Building on the programming basics learned so far in the unit, students next learn how to program using sensors rather than by specifying exact durations. They start with an examination of algorithms and move to an understanding of conditional commands (until, then), which require the use of wait blocks. Working with the LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robots and software, they learn about wait blocks and how to use them in conjunction with move blocks set with unlimited duration. To help with comprehension and prepare them for the associated activity programming challenges, volunteer students act out a maze demo and student groups conclude by programming LEGO robots to navigate a simple maze using wait block programming. A PowerPoint® presentation, a worksheet and pre/post quizzes are provided.

Students will explore trees in their outdoor classroom, learn about the important functions that trees serve and devise ways to conserve trees by changing human behaviors: recycling, etc.

Students are provided with a rigorous background in human "sensors" (including information on the main five senses, sensor anatomies, and nervous system process) and their engineering equivalents, setting the stage for three associated activities involving sound sensors on LEGO® robots. As they learn how robots receive input from sensors, transmit signals and make decisions about how to move, students reinforce their understanding of the human body's sensory process.

Some living things and their offspring have traits that are similar, but not exactly alike. Students will identify the traits of different plants in the garden.

Some living things and their offspring have traits that are similar, but not exactly alike. Students will identify the traits of different plants in the garden.

Some living things and their offspring have traits that are similar, but not exactly alike. Students will identify the traits of different plants in the garden.

Students will explore the garden/outdoor classroom for examples of different plant structures and determine how plants use these structures to meet their needs.

Through an overview of some of the environmental challenges facing the growing and evolving country of China today, students learn about the effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution that China is struggling to curb with the help of engineers and scientists. This includes the sources of particulate matter 2.5 and carbon dioxide, and air pollution impacts on the health of people and the environment.

In this lesson, students will choose a feature in the outdoor classroom to measure using a selected tool (tape, ruler, or yard/meter stick). They will sketch feature and label its dimensions.

In this lesson, students will develop fluency for splitting numbers into tens and ones by applying the concept to the concrete example of leaves on plants.

Students will use their knowledge of life cycles to find evidence of various plant life cycles and compare to that of frogs, beetles, butterflies.

Students will use knowledge of the sun's characteristics to find evidence in the outdoor classroom that support various scientific claims.

In this lesson the students will determine that for an object to be a living thing it must grow and reproduce and it must have its basic needs met.

Students will determine that for an object to be a living thing it must grow and reproduce, and it must have its basic needs met.

Students will explore the outdoor classroom for materials that are attracted to magnets.

In this lesson the students will explore the outdoor classroom for materials that are attracted to magnets.

Students will create micro-landforms outside in order to mimic landforms and generate maps.

Students explore Mars and Jupiter, the fourth and fifth planets from the Sun. They learn some of the unique characteristics of these planets. They also learn how engineers help us learn about these planets with the design and development of telescopes, deep space antennas, spacecraft and planetary rovers.

In this lesson the students will go on a scavenger hunt trying to find objects that have definite physical properties such as shape, mass temperature, texture and flexibility.