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NextWaveSTEM Course Catalog Curriculum

 

Engage, excite, and inspire students
through emerging technology courses.

 
 

NextWaveSTEM Emerging Technology Courses

Classes are organized by technology then grade band.

 

Renewable Energy | 3-5

Engineering & Innovation | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12

Smart Automations | 6-8

Cybersecurity | 9-12

Game Design | 3-5 & 6-8

COMING SOON - Laser Cutting Design |9-12

Robotics | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & COMING SOON 9-12

Drones | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12

Artificial Intelligence | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12

3D Printing | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12

Hydroponics | K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12

FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot Certification | 9-12

COMING SOON - Vinyl Cutting Design | 6-8

 

Hydroponics

Grades K-2 | Introduction to Hydroponics: Budding Botanists

Through hands-on engaging activities, students will explore many aspects of plants, their needs, and various growing conditions. Over these 15 lessons, early elementary students will recording their observations and data from their own plant’s progress and students will discover the unique traits of plants and their growth while beginning to delve into the exciting science of hydroponics.

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of Hydroponics: Gardening Without Soil

Students can explore hydroponics and traditional gardening to learn about growth needs, seed germination, photosynthesis, pH levels, and food deserts. They will have the opportunity to plant seeds in a classroom hydroponics garden and nurture them until they mature. Additionally, they can develop an innovative plant system to tackle a community or global issue and present their solution to their peers.

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of Solar Power and Renewable Energy: Designing Systems

Understanding connected systems of energy is critical to our students’ future success and happiness. Practices that get clean power where it needs to go are critical to humanity. Students will get hands on and build a working model of a solar powered energy system to learn more about connected power infrastructure.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Hydroponics: Grow, Learn, Thrive Curious Cultivators

Students investigating two distinct methods of plant cultivation—hydroponics and traditional gardening—gain insights into the essentials of plant growth and mechanisms. They sow seeds in a classroom hydroponics garden, nurturing them to maturity while also designing a prospective plant system that addresses a community or global issues.

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Grades 9-12 | Agricultural Science

In the final chapter, students engage in hands-on activities covering soil science, plant biology, irrigation, pest control, sustainability, agroforestry, land management, and distribution. They explore sustainable farming practices aimed at reducing environmental impact and learn about efficient water use in agriculture, including various irrigation techniques and the importance of water management in sustainable farming. Additionally, students gain an understanding of modern agricultural technologies to enhance farming efficiency and effectiveness.

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Drones

Grades K-2 | Introduction to Drones: Take flight!

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a drone?! For our earliest learners, drone technology may seem fantastic but is an amazing way to explore the science of flight and learn more about the world around them. By learning about the fundamental forces of flight, and flying their hand-operating drones, students start building the foundations for the ways drones are used every day!

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of Unmanned Aviation

The future of flight is autonomous, and students are ready to fly using their computer skills today! Students will fly Tello drones as pilots and operators; simulating practical real world scenarios, testing the drone’s range and abilities, & imagining the future of drone technologies.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Drones: Coding With Tello

Whether it’s exploring other planets, delivering packages, or moving the citizens of the future from work to home, unmanned aerial vehicles have the potential to change the world. Through a series of lessons that build on foundational flight and coding skills, students will learn how to simulate drone flights, collect data using sensors and perform drone photography.

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Grades 9-12 | Creation and Evaluation of Drones: Coding with Tello

Students develop a better understanding of safe, ethical, and innovative drone technologies and their critical impact on the future. Learning how to effectively use a drone becomes an amazing way to integrate math and engineering concepts for students while having lots of fun too! Students analyze and apply how Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV or drones) work and can be used to solve real-world problems. Through manual control, students will explore the drone’s range while building protocols for effective UAV operation. Using the Droneblocks app, students will program the drone for autonomous flight while practicing simulations for package delivery, and wildlife photography.

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Grades 9-12 | FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot Certification

This new course is all about drones and is perfect for students interested in technology or career training. It's packed with lessons that get students ready for the FAA 107 drone test. They'll learn everything they need to know, step by step, until they're ready to take a practice test that's just like the real thing. The best part? It starts this fall. Even if students don't have their own drones, they can still join and learn a lot. This course is a great way for students to get into the world of drones and maybe even start a career in it. Available by fall.

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Drone Courses
 
 

Artificial Intelligence

Grades K-2 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Lions, and Tigers, and AI!

The Zappsville Zoo focuses on protecting and healing endangered animals! It's getting busy and the staff has asked YOU to help them design robotic and AI solutions. Over these 10 lessons, early elementary students will complete hands-on activities introducing them to basic AI, robotics, and machine learning concepts as they solve a variety of zoo-themed challenges!

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of Artificial Intelligence: ARTificial Intelligence Artists

When science and art merge, what do we get? Wonder. Students will explore various artistic media and the core concepts of artificial intelligence as they unleash their inner-creative through several wonder-based lessons.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Artificial Intelligence: Character AIsland

Welcome to Character AIsland: a digital paradise where you can meet and interact with AI versions of celebrities, fictional characters, historical figures, and even yourself! Throughout this course, students will learn the basics of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Chatbots as they train and program their very own virtual characters using Scratch and Machine Learning for Kids. Students will explore text, voice, and image recognition as they craft realistic AI chatbots bursting with personality.

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Grades 9-12 | Advanced Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Increasingly, AI is changing the way we make decisions, communicate with each other, and preserve the future health of our world. It’s critical that students become informed digital citizens when encountering these systems. Students will learn about artificial intelligence, and its real-life applications. From facial recognition to autonomous cars, they will find out that computers and AI are everywhere around us!

