STEM Electives at McKee Middle School

Are you a creative, critical-thinker? Do you enjoy finding solutions to problems?  Are you interested in computers, technology, and robots? If so, you might enjoy taking a STEM Elective class at McKee Middle School. 

Classes are limited, so students who want to be in STEM must fill out an application. Go to the How To Apply page to learn more about how to apply to be in STEM next year. 

The STEM Electives classes offered use Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum. The courses are set up as a three year path that students follow from 6th to 8th grade. 

Here is a brief overview of the STEM/PLTW classes being offered at McKee Middle School this year: 

Micro:bit Controller 

Computer Science for Innovators & Makers 

Computer Science for Innovators & Makers - This course students learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development.  Using microcontrollers with inputs and outputs, they develop code that brings their physical designs to life. 

This course is exclusively for 6th grade students. 

This curriculum is taught in my Period 5A and 5B classes. 

Design & Modeling 

Design & Modeling (DM) - This course introduces students to the Engineering Design process to solve various problems and build prototypes of their solutions.  Students will work in groups to design and build a foot orthosis, a wooden puzzle cube, and a therapeutic toy.  Students will also learn how to sketch their design ideas and use CAD (Computer Aided Design) software to create 3D versions of their designs on a computer. 

This curriculum is taught in my Period 1, 2, and 7 classes. 

Puzzle Cube project

Puzzle Cube Project

VEX Gateways Testbed

VEX Testbed for VEXcode V5 

Automation & Robotics 

Automation & Robotics (AR) - This course uses VEX building kits to introduce students to mechanical engineering.  Students will learn about gears and using force and torque to create machines that pick up and move blocks.  In order to automate their machines, students will earn how to write code (or program) using Robot C (a C-based programming language). 

This curriculum is taught during 4th Period

Medical Detectives 

Medical Detectives (MD) - In this course students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they analyze genetic testing results to diagnose disease and study DNA evidence found at a “crime scene.” They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, investigate how to measure and interpret vital signs, and learn how the systems of the human body work together to maintain health. 


This curriculum is taught in Ms. Bostick's 7th Period. 

Medical Detectives -  Measuring Blood Pressure

 Blood Pressure Lab

Magic of Electrons 

Magic of Electrons (ME) - Through hands-on projects, students explore electricity, the behavior and parts of atoms, and sensing (input) devices. They learn knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design and examine the impact of electricity on the world around them. 

Snap Circuits