Middle school · Grade 6

Level 6: Circuits, sensors and data

Level 6 moves from robotics to specialised circuitry. Humidity and motion sensors and advanced MakeCode programming build technical and data literacy.

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Level 6 at a glance

Grade: Grade 6 · Middle school
Technology: Circuits, sensors and data
Tools: Advanced MakeCode
Kit: STEM Micro:bit Kit, one per group of four
Projects: 15 projects and a Capstone
Weekly time: One 45 or 90 minute session
Pre and post challenge: Build a Fall Alert
Sustainability theme: Health, Consumption and Energy
Careers named: Cardiologist, Obstetrician, Public Health Expert

Level 6 book demo

Book demo

See Level 6 in action

A short walk through the Level 6 workbook and the STEM Micro:bit Kit, from the SKOOL21 channel.

Projects from the STEM Micro:bit Kit

By the end of this level

Students can

Wire and program specialised sensors
Program in advanced MakeCode
Read and use sensor data to make a decision

Summarised from the SKOOL21 Level Exit Outcomes.

Design process

How they work

Define
Design
Share
Reflect

Sample projects

Fifteen projects and a Capstone. Ask for the level sheet for the full project list.

Full exit outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals for Level 6

Engineering & Design

Build a device using the micro:bit's accelerometer and specialized sensors that detects a sudden fall or drop and sounds an alarm (the "Build a Fall Alert" pre/post challenge).
Apply advanced circuit-building skills with specialized sensors (humidity, motion, ultrasonic) to a safety- or ecosystem-themed problem.
Test a safety-themed device against a real trigger condition and confirm it responds correctly.
Define criteria and constraints and iterate on a solution to a stated real-world problem (NGSS MS-ETS1).

Science

Investigate ecosystems for the first time in the programme through a safety, security, or ecosystem-themed problem (NGSS LS2).
Explore an Earth's-Place-in-the-Universe topic connected to a project (NGSS ESS1).
Investigate motion and forces relevant to detecting a fall or sudden movement (NGSS PS2).
Investigate a biology topic as the leading content strand, with this level reaching slightly ahead of grade-typical content (Cambridge Science Stage 6–7 — Biology).

Mathematics

Apply ratio and proportional reasoning, such as the threshold sensitivity of an accelerometer (Common Core Ratios & Proportional Relationships).
Use number and probability/statistics concepts to interpret repeated sensor-test results (Cambridge Statistics incl. Probability; Common Core Statistics & Probability).
Apply expressions/equations or number-system concepts to define a numeric alarm threshold (Common Core The Number System; Expressions & Equations).

Computing & Coding

Write advanced MakeCode programs on a micro:bit that read specialized sensors (accelerometer, ultrasonic, humidity, motion) and trigger outputs.
Combine multiple sensor inputs into a single program using more complex conditional logic and circuit wiring.
Debug and refine code so a safety-themed device responds correctly and consistently to a real trigger condition.

Social skills

Take on and fulfill a defined team role — Leader, Material Manager, Reporter, or Testing Supervisor — while collaborating, communicating, and resolving conflict within a build team.

STEM career literacy

Recognize real health & life-science careers, named more often here than engineering ones for the first time, such as Cardiologist or Public Health Expert.

Sustainability literacy

Identify the Sustainable Development Goal connected to their build, themed around Health, Consumption & Energy.

From the SKOOL21 Level Exit Outcomes. Standards named are NGSS, Common Core and Cambridge strands.

Sustainable Development Goals at this level

2 Zero Hunger
3 Good Health and Well-being
4 Quality Education
7 Affordable and Clean Energy
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 Responsible Consumption and Production
13 Climate Action
15 Life on Land
16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Source: SKOOL21 Five Pillars Framework. Compare all levels

Sample lesson

Project 1: Freefall Simulator

The first project of the level, as it appears in the guidebook. The full workbook is in the reader below where published.

Engineers must study how objects fall through the air to keep people safe. They use wind tunnels to test their designs. Your team will help by building a parachute that floats at a steady height above a fan.

The problem, as printed in the workbook.

Goal named: SDG 12 · Responsible Consumption and Production
Careers named: Aerospace Engineer, Air Force Member
Standards cited: NGSS MS-PS2-2; Cambridge Science 6Pf.03, 6Pf.04, 6Pf.05; Common Core 6.RP.A.3.D; Cambridge Mathematics 6Nf.13

Freefall Simulator, sample lesson page 1 — 1. Objectives and standards

Freefall Simulator, sample lesson page 2 — 2. The project begins

Freefall Simulator, sample lesson page 3 — 3. Planning the build

Freefall Simulator, sample lesson page 4 — 4. Building

Curriculum alignment

Standards cited in Level 6, project by project

One row per project, quoted as the guidebook cites them. An empty cell means no citation for that project.

