English Language Arts (ELA)

Strawbees is easy to implement with Common Core alignment for a set of highly rigorous academic standards for U.S. school children in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The Common Core standards covered in Strawbees Classroom are for both English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics curriculum.

Nonfiction Standards: All Strawbees Classroom lessons inherently feature Informational Text Standards  3, 4, and 7. Students build designs and then are able to describe the relationship between the engineering and scientific concepts or the steps it took to build designs through self-assessment.

There is additional student and teacher text in all lesson resources for each to help the students understand these complex and relevant non-fiction topics. All lessons feature vocabulary and high quality media used in the student’s handout, engaging in activating questions, and also in student journals documenting their experience. These features assure a rich learning experience for both teachers and students.

Fiction Standards With Ties to Social and Emotional Learning: There are lessons and activities within Strawbees Classroom dedicated to the creation of empathic and expressive robots.  While building these robots, students are able to discuss feelings, motivation, and character traits. The robots allow for students to have a tangible way to engage with Literature Standard 3.  In addition, Standard 3 also has a strong relationship with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). 

As students, teachers, schools, and communities navigate through many challenges in life, building self-awareness, adapting in unfamiliar situations, and learning new skills, it is important that the curriculum allows for students and teachers alike to express and explore their feelings.

Writing Standards: Common Core Writing Standards detail that students should be responsible for producing opinion pieces, informative texts, and narrative texts with varying levels of support. In addition, many classrooms highlight writing to learn as a strategy to improve reading.  All Strawbees lessons and activities are easily followed by a writing prompt.

Furthermore, the Strawbees Classroom contains multiple opportunities for students to write using downloadable assets to help guide their thinking. Strawbees robotics in the form of lessons and activities may easily become characters for a child’s own imaginative narrative for storytelling.

Mathematics

Activities naturally integrate mathematical reasoning and problem-solving using Strawbees. Students explore concepts such as measurement, geometry, proportions, and spatial reasoning by building three-dimensional structures, calculating angles, and determining material efficiency.

When designing a Strawbees geodesic dome, students must calculate angles and segment lengths to ensure structural stability. This aligns with the CCSS emphasis on conceptual understanding and real-world application rather than rote memorization. Similarly, coding a Strawbees robotic mechanism with micro:bit introduces students to patterns, sequences, and algorithms, reinforcing computational thinking in mathematical contexts.

The iterative nature of Strawbees projects encourages students to test and modify their designs, mirroring the problem-solving approach found in mathematical modeling and engineering. Instead of simply learning formulas, students apply mathematical principles to optimize their designs, analyze structural weaknesses, and improve efficiency.

As students begin to code, they use algebraic operations and numbers and operations in base ten within the code. Strawbees’ coding cards offer challenges to help get students started. Students’ own creativity also allows them to explore mathematical operations as they choose. The mathematical possibilities that exist with coding with Strawbees are limitless with students’ imaginations.

Assessment

Assessment within Strawbees is grounded in real-world, standards-driven learning. Instead of rote memorization or standardized testing, students have opportunities to demonstrate their skills within the coding platforms, by their own builds, or through their written responses. 

Lesson resources contain multiple opportunities for students to write for assessing Common Core standards using downloadable assets to help guide their thinking with the list of science and engineering vocabulary plus Latin and Greek prefixes.

Strawbees transforms the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) from abstract learning goals into interactive, real-world applications. By engaging in project-based learning, students develop literacy, mathematical reasoning, and critical thinking skills in a hands-on, creative environment.

Students learn to communicate their ideas effectively, apply mathematical concepts with purpose, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. This interdisciplinary approach not only strengthens academic learning but also prepares students for future careers that require adaptability, collaboration, and innovation.

Educators looking to bring more engagement and real-world relevance to their CCSS-aligned curriculum will find Strawbees to be a powerful tool for bridging traditional academics with STEAM learning.

Discover how Strawbees can transform your approach to STEAM learning while meeting CCSS standards. Explore Strawbees kits, lesson plans, and resources, and see how easy it is to bring innovative, standards-aligned computer science education to your students.