Lights, Parade, Action!
Students work with a client, Mayor Macy, to explore urban engineering and microelectronics by designing a model town and creating moving parade floats. Through literacy, math, and technology activities, they plan buildings, streetlights, and layouts, apply coding and circuits, and practice problem-solving and collaboration. The unit culminates in a class parade where students showcase their designs and reflect on their engineering process.
Core Content: Integrated Early Childhood Education
Grade Levels: K-2
ME Connection: The microcontroller on the robot acts as the “brain,” processing signals from sensors and code to control the float’s movements and automated streetlights.
Engineering Design Project: Design and build a model town with functional buildings and a moving parade float, integrating microelectronics and coding to solve real-world engineering challenges.