C-STEM Middle School Curriculum
"Middle school math needs to be every superintendent’s new priority" --- an article published in October 22, 2022 in EdSource. One of the recommended strategies in the article is to add double-dose math courses using different teaching strategy in middle schools. Los Angeles Unified School District offers C-STEM Mathematics with Robotics to students in grades 6-9.
All C-STEM Middle School Curriculum can be integrated into the school's existing curriculum or offered in a sequence using the C-STEM ICT Pathway for integrated learning. For information on the materials needed to implement each of these courses, please see our Course Materials Handout.
RoboBlocky Math, Grade 6
This course, based on the Common Core Math 6 standards, uses coding and virtual robots, with optional hardware robots, to develop and expand students’ understanding of Math 6 topics. Students analyze real life situations, identify given information, formulate mathematical steps to find a solution, and analyze the results for accuracy, all within the context of robotics and computer programming. The logical process of computer programming allows students to organize their approach to problem solving and efficiently analyze and correct their work, and the hands-on work with hardware robots powers student engagement. Topics covered include integers, factors and multiples, rational numbers, operations with fractions, operations with decimals, ratios and rates, proportional relations, percents, numerical expressions, algebraic expressions with variables, equations and inequalities, relationships in two variables, area of polygons, distance and area in the coordinate plane, surface area and volume of solids, and displaying, analyzing, and summarizing data. Computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on mathematical topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Robot activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems to visualize situations, associate graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through mathematical means.
RoboBlocky Math, Grade 7
This course, based on the Common Core Math 7 standards, uses coding and virtual robots, with optional hardware robots, to develop and expand students’ understanding of Math 7 topics. Students analyze real life situations, identify given information, formulate mathematical steps to find a solution, and analyze the results for accuracy, all within the context of robotics and computer programming. The logical process of computer programming allows students to organize their approach to problem solving and efficiently analyze and correct their work, and the hands-on work with hardware robots powers student engagement. Topics covered include evaluating expressions, one variable equations and inequalities, rates, proportions, percents, probability, similarity, plotting points and linear equations, and identifying slopes and intercepts. Computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on mathematical topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Robot activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems to visualize situations, associate graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through mathematical means.
RoboBlocky Math, Grade 8
This course, based on the Common Core Math 8 standards, uses coding and virtual robots, with optional hardware robots, to develop and expand students’ understanding of Math 8 topics. Students analyze real life situations, identify given information, formulate mathematical steps to find a solution, and analyze the results for accuracy, all within the context of robotics and computer programming. The logical process of computer programming allows students to organize their approach to problem solving and efficiently analyze and correct their work, and the hands-on work with hardware robots powers student engagement. Topics covered include evaluating expressions, one variable equations and inequalities, rates, proportions, probability, scientific notation, statistics, plotting points, linear equations in slope-intercept form, systems of linear equations, radical expressions and equations, similarity, and geometric transformations, including translations and reflections. Computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on mathematical topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Robot activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems to visualize situations, associate graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through mathematical means.
Grade 7 Mathematics with Computing in C/C++
(CALPADS Course Code 2435)
This course, based on the Common Core Math 7 standards, uses computing to develop and expand students’ understanding of Math 7 topics. Students analyze real life situations, identify given information, formulate mathematical steps to find a solution, and analyze the results for accuracy, all within the context of C/C++ computer programming. The logical process of computer programming allows students to organize their approach to problem solving and efficiently analyze and correct their work. Topics covered include evaluating expressions, one variable equations and inequalities, rates, proportions, percents, probability, similarity, plotting points and linear equations, and identifying slopes and intercepts. Optional group computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on algebraic topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Optional robotics extension activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems through robotics technologies to visualize situations, associate graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through algebraic means.
* Teaching resources contain optional robotics activities.
Grade 8 Mathematics with Computing in C/C++
(CALPADS Course Code 2436)
This course, based on the Common Core Math 8 standards, uses computing to develop and expand students’ understanding of Math 8 topics. Students analyze real life situations, identify given information, formulate mathematical steps to find a solution, and analyze the results for accuracy, all within the context of C/C++ computer programming. The logical process of computer programming allows students to organize their approach to problem solving and efficiently analyze and correct their work. Topics covered include evaluating expressions, one variable equations and inequalities, rates, proportions, probability, scientific notation, statistics, plotting points, linear equations in slope-intercept form, systems of linear equations, radical expressions and equations, similarity, and geometric transformations, including translations and reflections. Optional group computing activities allow students to collaborate on critical thinking activities based on algebraic topics while developing their ability to effectively communicate, listen, share responsibility and respectfully address the suggestions of others. Optional robotics extension activities allow students to reenact physically derived mathematical problems through robotics technologies to visualize situations, associate graphs with physical phenomenon, predict and identify key features of the graphs with the specific physical situations, and solve physical problems through algebraic means.
