The "Circuitry in Our Classroom Arcade" course is designed for young learners in grades 3-5. This engaging program introduces students to the fundamental concepts of electricity and circuitry through a series of hands-on experiments and a culminating project: designing and building their own functional arcade game. Students will explore how electrical energy flows through different materials, understand the roles of conductors, insulators, and resistors, and learn about various circuit configurations like series and parallel circuits. The curriculum integrates the fun theme of classic arcade gaming, providing a relatable context for applying their newfound knowledge.

Course Features:

15 Lesson Hours: The course includes 15 comprehensive lessons that cover various aspects of electricity and circuitry, from basic concepts to designing complex projects.

Curriculum and Supporting Materials: Detailed curriculum and supporting materials are provided to aid the learning process, ensuring educators have all necessary resources.

Ongoing Product and Curriculum Support: Continuous support is available to ensure the curriculum remains effective and up-to-date, adapting to new insights and technologies.

Professional Development: Training sessions are offered for educators to effectively deliver the course content and facilitate student learning, equipping them with the necessary pedagogical skills.

Facilitation by a Trained STEM Instructor (Optional): The option to have a professional STEM instructor lead the course is available, providing expert guidance and instruction.

These features are explicitly listed under "Equipment, Curriculum, and Training Available" in the NWS One Pager Circuitry (3-5) document.

Learning Target Examples (Lessons):

The course is structured around 15 distinct lessons, each building upon the previous one, as detailed in NWS One Pager Circuitry (3-5):

1. How much energy do you have? Observe and explore energy traveling through you!

2. It’s Electric! Experiment with energy flowing through everyday materials.

3. Conductors and Insulators Compare how electrical energy flows through different materials.

4. Riding the Electrical Current Model electrical currents and its movement through circuits.

5. It’s a Snap! Your First Circuit Apply energy and electricity concepts to your first functional snap circuit.

6. Series and Parallel Circuits Determine different paths of electrical current through a circuit.

7. Play again? You can’t resist. Experiment with a resistor’s role in circuitry.

8. Light it up! Explore how light emitting diodes can play a pivotal role in circuitry.

9. Can you snap it? Play with variations of snap circuits to test your knowledge of electrical circuitry.

10. Caution! High Voltage Examine the role that total voltage plays in a circuit.

11. Design Your Mascot Design the character that will be the basis for your arcade game.

12. Build Your Mascot Build your arcade game’s mascot with circuitry materials.

13. Arcade Game Design Implement the engineering design process to design your own arcade game.

14. Arcade Game Build Apply knowledge and skills of circuitry to test and assess your arcade game.

15. Game on! Let’s play Present your games and then: Game on! See who can win the most tickets!

• Equipment Included: The core equipment for this course includes a Classroom Set of Snap Circuit kits, which are essential for the hands-on experimentation and circuit building. Additionally, various circuitry materials are utilized for building the arcade game mascots and the games themselves.

• Professional Development: The NWS One Pager Circuitry (3-5) document highlights the availability of comprehensive teacher training. This includes professional development sessions designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge required to effectively teach the course content and facilitate student learning. Furthermore, ongoing support is provided to ensure continuous professional development opportunities and successful course delivery.

Additional Information:

• Designed for Learners in Grades 3-5: The course is specifically tailored to meet the developmental and educational needs of elementary school students, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.

• Hands-On Activities: Emphasizes interactive and practical activities, allowing students to learn by doing and fostering a deeper understanding of electrical principles.

• Project-Based Learning: The culminating arcade game project encourages problem-solving, creativity, and the application of learned concepts in a fun, real-world context.

STEM Integration: Seamlessly integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts through the exploration of electricity and circuit design.