Grades 3-4
Expression & Simple Interaction
What Students Build
At this stage, students create their first interactive devices — simple builds that respond to input and produce visible output. Projects focus on making things that light up, move, or make sound.
- LED-based expressive faces and light patterns
- Simple motorized creatures with basic movement
- Button-triggered interactions and sound effects
- Cardboard + electronics combinations for creative expression
Skills Introduced
Basic Circuits
Connecting LEDs, resistors, and switches on breadboards
Simple Programming
Block-based coding to control lights and motors
Mechanical Basics
Attaching motors, creating simple moving parts
Design Thinking
Sketching ideas before building, iterating on designs
Artifacts Produced
Students leave each project cycle with tangible evidence of their learning:
- Working physical prototypes they can demonstrate
- Design sketches and build photos documenting the process
- Simple wiring diagrams they created or annotated
What Growth Looks Like
By the end of this grade band, students can independently wire a basic LED circuit, use block code to control a motor, and explain what their project does and how they built it. They begin to see the connection between planning and building — and develop the patience to iterate when something doesn't work the first time.