Sensor Immersion
Driving Question: How can sensors help us understand and communicate information about the world around us?
Synopsis: This unit, focusing on MS-ESS3-3, introduces students to programmable sensor technologies as a tool to investigate, monitor, and communicate classroom environmental data (e.g. temperature, humidity, sound volume, carbon dioxide level, volatile organic compound level, and the soil moisture of a classroom plant). Students investigate how sensors work and how data moves within the system to collect and communicate information. Additionally, students investigate how to communicate with sensors through the use of programming to control what the system does.
What students figure out: By the end of the unit, students develop ideas about using Computational Thinking and sensors in science including:
- How a classroom environment sensing system and data display works
- What different types of sensors do and measure
- What kinds of questions they can answer using the sensor system
- How to program sensors to perform data collection using both the micro:bit and google sheets
- How to program sensors to act as indicators and trigger lights and sound
- How sensors can help with their scientific investigations and help them answer their questions
Targeted NGSS Performance Expectation(s):
- MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.