K12 Activities & Lesson Plans
Overview
In partnership with K12 teacher research fellows and our partner organizations, IoT4Ag has developed a suite of lesson plans and activities designed to build bridges to enhance curriculum and build student interest, enthusiasm, and awareness in STEM to address the societal grand challenge of food, energy, and water security. The activities and lesson plans below have been designed to be used in IoT4Ag outreach activities as well as for implementation in K12 classrooms.
If you use any of these materials or have feedback on how they can be improved, please complete this feedback form.
If you have other questions, concerns, or ideas for future activities, please reach out to us at iot4ag@seas.upenn.edu!
Water Sensor Activity
In this lesson designed for 4th Graders, students will use a Micro:bit to program a moisture sensing device for plants and gain awareness of water conservation and the need for water-saving technology in their everyday lives.
Learning objectives in this activity include correctly programming with the Micro:bit, correctly wiring the sensor and Micro:bit, and collecting data results that should be in a range consistent with each test material.
Resources:
Cutebot-Microbit Challenge
In this lesson designed for high school students (Grades 9-12), students will use their knowledge of programming to program the Micro:bit and Cutebot (robot) to navigate the “race track” in the quickest time.
Learning objectives in this activity include:
(1) Automatic Collision Avoidance: Students will work in pairs to create a program that makes the Cutebot autonomously avoid collisions on a track.
(2) Line Tracing: Students will work in pairs to create a program that makes the Cutebot follow the track. Along the way, they’ll have to determine the maximum speed of each wheel to complete the turns in the track.
Resources:
Cutebot-Microbit Speed Racer Challenge
In this lesson designed for 4th Graders, students will use their knowledge of programming to program the Micro:bit and Cutebot (robot) to navigate the “race track” in the quickest time.
The learning objective is for student teams to be able to create a program, to program the Micro:bit, and to make the Cutebot follow the track. Students will also determine maximum speed of each wheel to complete the turns in the track.
Resources:
Potato Battery Activity
In this lesson designed for 10th Graders, students will use their knowledge of how electricity works to build an electric circuit using potatoes as the sole power source.
The learning objective is for student teams to be able to design and construct a circuit that optimizes the voltage to a LED light bulb powered by potatoes. Each team should be able to explain the “route” they took in constructing their circuit in order to make the LED light up. This explanation should include why they did and did not make certain choices.
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Feedback & Reporting
Have you or your institution used these materials? Please use this form to help us understand how our K12 education materials are being implemented and how they can be improved. Thank you in advance!
Click Here to Record your Activity or Lesson
The Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture
an NSF Engineering Research Center
University of Pennsylvania
3401 Grays Ferry Ave, Building 200, Suite 318
Philadelphia, PA 19146