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Cross Curricular Science with The Micro:bit: Earth Systems
This cross curricular unit models Earth systems like weather, climate, and geological processes using the micro:bit as a data collection device.
- Robotics
- Block Coding
- Launch Pad
- Unit
- 4th grade
- 5th grade
Course Summary
This unit models Earth Systems (weather, climate, and geological processes) using the micro:bit as a data collection device. Students will learn advanced computational practices like Boolean logic, data analysis, and modularity to design and program tools that monitor, process, and report real-time environmental data (temperature, light, motion).
Course Outline
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- Temperature Data in Earth Systems This lesson introduces students to how temperature affects Earth Systems (weather, erosion) and teaches them the data cycle (event, input, variable, output) by using the micro:bit's temperature sensor to collect and display real-world data.
- Tracking Data Over Time Students look at how using loops to repeatedly collect data and employing a counter variable with a pause block is essential for creating a time series that allows scientists to track and recognize patterns over time.
- Simple Conditional Warnings This lesson teaches simple conditional logic using the if/then block to program a micro:bit to automatically respond to environmental changes by executing code only when a specific sensor threshold (like light level) is met.
- Modeling Geological Change Using the micro:bit, students learn about the effects of powerful geological forces (like earthquakes and landslides) and demonstrate how force causes change through acceleration.
- Climate Warnings: Combining Conditions
- The Water Cycle Function Students learn how the steps of the water cycle are the perfect model for understanding functions and decomposition, the core coding practice of breaking large problems into smaller, reusable steps.
- The Water Cycle Continued: Function Call Students will Learn how a function call acts and commands the computer to temporarily jump to a separate block of code, run it, and then return to the main program sequence.
- Displaying Visual Data Students will explore data mapping and comparison by programming the micro:bit to display variable sensor data as a quick-to-read bar graph.
- Climate Agents: Testing and Debugging Students will learn debugging techniques to find and fix code errors (Syntax, Logic, and Sensor) to ensure their climate agent's reliability.
- Team Project: The Eco-Guardian Data Logger Students will work together to design and program an environmental monitoring device.
Standard Alignment
State standards documents
| Document | Standards | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| National | ||
| 2022 Skill Struck Standards Alignment + Correlation Guide | CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards · 2022 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Alabama | ||
| Alabama Course of Study Digital Literacy and CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Alabama Course of Study Digital Literacy and CS Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Arizona | ||
| Arizona Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Arizona Computer Science Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| California | ||
| California K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | California K-12 CS Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Florida | ||
| Florida Introduction to Computer Science 2 + Skill Struck Alignment | Florida Introduction to Computer Science 2 | 3-5 |
| Georgia | ||
| Georgia Standards of Excellence for K-8 Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Georgia Standards of Excellence for K-8 Computer Science | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |
| Idaho | ||
| Idaho Content Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Idaho Content Standards Computer Science · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Illinois | ||
| Illinois Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Illinois Computer Science Standards · 2022 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Indiana | ||
| Indiana K-12 Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Indiana K-12 Computer Science Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Iowa | ||
| Iowa Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Iowa Computer Science Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Kansas | ||
| Kansas CS Standards P-12 + Skill Struck Alignment | Kansas CS Standards P-12 · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Kentucky | ||
| Kentucky Academic Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Kentucky Academic Standards for Computer Science · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Maryland | ||
| Maryland K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Maryland K-12 CS Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Massachusetts | ||
| Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Michigan | ||
| Michigan K-12 Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Michigan K-12 Standards Computer Science · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Mississippi | ||
| Mississippi College and Career Readiness standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Mississippi College and Career Readiness standards for Computer Science · 2022 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Missouri | ||
| Missouri K-12 Computer Science Performance Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Missouri K-12 Computer Science Performance Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Nebraska | ||
| Nebraska K-12 Technology Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Nebraska K-12 Technology Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Nevada | ||
| Nevada Academic Content Standards for CS + Skill Struck Alignment | Nevada Academic Content Standards for CS | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Nevada Academic Content Standards for Integrated Technology + Skill Struck Alignment | Nevada Academic Content Standards for Integrated Technology | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| New Jersey | ||
| New Jersey Computer Science and Design Thinking Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | New Jersey Computer Science and Design Thinking Standards · 2020 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| New York | ||
| New York Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards K-12 + Skill Struck Alignment | New York Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards K-12 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| North Carolina | ||
| North Carolina K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | North Carolina K-12 CS Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Ohio | ||
| Ohio's Learning Standards Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Ohio's Learning Standards Computer Science · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Oklahoma | ||
| Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Rhode Island | ||
| Rhode Island's K-12 CS Education Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Rhode Island's K-12 CS Education Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| South Carolina | ||
| South Carolina Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | South Carolina Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |
| Tennessee | ||
| Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Texas | ||
| TEKs Technology Applications K-8 Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | TEKs Technology Applications K-8 Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |
| Utah | ||
| Utah K-5 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Utah K-5 CS Standards | K-2, 3-5 |
| Virginia | ||
| Virginia K-12 CS Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Virginia K-12 CS Standards · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Washington | ||
| Washington K-12 CS State Learning Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Washington K-12 CS State Learning Standards | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Wisconsin | ||
| Wisconsin Standards for Computer Science + Skill Struck Alignment | Wisconsin Standards for Computer Science · 2023 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 |
| Wyoming | ||
| Wyoming Computer Science Content Standards + Skill Struck Alignment | Wyoming Computer Science Content Standards · 2020 | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 |