ROBOTICS
Engage Your Students in STEM with Robotics
The world needs more innovators, creators, and thinkers. Simply put, there is a growing societal need to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning in classrooms. This is especially prevalent at the elementary and middle school levels, where there is a call for integrated learning programs that allow teachers to engage students in creative and meaningful ways, while also meeting today's rigorous academic standards.
The world needs more
innovators, creators, and thinkers
A little more about VEX Technology....
VEX IQ electronics are "smart". They take industry leading technology, like quadrature encoders and current monitors in every Smart Motor, and package it so that it's easy for both beginners to understand and experts to take full advantage of.
At the heart of every robot is the VEX IQ Robot Brain, featuring a back lit LCD screen and 12 Smart Ports (configurable as either motors or sensors) for additional versatility in robot design. In the hands of every student is the VEX IQ Controller, a familiar and intuitive "video game"-style interface.
All electronics come with pre-installed Driver Control code, which means that students can drive their creations as soon as they're built! This immediate feedback gives beginners an opportunity to get excited about their creation before diving into programming.
At St. Luke, girls and boys in the Primary Years Programme are introduced to the engineering concepts via the Robotics Program. This early exposure kindles their interest in STEM. Middle Years Programme students are able to sign up for a Robotics elective where they take a deeper dive into design, trial and error, implementation and function.
A STEM Education Revolution
Robotics is being taught in the Primary Years Program in grades 1st through 5th within the science unit.
A more extensive look at Robotics is taught in an elective offered to the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
robotics in grades 1-8
Robotics teacher, Kim Huntamer, has vast experience at coaching from his long tenure as a soccer coach. He enjoys leading students in engineering challenges that stretch their imaginations and practices their problem solving abilities. He enjoys the constant surprise of imagination and discovery in students. Students with all kinds of different strengths can make an impact with this program. It is challenging to both the individual and to the team as a whole.
kim huntamer, robotics director
Unit A: It’s Your Future – Learn about STEM, engineering, and robotics
Unit B: Let’s Get Started – Learn about VEX IQ, the Controller, and the Robot Brain
Unit C: Your First Robot – Build and test Clawbot IQ
Unit D: Simple Machines & Motion – Explore Levers, Pulleys, Pendulums, & more
Unit E: Chain Reaction Challenge – Design fun devices using Simple Machines
Unit F: Key Concepts – Explore and apply science and math that engineers use
Unit G: Mechanisms – Motors, Gear Ratio, Drivetrains, Object Manipulation & more
Unit H: Ringmaster Challenge – Build a challenge-ready teleoperated robot
Unit I: Smart Machines – Learn how sensors work and the basics of programming
Unit J: Chain Reaction Programming Challenge – Apply sensor and programming knowledge to automate fun devices
Unit K: Smarter Machines – Expand your knowledge of sensors and programming
Unit L: Ringmaster Programming Challenge – Build a challenge-ready autonomous robot
curriculum topics
