📦 CSCOE Library Planning Guide¶

Location: Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic School · Belle Plaine, MN · Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

This guide helps you plan your STREAM year around the materials available from the CSCOE (Catholic Schools Center of Excellence) STEM Library.

🔗 Direct Link: CSCOE STEM Library

🔗 Direct Access¶

Browse CSCOE STEM Library →

📦 Available Categories¶

Based on current CSCOE inventory (98 items total):

Category	Items	Description
Engineering is Elementary Kits	53	Complete curriculum units with all materials
System Kits	19	Multi-component learning systems
Learning Resources	11	Manipulatives and educational tools
Robotics	10	Robots for coding and engineering
Lab/Measurement Devices	3	Scientific instruments
Virtual Reality	1	Immersive learning equipment

🤖 Robotics Equipment¶

Dash Robots¶

Item	Quantity	Best For	Reservation Notes
Dash Robot Class Set #1	7 robots	Movement, coding, navigation	Popular - reserve early
Dash Robot Class Set #2	7 robots	Movement, coding, navigation	Backup option

Lesson Ideas:

Programming basics (sequencing, loops)
Navigation challenges
"Hands and Feet of Christ" service missions
Environmental cleanup simulations

Catholic Connections:

Purposeful creation (programming with intention)
Stewardship (using technology wisely)
Service to others (designing helpful programs)

Suggested Unit Length: 2-3 weeks

Bee-Bots (if available)¶

Best For: Kindergarten and Grade 1

Lesson Ideas:

Basic directional coding
Story path navigation
Creation exploration paths

Catholic Connections:

Following God's path
Step-by-step obedience
Wonder at movement

Suggested Unit Length: 1-2 weeks

EV3 Robots (if available)¶

Best For: Grades 4-6

Lesson Ideas:

Advanced robotics
Sensor programming
Engineering design challenges

Catholic Connections:

Complex problem-solving
Engineering for good
Innovation with responsibility

Suggested Unit Length: 3-4 weeks

🔧 Engineering is Elementary (EiE) Kits¶

The CSCOE library has 53 EiE kits covering various engineering disciplines. These are complete curriculum packages with:

Teacher guide
Student materials
Storybooks (K-2) or Comics (3-5)
Engineering notebooks
Assessment tools

How to Use EiE Kits¶

Structure: Each kit contains 9 lessons (approximately 45 minutes each)

Recommended Approach for Weekly C-STREAM:

Use 3-4 consecutive weeks
Select the most essential lessons
Combine some lessons as needed

Suggested EiE Units by Season¶

Season	Focus Area	Suggested Unit Topics
Fall	Building & Structures	Bridges, towers, buildings
Winter	Technology & Systems	Circuits, communication
Spring	Environment & Life	Water, plants, ecosystems

Faith Integration for EiE¶

Each EiE unit can connect to Catholic Social Teaching:

Engineering Focus	Catholic Connection
Water/filtration	Care for creation, clean water access
Structures/buildings	Building community, common good
Environmental	Stewardship, Laudato Si'
Medical/helping	Dignity of human person
Communication	Solidarity, connection

🔌 Electronics & Circuits¶

Little Bits (if available)¶

Best For: Grades 2-6

What It Does: Modular electronic building blocks that snap together with magnets.

Lesson Ideas:

Circuit basics
Light-up creations
Interactive inventions

Catholic Connections:

Light of Christ (Advent)
Energy as gift from God
Creating with purpose

Suggested Unit Length: 2 weeks

Makey Makey (if available)¶

Best For: Grades 3-6

What It Does: Turns everyday objects into touchpads using alligator clips.

Lesson Ideas:

Conductivity exploration
Musical instruments
Interactive posters

Catholic Connections:

Creativity as gift
Transforming ordinary into extraordinary
Joy in creation

Suggested Unit Length: 1-2 weeks

📱 Virtual Reality¶

VR Equipment¶

Best For: Grades 4-6 (with supervision)

Possible Uses:

Virtual field trips
Space exploration
Historical sites
Nature immersion

Catholic Connections:

Wonder at God's creation
Experiencing places we can't physically visit
Empathy for other communities

Suggested Use: Single special session or as enhancement to another unit

📅 Year-Long CSCOE Checkout Calendar¶

Reservation Reminders (2-Week Lead Time)¶

Month	Reserve By	Items to Request
August	Aug 15	Sept robotics (Sphero/Dash)
September	Sept 15	Oct EiE kit, circuit materials
October	Oct 15	Nov-Dec circuit/light materials
November	Nov 15	Jan STEM Fair support
December	Dec 15	Feb robotics
January	Jan 15	Feb-Mar materials
February	Feb 15	Spring EiE kit
March	Mar 15	April service project materials
April	Apr 15	May final project support

📋 Checkout Checklist¶

Before Reserving¶

Check availability on CSCOE website
Verify dates align with your teaching schedule
Ensure you have 2+ weeks before you need the item
Have backup plan if item unavailable
Check if multiple sets available for large classes

When Items Arrive¶

Inventory all pieces (use included checklist)
Test technology before class
Read teacher guide/instructions
Note any missing or damaged items immediately
Set up materials before class day

When Returning¶

Return all pieces (inventory again)
Note any damage or missing pieces
Clean/sanitize if required
Return by due date
Report any issues to CSCOE

🎯 Planning Units Around CSCOE Materials¶

Step 1: Browse Available Items¶

Visit CSCOE Library and filter by:

Category (Robotics, EiE, etc.)
Availability (In stock now)

Step 2: Match to Your Calendar¶

Identify when you want to teach the unit
Calculate reservation date (2 weeks before)
Check for conflicts with holidays

Step 3: Create Backup Plans¶

What if item is unavailable?
What school-owned materials could substitute?
Which units don't require CSCOE items?

Step 4: Reserve Early¶

Popular items (Dash Robots, EiE kits) go quickly
Reserve for the full time you need
Consider reserving for entire multi-week unit

📊 Sample Year Plan with CSCOE Materials¶

Weeks	Unit	CSCOE Item	Reserve By
2-3	Sphero Movement	School-owned	N/A
5-6	KEVA Building	School-owned	N/A
7-9	EiE Engineering Challenge	EiE Kit	Sept 15
14-15	Light & Circuits	Little Bits	Nov 15
19-22	STEM Fair Prep	Various	As needed
24-25	Dash Robot Coding	Dash Set	Feb 1
29-31	EiE Environmental	EiE Kit	Feb 15
35-37	Service Project	Various	Mar 15

🔗 Quick Links¶

❓ CSCOE Library FAQ¶

Q: How long can I check out items? A: Typically 2-4 weeks. Check individual item policies.

Q: What if I need items longer? A: Contact CSCOE to request extension if no one else has reserved.

Q: What if something breaks? A: Report immediately. Accidents happen—honesty is important.

Q: Can I reserve multiple items at once? A: Yes! Plan your units and reserve all needed materials.

Q: What if the item I need isn't available? A: Check for alternative dates, similar items, or use school-owned materials.

Guide Version: 2.0
Framework: C-STREAM