STEM Programming

Through engaging labs, real-world problem solving, and connections to technology, engineering, and math, science empowers students to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and understand the natural phenomena around them. This strong scientific foundation prepares them for advanced STEM learning and fosters curiosity that can lead to future STEM careers.

STEM PROGRAMMING

• Grades 5–8 programs aligned to Alabama Course of Study standards
• Consider class size, learning goals (STEM, teamwork, career awareness), and accessibility needs

The study of the natural world through observation, experimentation, and discovery.

Plant Power: Structures for Survival
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.7

What do plants need to survive and grow? It seems like a pretty simple answer: Plants need air, water, and sunlight in order to grow. But did you know that different plants have different structures to increase their chances of survival? In this activity, students will compare a variety of plants and identify common structures necessary for survival.

Weather Watcher
ALSDE Objectives:SC23.5.12

Did you know that by looking at the clouds you can predict the weather? It’s true! The different cloud formations can forecast what weather conditions are coming your way. At first glance, clouds may all look alike, but they definitely are not. Clouds can tell you what the weather is like now and what it will be like in the future. In this activity, students will identify different cloud formations, describe how clouds predict weather patterns, and explain how winds and clouds in the atmosphere interact with landforms to determine patterns of weather.

Rock Cycler
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.6.5

Students investigate the rock cycle by examining igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and exploring how heat, pressure, weathering, erosion, and volcanoes change Earth’s surface over time.

Junior Planet Explorer
ALSDE Objective: SC23.6.1

How many people do you think live on planet Earth? Do you think there are hundreds, thousands, millions, or billions of people? Earth is our home planet and we need to take care of it! In this activity, students will explore Earth and compare it to other planets in the solar system.

Abotic vs Biotic Identifier
ALSDE Objective: SC23.7.5

Program Overview:- Who—and what—do you see in your community? An ecosystem is a community that contains organisms in a physical environment. There are aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and within both are living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) factors. In this zSpace activity, students identify biotic and abotic factors in different ecosystems. Students will discover how these different factors interact and impact an ecosystem.

Energy Flower
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.7.2, SC23.7.5

Program Overview: Where do living things get their energy? In ecosystems, energy begins with the sun and flows through producers, consumers, and decomposers as they interact. In this activity, students analyze food chains and food webs to understand how energy and matter cycle through living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Sound Waver
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.8.17

Program Overview: Vibration and Waves - Students will learn about the relationships among wave speed, frequency, and wavelength using sound waves. A speaker will be used to produce a sound wave composed of compressions and rarefactions. The waves produced and the particles of the waves will be used to demonstrate the relationships.

Speed Racer
AlSDE Objectives: SC23.8.11

Program Overview:Terminal Velocity - Terminal velocity is the highest speed an object reaches while falling, when air resistance balances gravity and acceleration stops. In this zSpace activity, students explore this concept through a skydiver scenario, examining how mass, speed, altitude, and forces affect motion before and after a parachute opens.

The use of tools, software, and systems to solve problems and improve how we live and work.

Robot Edition 1
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.4, MA19.5.17, DLCS18.5.3

Program Overview: In Modeling Robots, students build Cubelets robots and create detailed drawings to model their designs. By exchanging models and rebuilding robots from peers’ drawings, students practice careful observation, clear communication, and scientific thinking while learning how models help scientists share and test ideas.

Color Coder 1
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.4, DLCS18.5.6

Program Overview:Students program Ozobot Ari using color codes and block-based coding, learning sequencing and pseudocode while creating custom tracks and programs that guide Ari through engaging, student-designed challenges.

Moon Phaser
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.6.7, SC23.6.8

Students explore the eight phases of the Moon and program Ari to recognize colors and patterns, turning lunar phases into a playful coding challenge that brings space science to life.

Color Coder 2
ALSDE Objective: DLCS18.6.5, DLCS18.6.3

Program Overview: Students program Ozobot Ari using color codes and block-based coding, learning sequencing and pseudocode while creating custom tracks and programs that guide Ari through engaging, student-designed challenges.

Color Coder
ALSDE Objective: DLCS18.7.2, DLCS18.7.3

Program Overview:Meet Ari: Color Codes and the Ozobot Editor - Students program Ozobot Ari using color codes and block-based coding, learning sequencing and pseudocode while creating custom tracks and programs that guide Ari through engaging, student-designed challenges.

Paper Coder
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.7.1, SC23.7.4

Program Overview: In Paper Coding, students use paper as a physical programming tool to control robot behavior. By combining Cubelets, paper shapes, and mechanical timing, students explore computational thinking, spatial reasoning, and algorithmic control as a bridge to future Blockly-based programming.

Color Coder
ALSDE Objectives: DLCS18.8.2, DLCS18.8.3

Distance Formulator
ALSDE Objectives: DLCS18.8.3

Program Overview:Distance Formula with Ari - Students will utilize Ari to nd the x and y coordinates of two small objects and use the distance formula to calculate the distance between them. They will then check their answers using Ari’s distance app and calculate percent error.

The application of science and math to design, build, and improve structures, machines, and processes.

