Junior Engineers: build, launch and robots

In this session, children design, build and test their own machines and robots. The instructor brings small motors, gears and building materials, so the school has nothing to prepare.

Each session is built around one science concept, explained by the instructor and then tested by the children in two or three hands-on experiments. The 1 hour session, RoboCreators, covers how a spinning off-centre weight can make a robot move. The 2 hour session adds Catapult Engineering Lab, on how stretching a material stores energy. The 4 hour session adds TechInsect & PropelBot, on how a motor turns electricity into movement, and Engineering Bridges, on how changing a shape makes a material stronger.

Junior Einsteins Science Club® is an award-winning programme. This session enriches the science strands of the plan d’études: Découverte du monde par tous les sens in cycle 1, and Éveil aux sciences, sciences humaines et naturelles in cycles 2 to 4.

Learning objectives

RoboCreators

Children can explain that a spinning off-centre weight can make a robot move.
Children can build a scribble bot that draws.
Children can build a bristlebot that moves on its own.

Catapult Engineering Lab

Children can explain that stretching or bending a material stores energy.
Children can build a working catapult.
Children can measure how far their catapult launches a ball.

TechInsect & PropelBot

Children can explain that a motor turns electricity into movement.
Children can build a vibrating bug bot.
Children can build a propeller car that moves along a table.

Engineering Bridges

Children can explain that changing a material’s shape can make it stronger.
Children can test how many books a paper pillar holds.
Children can build a straw bridge across a gap.

Junior Engineers: build, launch and robots

In this session, children design, build and test their own machines and robots. The instructor brings small motors, gears and building materials, so the school has nothing to prepare.

Learning objectives

RoboCreators

Children can explain that a spinning off-centre weight can make a robot move.
Children can build a scribble bot that draws.
Children can build a bristlebot that moves on its own.

Catapult Engineering Lab

Children can explain that stretching or bending a material stores energy.
Children can build a working catapult.
Children can measure how far their catapult launches a ball.

TechInsect & PropelBot

Children can explain that a motor turns electricity into movement.
Children can build a vibrating bug bot.
Children can build a propeller car that moves along a table.

Engineering Bridges

Children can explain that changing a material’s shape can make it stronger.
Children can test how many books a paper pillar holds.
Children can build a straw bridge across a gap.

Junior Physicists: electricity and invisible forces

In this session, children explore invisible forces and work directly with real physics equipment. The instructor brings specialist gear, including a Van de Graaff generator and a plasma ball, so the school has nothing to prepare.

Each session is built around one science concept. The instructor explains it, and the children test it themselves in two or three hands-on experiments. The 1 hour session, Plasma Ball, covers static electricity. The 2 hour session adds Van de Graaff 2, on why like charges push apart. The 4 hour session adds Zesty Zap & Spud Spark, on fruit and vegetable batteries, and Make Your Own Compass, on how Earth acts like a giant magnet.

Learning objectives

Plasma Ball

Children can explain that static electricity builds up when some materials rub together.
Children can sort common materials into conductors and insulators.
Children can describe what happened to the fluorescent tube near the plasma ball.

Van de Graaff 2

Children can explain that like charges push each other apart.
Children can describe what happened to the tinsel when the dome was charged.
Children can name one everyday example of static electricity.

Zesty Zap & Spud Spark

Children can explain that fruit and vegetables can act like a battery.
Children can build a lemon cell and a potato cell.
Children can compare the two cells they built.

Make Your Own Compass

Children can explain that Earth acts like a giant magnet.
Children can magnetise a needle.
Children can float their needle and check which way it points against a real compass.

Junior Astronauts: space and rockets

In this session, children investigate gravity, air pressure and the forces that get a rocket off the ground. The instructor brings a gravity well and rocket launchers, so the school has nothing to prepare.

Each session is built around one science concept, explained by the instructor and then tested by the children in two or three hands-on experiments. The 1 hour session, Out of This World, covers gravity and how it keeps planets in orbit around the Sun. The 2 hour session adds Rocket Races, on how a rocket pushes itself forward. Rockets launch outdoors when the weather allows. The 4 hour session adds Junior Astronaut Training, on air pressure, and Bernoulli’s Flying Machines, on the four forces of flight.

Learning objectives

Out of This World

Children can explain that gravity keeps planets in orbit around the Sun.
Children can put the planets in order from the Sun.
Children can describe how a marble moves around the gravity well.

Rocket Races

Children can explain that a rocket moves forward by pushing gas out the back.
Children can launch a balloon rocket along a line.
Children can build a bottle rocket from vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

Junior Astronaut Training

Children can explain that air pressure can hold water inside an upside-down glass.
Children can describe what happens to a marshmallow in a vacuum.
Children can launch a film canister pop rocket.

