Jump Start Your STEM Program

STEM Sense Student Activities

Activities
STEM Sense Kits offer educators full flexibility with customizable activity sheets, an interactive flipbook, and engaging video lessons that make it easy to support student learning whether they’re in the classroom or at home.

Sensing
Support science and data literacy with live sensor data, interactive displays, and intuitive analysis tools that bring investigations to life. Kick-start your STEM experience with the //code.Node, then add additional sensors for unlimited possibilities.

Coding
The Blockly integration within PASCO’s data software helps familiarize students with the basics of programming, while providing them with customizable blocks and robust data features that enable them to apply their knowledge in a variety of real-world investigations.

Each complete kit arrives ‘classroom-ready’ with a Student Activities Booklet and editable, digital teacher resources. The booklets include engaging hands-on activities with step-by-step instructions, sample programs, and student questions that align with state and national science standards, as well as computer science standards. The accompanying digital resources include editable versions of the student activities, teacher answer keys, and an Interactive Flipbook with embedded student video lessons.

STEM Sense Activities skillfully scaffold concepts to ensure students are consistently engaged and developing their skillsets. Each booklet begins by introducing students to foundational coding blocks, concepts, and skills to help them build confidence using Blockly and the //code.Node. As they progress further into the investigations, students are challenged to apply their new knowledge to code-driven investigations that explore the science and sensors behind real-world technology.

Science and STEM topics include:

Automotive engineering
Probability and random numbers
Properties of sound and light
Magnetism and magnetic poles
Position, acceleration, and rotation
Properties of colour and colour mixing
And more!

Computer Science Topics Include:

Boolean logic
Algorithms
Variables
Conditionals
Input and output functions
Loops
Array indexing
And more!

PASCO’s STEM Sense solutions promote early excellence in science and STEM education with cross-curricular investigations that help young learners build strong foundations in science, programming and data literacy. Each complete kit includes a hands-on coding device, an editable Teacher Manual, video support, and additional resources to support the seamless integration of real-world STEM investigations into middle school science courses, STEM programs, and makerspaces.

A Future Driven by STEM

Engaging Students in Technology for Experiential Learning and STEM Education

As digital natives, today’s students are comfortable exploring new technology, yet many continue to struggle with mathematics and science standards. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education prepares modern learners for a future rich in information and technology by engaging them in the exploration of natural phenomena.

Engaging students of all ages in STEM learning cultivates a range of technical and soft skills, including critical thinking skills, problem solving, perseverance, design thinking, collaboration, computational thinking, and creativity. Effective STEM activities integrate standards into open lessons within the context of real-world phenomena. Students usually begin with an introductory lesson that relates STEM to a real-world problem. Then, they’re asked to solve the problem using a variety of methods, including research, collaboration, inquiry, and testing. These real-world challenges encourage students to act as scientists as they research the issue, form an understanding, develop a solution, test, fail, collaborate, and succeed. Whether they’re programming, building, or measuring, STEM invites students to transition from observers to active participants in the learning process.

Building Better Bridges

Forget the toothpicks and engage students with design-based learning as they create realistic bridges, manipulate weight loads, and learn about tension with the included Wireless Load Cell. These real-world designs encourage creativity, collaboration, and problem solving, while reinforcing engineering and physics concepts.

Programming with Blockly

Included in SPARKvue 4 and Capstone 2, Blockly offers students a new world of experimental opportunities that focus on computational thinking, data visualization, and sensor inquiry. As they execute their code, students can visualize their data using real-time graphical displays that assist with data visualization.

Simple Machines Engineering

PASCO’s Simple Machines Engineering Kit gives students the tools to develop realistic systems, while actively learning about torque, gears, levers, pulleys, and more.

Modular Circuits

Quiet the chaos of circuit lessons with the addition of a wireless kit that reconciles variations between textbook circuit models and real-life circuits. To electrically connect two modules, students insert a jumper clip, which emphasizes that an electrical connection has been made. These hands-on circuit tools bridge learning gaps and reduce the structural complexity of traditional circuit kits to improve learning outcomes.

EcoZone System

PASCO’s EcoZone System is designed to help students model and understand the complex interactions within, and among, different ecosystems. The three clear acrylic EcoChambers are specially designed to accommodate PASCO sensors, making qualitative and quantitative measurements as easy as observing.

Engineering with Structures

Awaken your students’ inner engineers with these design-based Structure Systems. PASCO’s realistic structures range in complexity from single trusses to dynamic kits, enabling educators to tailor the activity’s difficulty as needed. Create a simple design challenge, such as creating a stable bridge, or challenge students with structural requirements they can test using Load Cells.