Soar into STEM: Aerial Drone Class for Grades 3-4

This semester-long program introduces young learners to the fundamentals of drone technology, STEM concepts, and teamwork. Through engaging hands-on activities, students will develop skills in drone piloting, programming, problem-solving, and collaboration, laying the foundation for participation in the REC Foundation’s Aerial Drone Competition.

Course Topics

Introduction to Drones and Flight Basics

• Objective: Understand drone technology and learn basic piloting skills.
• Activities:
  • • Watch an engaging video about drones in industries such as delivery, rescue missions, and farming.
    • Explore the parts of a drone (propellers, battery, controller).
    • Discuss safety rules for flying drones.
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    • Practice takeoff, landing, hovering, and simple directional controls using a simulator or mini-drones.
    • Play a “drone safety quiz” to reinforce safe piloting practices.

Teamwork Mission

• Objective: Learn teamwork and collaboration by working in pairs.
• Activities:
  • Introduce the concept of teamwork in the Aerial Drone Competition.
  • Set up a simple obstacle course where students must work in pairs to fly a drone through it.
  • Reflect on communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed for success.

Programming Basics

• Objective: Explore block-based coding to control drones.
• Activities:
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    • Introduce coding concepts using beginner-friendly tools like Tynker or DroneBlocks.
    • Teach basic commands (e.g., move forward, turn left, hover).
    • Students write their first code to control a drone’s movement.
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    • Expand on coding by introducing loops and sequences.
    • Challenge students to program a drone to autonomously complete a short obstacle course.

Autonomous Flight Mission

• Objective: Program drones for autonomous operations.
• Activities:
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    • Explain how autonomous drones are used in real-life scenarios (e.g., delivering packages or mapping areas).
    • Students program their drones to navigate a series of waypoints.
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    • Introduce troubleshooting techniques for programming errors.
    • Students refine their programs for accuracy and efficiency.

Problem-Solving Challenges

• Objective: Apply programming and piloting skills to creative problem-solving missions.
• Activities:
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    • Set up a "rescue mission” challenge where students must deliver a small payload to a target using their drone.
    • Allow students to brainstorm and test different strategies.
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    • Introduce a timed challenge where students pilot or program their drones to complete specific tasks quickly and accurately.
    • Discuss lessons learned and how to improve.

Competition Simulation and Showcase

• Objective: Simulate the Aerial Drone Competition environment and celebrate achievements.
• Activities:
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    • Divide students into small teams for a mini-competition with teamwork, piloting, and programming challenges.
    • Practice the judging process by reviewing simplified logbooks and having students present their work.
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    • Host a showcase event for parents and peers, where students demonstrate their drones and share their logbooks.
    • Celebrate with participation certificates and reflect on the achievements of the semester’s learning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the semester, students will:

1. Understand drone technology and flight principles.
2. Safely pilot a drone with confidence.
3. Write and troubleshoot basic drone programs.
4. Collaborate effectively in teams to solve challenges.
5. Be prepared for future STEM competitions, such as the Aerial Drone Competition.