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Meet Your Cubelets


Scope & Sequence
Pre-K – K

This scope and sequence is designed for preschool-aged students (4+). Each lesson is intended to last 30 minutes and 28 weeks of lessons assumes students will have access to Cubelets at least once per week. Throughout the 28-week sequence are 6 “Open-Play Days”. These can be used as periodic assessment days to record how students’ play with Cubelets changes as a result of their learning opportunities. Please use your professional judgment in deciding when you need to repeat a lesson, skip a lesson, or combine two lessons based on your class and your students. View the Google Docs version here.

1 – Cubelets Open Play

2 – Robot Bodies & Human Bodies

3 – Cubelets Sort

4 – Driving Bots

5 – Act Out Cubelets

6 – Cubelets Open Play

7 – Modeling Robots

8 – Investigating ACT Cubelets

9 – Modeling Robots

10 – Act Out Cubelets

11 – Cubelets Open Play

12 – Investigating SENSE Cubelets

13 – Modeling Robots

14 – Act Out Cubelets

15 – Cubelets Open Play

16 – Cubelets Storytelling pt. 1

17 – Cubelets Storytelling pt. 2

18 – Introducing Cubelets Challenges

19 – Cubelets Open Play

20 – Investigating Two SENSE Cubelets

21 – Act Out Cubelets with Four Blocks

22 – Cubelets Storytelling pt. 1

23 – Cubelets Storytelling pt. 2

24 – Cubelets Challenges

25 – Modeling Robots

26 – Cubelets Open Play

27 – Investigating THINK Cubelets

28 – Act Out Cubelets

1 – Cubelets Open Play
Outline
Students play with Cubelets naturally
  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Turning the Battery on and off
  • Students noticing black SENSE blocks

2 – Robot Bodies & Human Bodies
Outline
  • Read Boy+Bot by Ame Dyckman
  • Students compare and contrast robots and humans
  • Introduce Battery Cubelet
  • Introduce SENSE, THINK, and ACT with Red light, Green light game
Objectives
Students will notice the similarities between human bodies and robot bodies
Assessment
Teachers listen for:
  • Students remembering the definition of a robot
  • Students making comparisons between human bodies and robot bodies
  • Students understand robots need power

3 – Cubelets Sort
Outline

Read The Robot Book by Heather Brown

Students sort Cubelets by “job” (no Think Cubes right now)

  • Black Cubes are SENSE cubes
  • Clear Cubes are ACTION cubes
  • Battery is by itself
  • Introduce SENSE, THINK, and ACT with Red light, Green light game

Class plays Red Light, Green Light

Objectives
Students will sort Cubelets based on similarities, and notice what makes each Cubelet unique
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students sort by color
  • Students share observations of what makes each Cubelet block unique

4 – Driving Bots
Outline

Students assemble “Cuddle-Bot” and “Fraidy-Bot” using Drive Cubelets, Battery Cubelets, and Distance Cubelets (remove all other Cubelets for this lesson)

Objectives

Students will practice flexible thinking by redesigning their robots for different jobs

Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students count to three
  • Students rotate individual Cubelets within a robot
  • Students switch the order of blocks in their robot
  • Students remember the goal they are designing for

5 – Act out Cubelets
Outline

Warm up with a game of Red Light, Green Light

Then, In groups of three, one team builds a robot, the other team acts out the robot

Take turns switching off which team does which

Objectives
Students will act out the Cubelets within a 3-block robot
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students remember what each robot block does
  • Students use collaboration skills
  • Students give constructive feedback to peers

6 – Cubelets Open Play
Outline

Students play with Cubelets naturally (no Think Cubes, but include all action/sense cubes)

  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity and prior experience to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • How students play differently with Cubelets than the first Open-Play day
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students design for a purpose

7 – Modeling Robots
Outline

Read Aloud What is a Scientist? By Barbara Lehn

Students draw models of the robots they build. (Limit again to “Cuddle-Bot” and “Fraidy Bot”)

Objectives
Students will practice scientific modeling by drawing models of the robots they build
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students drawing with unique properties in mind
  • Students use words to explain their drawings
  • Note: scaffold modeling with this worksheet

