What happens when students are given a real-world problem and the tools to design their own solution?

At North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, our STEM educational workshops give students the opportunity to explore that question through environmental science, engineering, and coding. One of  our newest workshop resources, Forward Education’s Climate Action Kits, guides students through each step of the process, from understanding an environmental issue to building and programming a prototype.

Start With a Real-World Challenge

Each workshop begins with a lesson focused on a current environmental issue. Through slides, videos, and discussion, students learn about topics such as vertical gardening, smart watering, safe animal crossings, and renewable energy.

The lessons help students connect what they’re learning to challenges they may encounter in the world around them.

Design and Build

After exploring the issue, students take on the role of engineers. Using the materials provided and basic instructions as a starting point, they design and build a prototype that addresses the challenge.

Rather than simply following a set of directions, students can test their ideas, identify what works, and consider what they might change.

Add Coding

Each prototype uses a micro:bit, giving students the opportunity to program their designs and make them interactive.

For example, students might program a gate to open and close while counting animals at a safe animal crossing. Another project could involve programming a compost tumbler to turn only during daylight hours.

This is where students can see how science, engineering, and computer science connect to solve a problem.

Where the Learning Continues

Once students finish their first prototype, there’s usually still room to experiment. They might make adjustments, try a different approach, or start thinking about how the design could work in another situation.

Seeing the finished prototype work gives students a chance to reflect on what they built and where they could take the idea next.

Forward Education’s Climate Action Kits give Gateway to Science educators a way to combine environmental science, engineering, and coding into one workshop experience.