KinderLab Robotics Releases K–2 Robotics and Coding Curriculum

KinderLab Robotics Releases K–2 Robotics and Coding Curriculum

KinderLab Robotics has released a new curriculum for early elementary grades designed to support education in robotics, coding and computational thinking. "Growing with KIBO - A Progressive Robotics Curriculum for Grades K–2" also offers integration with arts and literacy activities.

According to KinderLab: "'Growing with KIBO' is built upon the work of Dr. Marina Bers and her DevTech Research Group at Tufts University. The new guide expands upon the research-backed progression established in KinderLab's Creating with KIBO curriculum, adding many more classroom hours of lesson plans and establishing a clear, progressive scope and sequence built on three themes: powerful ideas in computational thinking, the engineering design process, and social-emotional learning (SEL). Each of these themes is grounded in Dr. Bers' extensive research and her published pedagogical frameworks around creative and positive technology education for early childhood."

It includes 60 total hours of materials, including three levels of progression — : novice, intermediate and advanced — each with 20 hours of material. It also offers "suggestions on how to encourage collaboration, sharing, and reflection within the lessons help support children's emotional development alongside STEM/STEAM learning."

"When working with KIBO, kids are learning coding and engineering through hands-on experience," said Angie Kalthoff, technology integrationist in St. Cloud Area School District 742 in Minnesota, in a prepared statement. "Growing with KIBO supports teachers in creating this hands-on environment. Instead of telling students directly what to do, you are encouraged to allow them to try and ask questions that start with 'Have you noticed…' and 'What happens when...'? In my favorite activity, the Hokey Pokey, students get up and dance with their robots. They program KIBO to dance one part of the dance at a time, developing their critical thinking as they match their dance actions to KIBO's programming blocks. They are learning sequencing and programming through movement and creative expression."

The curriculum is expected to ship Feb. 28. It's available now for preorder at an introductory price of $50.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • AI toolbox containing a wrench, document icon, gears, and a network symbol

    Common Sense Media Releases Free AI Toolkit, AI Readiness & Implementation Guides

    Common Sense Media has developed an AI Toolkit for School Districts, available to educators free of charge, that provides guidelines and resources for implementing AI in education.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.