Recycler Engineer
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.1, SC23.5.4,

What do cell phones, parachutes, bubble wrap, and water treatment facilities all have in common? While they may seem very different, they were all designed by engineers to solve a particular problem. In fact, engineers use their knowledge of math and science to design solutions for all kinds of problems. These solutions may take the form of materials, structures, or even entire systems. In this activity, students will learn how they can use the engineering design process to find solutions to a recycling problem.

Robot Sensor
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.1, SC23.5.4, DLCS18.5.1, DLCS18.5.5

In Investigating Two SENSES, students explore how robots respond when multiple SENSE Cubelets work together. By testing combinations of Distance and Brightness sensors, students investigate cause-and-effect, practice collaborative problem-solving, and deepen their understanding of how sensor inputs influence robot behavior.

Tech Edition 2
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.6.1, DLCS18.6-8.5, DLCS18.6-8.7

Program Overview:In this lesson, students expand beyond basic Drive Bots to design multi-block robot constructions using multiple ACT Cubelets. Students test, revise, and name their robots while brainstorming real-world applications, strengthening early engineering design, collaboration, and problem-solving skills

Robot Edition 2
ALSDE Objective: SC23.6.4, MA19.6.14

Program Overview:In Modeling Robots, students build Cubelets robots and create detailed drawings to model their designs. By exchanging models and rebuilding robots from peers’ drawings, students practice careful observation, clear communication, and scientific thinking while learning how models help scientists share and test ideas.

Mapping Architect
ALSDE Objectives: DLCS18.7.6

Program Overview: Students use the Ari Distance application to measure the features of four of the Seven Wonders of the World. The data will be used to calculate the area, perimeter, surface area, and volume of the 2D and 3D representations of architectural feats.

Engineer Tinker
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.7.1, SC23.7.2, SC23.7.3, SC23.7.10

Using Tinker CAD, students analyze a 3D-printed object, identify design trade-offs, and make engineering decisions under real constraints to understand how ideas become successful prints.

Sense Investigator
ALSDE Objective: SC23.8.1, SC23.8.4, DLCS18.6-8.5, DLCS18.6-8.6

Program Overview: Investigating Two SENSES - Students investigate how robots respond when multiple SENSE Cubelets work together. By testing Distance and Brightness sensors, students uncover rules such as weighted averages and signal blocking, using evidence-based reasoning to explain how sensor placement affects robot behavior.

Cubelet Challenger
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.8.1, SC23.8.4, DLCS18.6-8.5, DLCS18.6-8.6, DLCS18.6-8.7

Program Overview:Cubelets Sense-of-Self Challenge - Students rotate through challenge stations to design robots that sense their own actions. By comparing solutions built with different Cubelet combinations, students deepen their understanding of feedback, modularity, and system behavior while practicing collaborative problem-solving and iterative design.

The study of numbers, patterns, and relationships used to analyze data and solve problems.

Shadow Shifter
ALSDE Objective: MA19.5.12, MA19.5.17

Program Overview: Students will use the Ari Distance application to measure the length of shadows created by different angles of light on an object. After measuring, students will compare shadow lengths at different times of the day.

Starting Pilot 1
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.5.ETS1.1, SC23.5.ETS1.2 , SC23.5.ETS1.3, MA19.5.3, MA19.5.11

Students engage in a hands-on drone piloting mission emphasizing safety, teamwork, and precision while applying real-world procedures, spatial reasoning, measurement, and computational thinking.

Starting Pilot 2
ASLDE Objectives: SC23.6.ETS1.1 , SC23.6.ETS1.2, SC23.6.ETS1.3, MA19.6.1 MA19.6.4

Program Overview: Sixth-grade students investigate drone stability and control through structured flight testing, analyzing cause-and-effect relationships, controlled variables, and system performance while practicing responsible technology use in a one-hour STEM lesson.

Dimension Dominator
ASLDE Objective: MA19.6.28a

Program Overview: How much water can your pool hold? How much wrapping paper will you need in order to wrap your friend’s gift? Both of these questions can be easily answered if you know how to find the volume and surface area of 3D objects! In this zSpace, students will learn how to measure the dimensions of 3D figures and calculate their volume and surface area.

AFlight Fundamentals
ALSDE Objectives: SC23.7.ETS1.1 , SC23.7.ETS1.2, SC23.7.ETS1.3,MA19.7.1, MA19.7.6, DLCS18.7.AP.1

Home Designer
ALSDE Objective: MA19.7.17

Program Overview:Project Model Home - In this zSpace activity, students design a scale model of a home, using a scale factor to translate real-world measurements into a 3D model and reasoning about area, volume, and surface area.

Starting Pilot 3
AlSDE Objectives: MA19.8.3, MA19.8.6

Sixth-grade students investigate drone stability and control through structured flight testing, analyzing cause-and-effect relationships, controlled variables, and system performance while practicing responsible technology use in a one-hour STEM lesson.

Project Drone
ALSDE Objectives:MA19.8.22

Program Overview:Project Drone - In this zSpace activity students design a simple 3D drone with arms, body, and propellers, positioning parts symmetrically and to scale.

STEM Programming