Unit 15 - Year 3 Lessons

Overview

Students will use Micro:bit projects for beacon-style treasure hunts and simple conductivity testing with recorded data.

Target skills:

• Logic & Sequencing
• Systems Thinking
• Creative Problem Solving

Tools:

• Micro:bit
• Google Sheets

Outputs:

• Treasure hunt receiver/transmitter programs
• Conductivity data in Google Sheets

Week 1 - Treasure Hunt

Lesson 1 - Heartbeat Beacon Hunt

Goal: use transmitter and receiver Micro:bits to locate a hidden object.

Teacher prep:

• Prepare at least one transmitter and one receiver
• Open the project page

Steps:

1. Open the heartbeat beacon project.
2. Hide the transmitter.
3. Give other students the receiver device.
4. Use the receiver to search for the hidden transmitter.

Check for understanding:

• Students can explain which device sends and which receives.
• Students successfully use the receiver to search.

Extension:

• Split the class into transmitter and receiver teams.

Lesson 2 - Retry or Expand

Goal: repeat the hunt if needed or expand the game format.

Teacher prep:

• Decide whether to repeat or divide the class into teams

Steps:

1. Retry the activity if parts were not understood.
2. If the group is ready, run a larger treasure hunt.
3. Try using half transmitters and half receivers as a team game.

Check for understanding:

• Students can participate without help on the second attempt.
• Students can describe how the game works.

Extension:

• Add class rules such as time limits or hidden zones.

Week 2 - Testing and Data

Lesson 1 - Conductivity Testing

Goal: test objects and record results in a spreadsheet.

Teacher prep:

• Create or model a Google Sheets data table
• Prepare test objects

Steps:

1. Create a Google Sheet in the student folder.
2. Name the file conductivity.
3. Make columns for object, yes, and no.
4. Test different objects.
5. Record whether each object is conductive.

Check for understanding:

• Students record data in the sheet.
• Students can identify at least one conductive or non-conductive item.

Extension:

• Sort the sheet into conductive and non-conductive groups.

Lesson 2 - Continue Testing

Goal: continue and extend the conductivity investigation.

Teacher prep:

• Prepare additional materials if needed

Steps:

1. Reopen the conductivity sheet.
2. Test more materials.
3. Add more rows and compare results.
4. Discuss any surprising findings.

Check for understanding:

• Students expand the data table correctly.
• Students can describe a pattern in the results.

Extension:

• Group objects by material type.