8 – Investigating ACT Cubelets
Outline

Read aloud Robot Rumpus by Sean Taylor

Students investigate each ACT Cubelet (each group has only one battery and one Distance Cubelet. They will trade out the ACT Cubelets one by one)

  • Choose favorites
  • Practice naming
  • Practice counting to two versus counting to three
  • Remember SENSE, ACT, and BATTERY vocabulary words
Objectives
Students will use the scientific method to investigate ACT Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students use only one ACT Cubelet at a time
  • Students explain what each ACT Cubelet does
  • Students practice using the name of each ACT Cubelet

9 – Modeling Robots
Outline

Students draw models of the robots they build. (Available Cubelets include all ACT Cubelets, Distance Cubelet, and Battery Cubelet)

Objectives
Students will practice scientific modeling by drawing models of the robots they build
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students drawing with unique properties in mind
  • Students use words to explain their drawings
  • Note: scaffold modeling with this worksheet

10 – Act Out Cubelets
Outline

Warm up with a game of Red Light, Green Light

Then, In groups of three, one team builds a robot, the other team acts out the robot

Take turns switching off which team does which

Objectives
Students will act out the Cubelets within a 3-block robot
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students remember what each robot block does
  • Students use collaboration skills
  • Students give constructive feedback to peers

11 – Cubelets Open Play
Outline

Students play with Cubelets naturally (no Think Cubes, but include all action/sense cubes)

  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity and prior experience to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • How students play differently with Cubelets than the last Open-Play day
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students design for a purpose

12 – Investigating SENSE Cubelets
Outline

Read Aloud My Five Senses by Aliki

Students investigate each SENSE Cubelet (each group has only one battery and one ACT Cubelet of their choice. They will trade out the SENSE Cubelets one by one)

  • Choose favorites
  • Practice naming
  • Practice counting to two versus counting to three
  • Remember SENSE, ACT, and BATTERY vocabulary words
Objectives
Students will use the scientific method to investigate SENSE Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students use only one SENSE Cubelet at a time
  • Students explain what each SENSE Cubelet does
  • Students practice using the name of each SENSE Cubelet

13 – Modeling Robots
Outline

Students draw models of the robots they build. (Available Cubelets include all ACT Cubelets, Distance Cubelet, and Battery Cubelet)

Objectives
Students will practice scientific modeling by drawing models of the robots they build
Assessment
Teachers look for:

14 – Act Out Cubelets
Outline

Warm up with a game of Red Light, Green Light

Then, in groups of three, one team builds a robot, the other team acts out the robot. Take turns switching off which team does which.

Objectives
Students will act out the Cubelets within a 3-block robot
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students remember what each robot block does
  • Students use collaboration skills
  • Students give constructive feedback to peers

15 – Cubelets Open Play
Outline

Students play with Cubelets naturally (no Think Cubes, but include all action/sense cubes)

  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity and prior experience to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • How students play differently with Cubelets than the last Open-Play day
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students design for a purpose

16 – Cubelets Storytelling, Part 1
Outline

Read aloud Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

Students build a 3-Cubelet robot with their group

  • Draw a picture of their robot IN a story
    • Could be tied to seasons or holidays or special places or imaginations
  • Students share what they drew
Objectives
Students will practice telling stories based on their understanding of how their Cubelet robot SENSEs and ACTs
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students describe their robot accurately
  • Students tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Students collaborate with peers

17 – Cubelets Storytelling, Part 2
Outline

Students build a 3-Cubelet robot with their group

  • Draw a picture of their robot IN a story
    • Could be tied to seasons or holidays or special places or imaginations
  • Students share what they drew
Objectives
Students will practice telling stories based on their understanding of how their Cubelet robot SENSEs and ACTs
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students describe their robot accurately
  • Students tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Students collaborate with peers

18 – Cubelets Challenge Introduction
Outline

Read aloud The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Choose challenges from the robots in this video

  • Ask students to make a “Cuddle-Bot”
  • Ask students to make a “Dim Bot”
  • Ask students to make a “Dizzy Bot”
Objectives
Students will use critical thinking skills to build a specific robot based on a description
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students understand the description of a robot
  • Students stay on task
  • Students collaborate with peers

19 – Cubelets Open Play
Outline

Students play with Cubelets naturally (no Think Cubes, but include all action/sense cubes)

