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Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit

Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit

Explore diverse themes with Strawbees Robotics, using the micro:bit to explore the world around us.

Delve into Earth's renewable energies, constructing robots that harness solar, wind, and geothermal power. Discover the biomechanics of animals by building robots that mimic their unique adaptations. Dive into automation, creating systems that perform tasks autonomously. Each course enhances problem-solving skills and creativity, preparing students for future challenges in technology and environmental sustainability.

 

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  • About Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit

    Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit is designed in alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), providing a comprehensive and balanced approach to early STEM education. This course invites young learners to explore the exciting world of robotics and renewable energy through engaging, hands-on activities that blend creativity, critical thinking, and technology.

    Our curriculum seamlessly integrates STEM principles with English Language Arts (ELA) crossovers, fostering both scientific inquiry and literacy skills. By exploring robotic concepts and building with Strawbees kits and the micro:bit, students enhance their technical abilities while developing problem-solving and communication skills. Each lesson is thoughtfully structured to include a mix of building exercises, programming challenges, and interactive projects, promoting a balance between theoretical learning and practical application.

  • Focus Areas

    Explore Earth's energy with Strawbees Robotics! Students design robots using micro:bit to harness renewable resources like solar, wind, and geothermal power. This focus area encourages creativity and problem-solving while teaching the fundamentals of robotics and programming, preparing students to tackle real-world environmental challenges.

    Delve into the world of animal adaptations with Strawbees Robotics! Using the micro:bit, students build robots that mimic the unique traits and movements of various animals. This focus area combines biology and robotics, enhancing students' understanding of biomechanics and programming through hands-on projects inspired by nature's most ingenious solutions.

    Dive into automation with Strawbees Robotics! Students harness the power of the micro:bit to design and build advanced robotic systems that automate tasks. This focus area teaches key concepts in automation technology, problem-solving, and engineering, preparing students for a future in innovative technology solutions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Powering the Future

    Students will learn to design and build robots that utilize renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal power, applying principles of environmental science and robotics to real-world energy solutions.

  • Emulating Nature

    Students will explore and replicate animal adaptations through robotics, enhancing their understanding of biomechanics and natural survival strategies by creating robots that mimic animal movements and behaviors.

  • Smart Systems Design

    Students will develop skills in programming and engineering to create autonomous robotic systems capable of performing specific tasks. This outcome focuses on understanding and applying automation principles to develop efficient and innovative solutions.

Sample Lessons

These lessons offer a glimpse into the vibrant and dynamic world of Strawbees Robotics, where students design imaginative machines that foster creativity, mechanical insight, and problem-solving prowess.

Harnessing Solar Power - Build a Sun-Tracking Robot

Kick off your robotics adventure by harnessing the power of the sun! In this lesson, students will design and build a sun-tracking robot using the micro:bit and Strawbees kits. They will learn about solar energy and how to program their robot to follow the sun, enhancing their understanding of renewable energy and robotics.

Mimicking Nature - Create a Gecko Robot

Step into the fascinating world of animal adaptations by creating a gecko robot! Students will use the micro:bit to design a robot that mimics the unique climbing abilities of a gecko. This lesson combines biology and engineering, teaching students about biomechanics and programming through hands-on construction.

Automated Systems - Build a Conveyor Belt Robot

Explore the world of automation by building a conveyor belt robot! Students will use the micro:bit and Strawbees kits to design and program a robot that can transport objects. This lesson focuses on the principles of automation and engineering, enhancing students' problem-solving skills and technical knowledge.

Wind Power Wonders - Construct a Wind Turbine Robot

Discover the power of wind energy by constructing a wind turbine robot! In this lesson, students will build and program a robot that harnesses wind power using the micro:bit. They will learn about renewable energy and the mechanics of wind turbines, fostering creativity and technical expertise.

Animal Behavior - Design a Bat Echolocation Robot

Dive into the intriguing world of animal behavior by designing a bat echolocation robot! Using the micro:bit, students will build a robot that mimics how bats navigate through echolocation. This lesson combines biology, engineering, and programming, providing a hands-on experience in understanding and replicating animal behaviors.

Course Format

Our curriculum for Strawbees Robotics: Design & Build with Micro:bit blends the dynamic structure of afterschool programs with the proven 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Each phase is carefully designed to captivate and retain student interest, fostering a seamless and enriched learning experience.

Engage Phase: We spark curiosity with captivating visuals and thought-provoking prompts related to robotics and renewable energy. This phase draws students into the subject matter by showcasing the innovative and practical applications of robotics in harnessing natural energy sources.

Explore Phase: Students embark on their educational journey with clear STEM objectives, supported by an environment that encourages experimentation and learning from mistakes. They begin to brainstorm and sketch their own robotic designs, exploring the possibilities of integrating renewable energy with robotics.

Explain Phase: Foundational STEM knowledge is delivered, integrating concepts from physics, engineering, and environmental science. Students learn about energy sources, robotics, and programming, understanding how these principles apply to their projects using the micro:bit.

Elaborate Phase: Students participate in hands-on projects, building their robots to harness renewable resources like solar, wind, and geothermal power. This phase reinforces their learning through practical application and critical thinking exercises, pushing them to innovate and refine their designs.

Evaluate Phase: The journey culminates in reflection, where students assess their achievements and connect their learning to real-world STEM applications. They showcase their robotic creations, explaining the engineering principles and environmental benefits behind their projects, and reflecting on the problem-solving skills they've developed.

This structured yet flexible approach ensures every student benefits from a comprehensive, engaging, and reflective STEM educational experience, turning innovative ideas into practical engineering solutions. Join us to explore the limitless potential of Strawbees Robotics and unleash your creativity!

Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset

At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.

  • 100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
  • Highly refined interview and background check process 
  • Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
  • Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.

We celebrate your success!

Upon the conclusion of your child's program, they will be presented with an official Brains & Motion Education certification.

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