Bernoulli’s Flying Machines

Children can name the four forces that act on a plane.
Children can describe how a ping-pong ball behaves in an air stream.
Children can build a glider that flies.

SkillsBooster Sciences

This SkillsBooster brings together the basic sciences. The pupils complete a quest together, in which they must solve a variety of scientific and mathematical tasks and experiments. Topics such as electricity, basic chemistry and physics, biology and mathematics are tested in a playful way.

Little Engineers Challenge – Build, Understand, Innovate (Bricks Challenge & Galileo Technique)

During these sessions, children discover the principles of mechanics and engineering by building their own models using LEGO (building bricks and mechanical parts). They handle, test and improve their creations whilst learning about the scientific principles that make them work.

Bricks Challenge

The Bricks Challenge programme introduces children to the basics of STEM and classical mechanics through fun, hands-on building activities.

Each session allows children to discover a mechanical principle and then put it into practice by building a model. In particular, they explore forces, energy, load distribution and motion… For example, building a lift and seeing it work

Learning objectives

Children can

create and innovate.
identify different forces and understand their effects.
explain a mechanical mechanism in simple terms
discover how energy creates movement.
understand the role of torque in how a machine works.
Experiment with load distribution and balance…
build and test different mechanical models

Galileo Technic

Galileo Technic is a more advanced programme that enables children to explore mechanical engineering in greater depth.

Each session focuses on a machine or an engineering concept. Children build more complex models to understand how different mechanisms work and how they are used in real life.

Learning objectives

To understand how more complex mechanisms work.
To create and innovate.
To identify the mechanical principles used in a machine.
Build technical models and observe how they work.
Understand how certain mechanisms are used in real-life situations.
test, modify and improve their constructions.

Robot Challenge: Build, Innovate, Code and Make It Move! (AlgoPlay & RoboToys)

During these sessions, the children discover the basics of programming and robotics by building, programming and testing their own creations. They use building blocks and programming elements to give instructions to their models and make them work.

Through fun and hands-on challenges, the children learn to think critically, experiment, solve problems and work as a team, whilst developing their logical thinking and creativity.

AlgoPlay

The AlgoPlay programme introduces children to the basics of programming and mechanics through building and coding activities.

Each session allows children to discover a programming principle, then put it into practice through a building project or a challenge. They gradually learn to give instructions, use conditions and loops, identify errors and improve their programme.

Learning objectives

Children will be able to:

create and innovate through building and programming;
understand the basics of programming;
give instructions to a model to make it work;
discover how conditions and loops work;
develop their logical and algorithmic thinking;
try out different solutions to solve a problem;
build and test their own models;
work in teams and share their ideas.

RoboToys

RoboToys is a programme that enables children to explore robotics, programming and mechanical design in greater depth.

Each session centres on building and programming a robot or model. Children discover how a robot can receive instructions, carry out actions and react to different situations.

Through progressive challenges, they learn to combine construction, programming and logic to create robots capable of carrying out various tasks.

Learning objectives

Children will be able to:

understand the basic principles of robotics;
build and programme a robot;
discover how instructions are used to control a robot;
develop their logical and algorithmic thinking;
understand the relationship between a programme and a robot’s actions;
test, modify and improve their programmes;
solve problems through various robotics challenges;
develop their creativity and ability to innovate;
work as a team to design and improve a solution.

Junior Robot Challenge

Dir schafft am Cycle 2 an hutt Loscht, mat Äre Kanner éischt Schrëtt an d’Robotik an an d‘Kodéierwelt ze woen? Da sidd Dir hei genee richteg, a keng Angscht, Dir braucht och keng Erfarung am Kodéieren ze hunn.

Hautdesdaags ass et essentiel, datt all Schüler d’Méiglechkeet kritt, d’Basiskonzepter vun der Informatik ze verstoen a se ze benotzen, fir Problemer ze léisen. Eng Robotik-Aktivitéit entwéckelt Fäegkeeten am logeschen Denken, Problemléisen, Teamwork a am Beräich vun der Kreativitéit. Et sinn dës interdisziplinär Fäegkeeten, déi och zentral an de Beräicher Mathematik, Naturwëssenschaften, Sproochen, asw. sinn.

Wärend der Challenge entdecken d‘Kanner déi villfälteg Asazberäicher vun engem Roboter, erstellen hiren eegene Roboter am Kader vun enger Upcyclingaktivitéit an erwächen dësen mat Hëllef vun enger eegener analoger Kodéiersprooch zum Liewen.

Mat e bësse Geschéck qualifizéiert Är Klass sech fir déi grouss Finall, wou Är Kanner d’Méiglechkeet gebuede kréien, hire Roboter engem breede Public virzestellen.