  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity and prior experience to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • How students play differently with Cubelets than the first Open-Play day
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students design for a purpose

20 – Investigating Two Sense Cubelets
Outline

Students investigate building 4-Cubelet robots using 2 ACT cubes, 1 battery, and 1 SENSE of their choice

  • How many combinations can they come up with?
  • Counting to 2 vs. 3 vs. 4
  • Students practice naming their robots
Objectives
Students apply their understanding of SENSE Cubelets to robots that use 2 SENSE Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Student collaboration skills
  • How many different robots students build with the same two ACT Cubelets
  • Students switch order of Cubelet blocks in their robot
  • Students rotate individual Cubelet blocks within their robot to improve it
  • Students say “I wonder” and “What if

21 – Act out Cubelets with FOUR blocks
Outline

Warm up with a game of Red Light, Green Light

Then, in groups of four, one team builds a robot, the other team acts out the robot. Take turns switching off which team does which

Objectives
Students will act out the Cubelets within a 4-block robot
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students remember what each robot block does
  • Students use collaboration skills
  • Students give constructive feedback to peers

22 – Cubelets Storytelling, Part 1
Outline

Read Aloud The Really Silly Robot by Gordon True

Students build a 3- or 4-Cubelet robot with their group

  • Draw a picture of their robot IN a story
    • Could be tied to seasons or holidays or special places or imaginations
  • Students share what they drew
Objectives
Students will practice telling stories based on their understanding of how their Cubelet robot SENSEs and ACTs
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students describe their robot accurately
  • Students tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Students collaborate with peers

23 – Cubelets Storytelling, Part 2
Outline

Youtube Sing Along

Students build a 3- or 4-Cubelet robot with their group

  • Draw a picture of their robot IN a story
    • Could be tied to seasons or holidays or special places or imaginations
  • Students share what they drew
Objectives
Students will practice telling stories based on their understanding of how their Cubelet robot SENSEs and ACTs
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students describe their robot accurately
  • Students tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Students collaborate with peers

24 – Cubelets Challenge
Outline

Ask students to make 3- and 4-Cubelet robots by describing their jobs (ie. A robot that has a spinning light)

Objectives
Students will use critical thinking skills to build a specific robot based on a description
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students understand the description of a robot
  • Students stay on task
  • Students collaborate with peers

25 – Modeling Robots
Outline

Students draw models of the robots they build. (Available Cubelets include all ACT Cubelets, Distance Cubelet, and Battery Cubelet)

Objectives
Students will practice scientific modeling by drawing models of the robots they build
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students drawing with unique properties in mind
  • Students use words to explain their drawings
  • Note: scaffold modeling with this worksheet

26 – Cubelets Open-Play
Outline

Students play with Cubelets naturally (no Think Cubes, but include all action/sense cubes)

  • As magnetic blocks
  • Turning the battery on and off
  • How to work in partners/small groups
Objectives
Students will use their natural curiosity and prior experience to explore Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • How students play differently with Cubelets than the first Open-Play day
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students design for a purpose

27 – THINK Cubelets
Outline

Read Aloud The Hueys in What’s the Opposite by Oliver Jeffers

Students investigate what happens when they add the red INVERSE Cubelet to their robots

Students investigate what happens when they add the green PASSIVE Cubelet to their robots

Objectives
Students will apply the scientific method to investigate THINK Cubelets
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students test only one THINK Cubelet at a time
  • Students test THINK Cubelets multiple times with different ACT and SENSE Cubelets
  • Student collaboration skills
  • Students begin to apply THINK Cubelets using “what if” statements

28 – Act out THINK Cubelets
Outline

Warm up with a game of Red Light, Green Light. Halfway through, switch the meaning so Red Light means Go and Green Light means Stop (like an INVERSE Cubelet)

In groups of four, students act out what the red INVERSE Cubelet does. (Including if the INVERSE is added and removed)

Students act out what the green PASSIVE Cubelet does. (Including if the PASSIVE is added and removed)

Objectives
Students will demonstrate their understanding of THINK Cubelets through acting
Assessment
Teachers look for:
  • Students remember what each robot block does
  • Students use collaboration skills
  • Students give constructive feedback to peers