Fifth Grade Computer Science students will be guided through the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch 5th grade curriculum in addition to learning about digital citizenship and safety with Common Sense Media. Through PLTW Launch, students become hands-on problem solvers and learn to collaborate with their fellow students.
     They begin each module with an engaging ebook story featuring the characters Mylo, Suzi, and Angelina, who introduce the challenge students will work together to solve. Then, in a series of activities that build upon each other, students are challenged to become confident in trying new things, to learn from mistakes, and to apply what they know to find solutions.
     PLTW Launch is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards for Math and English Language Arts, and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards.

Here is a sample of some of the projects that students will be working on in class:

Robotics and Automation
Students explore the ways robots are used in today’s world and their impact on society and the environment. Students learn about a variety of robotic components as they build and test mobile robots that may be controlled remotely. Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi are tasked with designing a mobile robot that can remove hazardous materials from a disaster site. Students are then challenged to design, model, and test a mobile robot that solves this design problem.

Robotics and Automation: Challenge
Students expand their understanding of robotics as they explore mechanical design and computer programming. This module focuses on developing skills needed to build and program autonomous robots. Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi are tasked with designing an automatic-guided vehicle to deliver supplies to a specific area in a hospital without being remotely controlled by a person. Inspired by this design problem, students work with a group to apply their knowledge to design, build, test, and refine a mobile robot that meets a set of design constraints.

For more information about Project Lead the Way (PLTW), click here!
For more information about Common Sense Media, click here!