NGSS sub-domains

PS2
PS3
LS1
LS2
ESS1
ESS3
ETS1

Distinct NGSS sub-domains touched (of 12): 7Projects with ≥ 1 NGSS code (of 16, incl. capstone): 16 / 16

Cambridge Science sub-strands

TWSc
TWSa
Bp
Bs
Be
Pf
Ps
ESp
ESs
SIC

Distinct Stage-coded sub-strands touched (of 17): 10Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Science code (of 16, incl. capstone): 16 / 16

Cambridge Maths sub-strands

Distinct Stage-coded sub-strands touched (of 13): 5Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Math code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16

Project	SDG	NGSS	Cambridge Science	Cambridge Maths	Common Core Maths	ISTE	Careers named
1 Free Fall Simulator	Responsible Consumption and Production	MS-PS2-2	6Pf.036Pf.046Pf.05	6Nf.13	6.RP.A.3.D	1.3.d1.4.a	Aerospace Engineer, Air Force Member
2 Water Level Detector	Sustainable Cities and Communities	MS-LS2-5	6TWSa.05	6Nc.02	6.EE.B.7	1.3.d	Marine Biologist, Ecologist
3 Ultrasonic Scanner	Good Health and Well-Being	MS-ETS1-2	6Bs.03	6Nc.03	6.EE.A.2	1.3.d1.4.a	Obstetrician, Fertility Specialist
4 Circulatory System Model	Good Health and Well-Being	MS-ETS1-2	6Bs.01	6Nf.13	6.RP.A.1	1.3.d1.4.c	Cardiologist, Electrical Engineer
5 Predator-Prey Graph Simulator	Life on Land	MS-LS2-1	6Be.05	6Ni.04	6.NS.B.3	1.3.d1.4.a	Ecologist, Data Analyst
6 Bee Blower	Climate Action	MS-LS2-5	6Bp.02	6Nf.076Nf.12	6.RP.A.3.C	1.4.a	Beekeeper, Botanist
7 Posture Alarm	Good Health and Well-Being	MS-ETS1-2	6Ps.01	6Ni.02	6.EE.B.8	1.3.d	Physical Therapist, Biomedical Engineer
8 Friction Car	Affordable and Clean Energy	PS2.A	6Ps.03	6Ss.04	6.SP.B.56.SP.B.5.A	1.3.d1.4.a	Automotive Engineer, Materials Scientist
9 Toxic Checker	Zero Hunger	MS-LS2-3	6Be.02	6Ss.02	6.G.A.1	1.3.d1.4.a	Wildlife Biologist, Public Health Expert
10 Pollution Monitor	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	MS-ESS3-3	6Es.02	6Nf.03	6.G.A.2	1.3.d	Environmental Engineer, Air Quality Control Officer
11 Weight Prediction	Responsible Consumption and Production	MS-ESS1-2	6Ps.01	6Nf.03	6.EE.B.6	1.7.c	Aeronautical Engineer
12 Microorganism Monitor	Affordable and Clean Energy	MS-LS1-5	7Bs.017Be.01	6Nf.08	6.EE.A.2	1.3.d	Chemical Engineer, Public Health Professional
13 Thermal Servo	Quality Education	MS-PS3-3	6Pf.04	6Ss.04	6.SP.B.4	1.3.d	Mechanical Engineer, Environmental Engineer
14 Global Impact	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	MS-ESS3-3	7SIC.05	6Sp.01	7.SP.C.5	1.7.c	Cybersecurity Professional, Emergency Responder
15 Eclipse Light Tracker	Quality Education	MS-ESS1-1	7ESs.04	6Nf.13	6.RP.A.3.B6.RP.A.3.D	1.3.d	Astronomer, Earth Scientist
Capstone Safety and Security	Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	MS-ETS1-1	6TWSc.03	—	—	1.3.d	—

Source: SKOOL21 Level A to 12 curriculum crosswalk (2026), compiled from the teacher guides and student books. Where the two differ, the student book prevails.

Inside the level

What you order

Item	Title	ISBN or SKU
Student workbook	STEM Innovator’s Workbook, Level 6	978-981-17494-4-5
Teacher guidebook	Guidebook, Level 6	978-981-17737-0-9
Learning kit	STEM Micro:bit Kit	STEMSIHKitG67

Levels 6 and 7 share the STEM Micro:bit Kit.

Assessment built in

Four checkpoints a year use a seven-criterion rubric, and every other project gets a 30 second workbook check.

How assessment works →

Standards mapped

The guidebook maps each project to NGSS, Cambridge and Common Core standards where they apply.

See the table for this level →