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Artificial Intelligence Courses
 
 

3D Printing

Grades K-2 | Early Engeneering Adventures

It's all about getting hands-on with learning, where young students will dive into the basics of 3D modeling. They'll explore everything from 3D shapes to different materials, and from understanding size and scale to combining art with engineering. Plus, they'll get to try their hand at prototyping, turning their ideas into real-life models. This course is designed to spark curiosity and develop spatial reasoning skills, setting a strong foundation for future learning in engineering and technology.

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of 3D Design Using Tinkercad

3D printing used to only exist in the realm of science fiction but now it’s science fact. Students build key skills that are essential to the next industrial revolution by: designing 3D objects using Tinkercad, creating a detailed blueprint and sketch of a design solution brainstorming ways that 3D Printing can solve a real-world problem physically printing using CAD software.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of 3D Development Using Tinkercad

3D printing technologies are rapidly revolutionizing the ways we make things. Homes, clothes, transportation, and even food are being 3D printed! At the heart of that revolution is the Engineering Design Process: building solutions to help people. Students will put the Engineering Design Process at the forefront of their thinking and skill development as they learn how to design objects like stamps, architectural models, and simple machines

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Grades 6-8 | Vinyl Cutting Design

This engaging course introduces middle school learners in grades 6-8 to the exciting intersection of design, technology, and entrepreneurship. Students will explore branding concepts, learn to use 2D modeling software, and master vinyl cutting techniques to create a product line for their own brand. Through the processes of ideation, iteration, and marketing, they will develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and business skills.

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Grades 9-12 | Creatively Using 3D Technology for the Real World

Engineers, designers, architects and professionals in a diverse number of fields 3D print everyday. Additive manufacturing skills will be critical to jobs of the future. Students in this course get a head start learning how to put this emerging technology to use. Students analyze and apply how a 3D printer works and how it can be creatively used to solve real-world problems. Students will go from a blank 3D design canvas to a full physical print out—making their ideas come to life!

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COMING SOON Grades 9-12 | Laser Cutting Design

 

 
 

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Grades K-2 | STEM Classics

STEM Classics is an engaging course designed for young learners in grades K-2, focusing on the track of Innovation. This course introduces students to a collection of hands-on, design-based activities that are tailored to develop their critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills. Through the processes of ideation and iteration, students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and engage with fundamental STEM concepts.

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Grades 3-5 | Circuitry

This engaging course introduces young learners in grades 3-5 to the wonders of electricity and circuitry through hands-on, design-based activities. Students will explore basic circuits, experiment with conductors and insulators, and design their own illuminated creations. Through the processes of ideation and iteration, they will develop critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills, all while having fun with fundamental STEM concepts.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Invention & Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Market

This course helps activate STEM, Invention, and Entrepreneurship learning to instill problem-identification, problem-solving and creativity skills inspiring young people to become innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs. Students will find inspiration as they explore what makes something an invention and study the history of some inventions that have shaped our way of life.

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Smart Automation

Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Smart Automation: Designing a Device

With Smart Automation, everything is online, including homes, cars, people, medical devices, and even farming equipment. In this course, students will explore example IoT applications, and plan a project to solve problems for an end-user. Students will program a microcomputer to build an IoT device that can control lights, and respond using a microphone to complete an internet connected device project.

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Grades 9-12 | Invention & Entrepreneurship: Creation of Goods and Services

This course helps activate STEM, Invention, and Entrepreneurship learning to instill problem-identification, problem-solving and creativity skills inspiring young people to become innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs. Students will find inspiration as they explore what makes something an invention and study the history of some inventions that have shaped our way of life.

Cybersecurity

Grades 9-12 | Creation & Evaluation of Cybersecurity: Global Impact

The ability to secure information within a modern enterprise—large or small—is a growing challenge. Preparing students for the future requires that they have an accurate awareness of not only threats to online data, but techniques to secure information through the field of cybersecurity. Students will develop and evaluate concepts of cybersecurity that are applicable to every person who accesses the internet around the world. Students will analyze the ethical ramifications of sharing their data through digital networks globally while exploring foundational mathematical concepts and computer science principles in cryptography.

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Invention and Entrepreneurship Courses
 
 

Game Design

Grades 3-5 | Scratch Saga: Guide to Grade Creation

This course is perfect for students in grades 3-5 who are excited about games and creativity. Using Scratch, a super simple programming tool, we'll guide them through the steps to turn their fun game ideas into reality. They'll learn the basics of coding in a way that's easy to understand and fun

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Grades 6-8 | Code Quest: Adventures in Gaming

In this class, students will get to create their own 8-bit arcade-style games using tools like Construct 3 or MakeCode Arcade. It's a step up into more exciting coding adventures, perfect for those who already know a bit about coding and want to do more. They'll learn advanced tricks to make their games fun and challenging. Download One Pager

 
 

Robotics

Grades K-2 | Introduction to Robots: What is a Robot?

Telling stories is important to teaching coding! The Colby Robot helps students learn how to tell stories using button-based code. During the course, early elementary students will use their Colby robots to draw numbers, tell a story, hunt for treasure, and complete hands-on activities to build their understanding of robotics.

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Grades 3-5 | Discovery of Robots: Coding mBot

How can students learn about coding and robotics at the same time? Building and coding come to life for students as they interact with the mBot! Students will create a robot that tracks and follows a line, responds with sound, flashes lights, and competes in a series of robot tasks and challenges.

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Grades 6-8 | Exploration of Robots: Coding mBot for a Purpose

How important are robots to our everyday lives? How can we be creators of this amazing technology as opposed to being just consumers of what robots produce? These are just a few of the questions that students will explore as they learn how to build, code, and operate the mBot robot! Students build connections to real-world robotics by responding to and avoiding objects, recognizing and following line marks combining skills to complete a competition challenge.

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COMING SOON: Grades 9-12 | Coding Microbit for Manufacturing

Robotics Courses