Blockly Investigations and Activities
These investigations and activities integrate Blocky coding and the Blocky coding environment embedded within PASCO's Capstone and SPARKvue software. They span from basic to advanced coding strategies, and include coding activities that use sensor-based data as input. You may preview and download Blockly activities, view materials lists, and access the Teacher Resources by creating or signing in to a PASCO account.
Grade Level: High School
Subject: STEM
Activities
01) Blockly Extension: Photosynthesis and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Students use a carbon dioxide sensor and Blockly code to estimate how many actively photosynthesizing spinach leaves it would take to offset the excess carbon dioxide they add to the air from everyday activities.
02) Blockly Extension: Determination of Titration Endpoint
Students will be using a pH sensor, a drop counter, and Blockly coding to demonstrate the endpoint of a titration of an acid by a base.
03) Blockly Extension: Fish Tank Water Quality
Students will use an optical dissolved oxygen sensor and Blockly code to write a program that helps children understand the relationship between the amount of oxygen dissolved in fish tank water and the comfort level of a freshwater fish.
04) Blockly Extension: Evidence of Chemical Reactions
In this activity, students develop a Blockly program that determines whether a chemical change is occurring using temperature readings.
05) Blockly Extension: pH
In this activity, students create a Blockly program that displays a solution's pH alongside a text description of the solution (base, acid, or neutral).
06) Blockly Extension: Acoustic Stopwatch
Students develop Blockly code that uses data from a Wireless Sound Sensor to trigger start and stop timing, effectively creating a stopwatch that starts and stops using loud sound commands.
07) Blockly Extension: Vector Display
Students create a Blockly program that outputs text that indicates the magnitude and direction of the velocity and acceleration of a Smart Cart.
08) Blockly Extension: Types of Bonding
Students design code to determine whether a solid compound is ionic or covalent based on conductivity sensor measurements of aqueous solutions.
09) Blockly Extension: Energy Flow
Students use a temperature sensor and Blockly code to sense temperature change within a system and report the direction of energy flow based on temperature trends.
10) Blockly Extension: Pressure Monitor
Students use a pressure sensor to determine the maximum pressure a stoppered container can hold and create code to warn users when pressure is approaching a maximum level.
11) Blockly Extension: Where's My Smart Cart?
Students create a Blockly program that calibrates the position of the Smart Cart to the scale on a dynamics track. They modify the code to automatically calibrate based on the force sensor detecting a collision with the end stop.
12) Blockly Extension: Making a Mass-o-meter
Students create a Blockly program that determines the mass of a Smart Cart and its contents based on measurements of the force and acceleration while the cart is moved back and forth. They modify the code to improve reliability and accuracy of the mass measurement.
13) Blockly Extension: Making a Battery Tester
Students create a Blockly program that tests a battery using measurements from a voltage sensor and current sensor. They modify the code to improve reliability and accuracy.
