-Based Learning) 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.
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. (NGSS: 4-ESS3-1)

Strawbees