* Teaching resources contain optional robotics activities.
Grade 6 Computer Science with Robotics
The Computer Science Standards compliant Computer Science with Robotics curriculum for Grade 6 motivates and engages students in learning fundamentals of computer science (CS) by using hands-on interactive programming and robotics lessons and activities with virtual and/or hardware robots. The course is tailored for Grade 6 cognitive abilities and math levels. Prior coding or robotics experience is not required. The course may be used as a stand-alone curriculum, to supplement existing courses (science, art, etc.), or to support the Grade 6 Mathematics with Robotics course. Students also gain experience and skills in logical thinking and reasoning; reading, following directions, and sequential thinking; spatial relations, mathematical modeling, and graphing; arts (music and drawing) and design; collaborative learning and teamwork skills; and creative design and engineering with makerspaces.
Grade 7 Computer Science with Robotics
The Computer Science Standards compliant Computer Science with Robotics curriculum for Grade 7 motivates and engages students in learning fundamentals of computer science (CS) by using hands-on interactive programming and robotics lessons and activities with virtual and/or hardware robots. The course is tailored for Grade 7 cognitive abilities and math levels. Prior coding or robotics experience is not required. The course may be used as a stand-alone curriculum, to supplement existing courses (science, art, etc.), or to support the Grade 7 Mathematics with Robotics course. Students also gain experience and skills in logical thinking and reasoning; reading, following directions, and sequential thinking; spatial relations, mathematical modeling, and graphing; arts (music and drawing) and design; collaborative learning and teamwork skills; and creative design and engineering with makerspaces.
Grade 8 Computer Science with Robotics
The Computer Science Standards compliant Computer Science with Robotics curriculum for Grade 8 motivates and engages students in learning fundamentals of computer science (CS) by using hands-on interactive programming and robotics lessons and activities with virtual and/or hardware robots. The course is tailored for Grade 8 cognitive abilities and math levels. Prior coding or robotics experience is not required. The course may be used as a stand-alone curriculum, to supplement existing courses (science, art, etc.), or to support the Grade 8 Mathematics with Robotics course. Students also gain experience and skills in logical thinking and reasoning; reading, following directions, and sequential thinking; spatial relations, mathematical modeling, and graphing; arts (music and drawing) and design; collaborative learning and teamwork skills; and creative design and engineering with makerspaces.
Introduction to Computer Science with Robotics
The Computer Science Standards compliant Computer Science with Robotics curriculum f motivates and engages students in learning fundamentals of computer science (CS) by using hands-on interactive programming and robotics lessons and activities with virtual and/or hardware robots. This course introduces students to the working principles of robotics with applications. Students will explore fun applications, such as robotic soccer and robotic drawing by controlling a single robot out of the box, and continue on to multiple robot applications aided by a graphical user interface and computer programming using Block-based coding. Students write robotics programs to perform various tasks with applications for the RoboPlay competition. With robots, students explore their creativity in writing, art, music, , choreography, and creative design. This course emphasizes hands-on robotics activities to explore applications of robotics to gain effective communication and team work skills.
* This course can be implemented as a standalone robotics course or as a supplement to a Physical Science or Engineering course.
Introduction to Physical Computing with Arduino
This course introduces students to physical computing and making. Students learn how to program Arduino with a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) ChDuino. Students also learn basics of electronics and how Arduino responds to sensors using enlightening examples. Students learn data acquisition and visualization of experimental data using Arduino for science and engineering projects. Then, students design and build more fun prototypes based on their imagination as team projects. At the end, student teams present their projects.
* This course can be implemented as a standalone robotics course or as a supplement to a Physical Science or Engineering course.
Introduction to Programming in C
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of computer programming with an emphasis on applications of math concepts using the user friendly C/C++ interpreter Ch. Students start with basics of how a computer works and then explore programming in C to solve real life problems. Students write computer programs with graphical plotting and animation in an integrated development environment (IDE). Through computer programming based problem solving and engaging activities, such as generating random numbers for applications in math and gaming, students develop critical and computational thinking skills. Each section includes objectives, pre-requisites, applicable Common Core Language, Reading and CTE ICT standards, terminology, text with examples and applications, and exercises.
* Teaching resources contain optional robotics activities.
Computer-Aided Design in Autodesk Inventor and 3D Printing (Supplementary)
This curriculum introduces computer-aided design with Autodesk Inventor to create accessories and parts for the Linkbot using a 3D printer. The curriculum can be used stand alone. It is also appropriate for use in conjunction with the C-STEM Computing with Robotics or PLTW Design & Modeling course.
Computer-Aided Design in SolidWorks and 3D Printing (Supplementary)
This curriculum introduces computer-aided design with SolidWorks to create accessories and parts for the Linkbot using a 3D printer. The curriculum can be used stand alone. It is also appropriate for use in conjunction with the C-STEM Robotics and Film Production course.