Computer Science

Engineering Medicine Coolers: Medicine Cooler Alarms

Middle School Impacts of Computing Data & Analysis In Classrooms

Students write an algorithm for a micro:bit that continuously monitors temperature and sounds an alarm when a medicine cooler gets too warm.

unit Overview

This computer science module can be taught independently but is intended to be taught after the YES Middle School Engineering Medicine Coolers unit. Students consider how to alert users that their medicine coolers have warmed to room temperature. Students learn how to write an algorithm so that a micro:bit can continuously monitor the temperature and then alert the user when the temperature has exceeded a certain value.

  • 2 lessons
  • 45 minutes per lesson
  • Student materials available in Spanish
  • Computational tools used: micro:bits, MakeCode (free and web-based)
  • Materials needed: Materials kits are not available for purchase for computer science modules

Standards Alignment

YES units align with state and national science standards, integrating seamlessly with popular elementary science curricula.

View Module Standards View All Standards

unit Resources

Digital Resources (FREE)

YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.

Download Resources

Module Map

Students are introduced to the micro:bit as a computational tool for monitoring temperature. They create an algorithm for the micro:bit, selecting an input and output of their choice.

Teams use their experience of monitoring medicine cooler temperature manually to write an algorithm in pseudocode, then create the algorithm in MakeCode, and test it using the simulator.

Our funders

Major support for this project has been provided by MathWorks.