Science

Action on Climate

This kit for the Micro:bit has equipment and lessons that facilitate pro-climate projects and get students thinking and working on various solutions.

Surface Tension

Could students incorporate custom-designed bubble wands into their study of surface tension? Easily designed in a period, and the Bourn Idea Lab will print and deliver.

Soil Sensations

Students can construct and code a soil moisture monitoring system in less than an hour.

Landforms

Enrich study of a geographic feature or region, perhaps in conjunction with geology and earthquakes, by selecting, manipulating, and 3D printing a file. OR, students can design and print their own landforms with fault zones or other features.

Game the Concept

Students can use an easy coding environment to create a retro game that simulates a system or process from science. In the example, the player is capturing carbon molecules while avoiding trees.

Time to Water?

Students can create an effective soil moister monitor, and then can even automate plant watering by incorporating a servo motor that is activated by a set level of dryness.

Sci Challenges

This page has a bevy of environmental challenges that students can learn about and then prototype solutions for. Let's merge science learning with hands-on solutions!

Windy?

Students can measure comparative amounts of wind with some simple components and a little coding.

Pinball It

Students can express their understanding of a system or process by creating a game around it. What role does the pinball play? What zones are there? Art, coding, and engineering can combine to let the science content come to life in a super fun way.

Crash It

Inertia: it's not a just a good idea--it's the law. In this example, students designed crumple zone bumpers for this egg-bearing car. They tried to apply their growing understanding of the physics of car crashes to reduce occupant harm. This or similar simulations can help bring theory to the real world of school.

Show It

How about we help students express their understanding of a process or system through art and light? Changing light displays can help tell the story.

Tell a Story in Light

The example here tells the story of a train commute, but what stories from science might your students tell with LED stickers and a little easy coding? How about a migratory pattern, population trends, climate data, cellular behavior, and more?

Adapt It

Students can create models to explore concepts from science. One idea is to have them create their own unique beasts that are adapted in specific ways for a given environment. This sample project was done with third graders, but older students can increase the sophistication.

Inputs

This single board can detect motion, light, heat, sound, touch, and moisture. Students can monitor the environment or can create simulated devices that might help in real-world scenarios.

Shake It

With some coding and a Micro:bit microcontroller students can simulate a seismic sensor to measure earthquakes.

Plotting acceleration:

Balance?

Here's an example of a microcontroller being used to detect whether something is balanced within a given range.