Middle school · Grade 7

Level 7: Smart AI systems

Level 7 develops smart AI systems, and students solve complex missions with connected, programmable hardware.

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Level 7 at a glance

Grade: Grade 7 · Middle school
Technology: Smart AI systems
Tools: MakeCode with AI blocks
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 Story Light Show
Sustainability theme: Land, Industry and Climate
Careers named: Oceanographer, Microbiologist, First Responder

Level 7 book demo

Book demo

See Level 7 in action

A short walk through the Level 7 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

Build a smart system that senses and responds
Solve a multi-step mission with a program
Explain how the system uses data

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 7

Engineering & Design

Respond to the programme's first open-ended, audience-facing design brief, defining a creative problem and building a solution for a real audience.
Combine micro:bit code with simple AI-style pattern logic to create an audience-facing light-and-sound presentation (the "Build a Story Light Show" pre/post challenge).
Work within the relabeled 4-role team structure for older students (Project Manager, Resource Manager, Project Communicator, Project Tester).
Present a finished build to another team, explaining design choices and answering audience questions.

Science

Investigate ecosystems and evolution themes through a project (NGSS LS2).
Explore earth-systems content connected to a build (NGSS ESS2).
Apply middle-school engineering design (NGSS MS-ETS1) to define and solve a stated problem.
Investigate matter-related physical science content, drawing on this level's widest spread of biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space content of any level so far (NGSS PS1; Cambridge Science Stage 7–9).

Mathematics

Apply algebra, introduced for the first time in the programme, to a project task (Cambridge Algebra).
Use ratio/proportional relationships and number-system concepts in a build (Common Core Ratios & Proportional Relationships; The Number System).
Apply geometry and early expressions / equations concepts to a design task (Cambridge Geometry; Common Core Expressions & Equations).

Computing & Coding

Write AI-integrated block programs on a micro:bit that apply simple AI/ML-style pattern or decision logic (e.g., a light-and-sound sequence that responds to a condition).
Combine multiple coded behaviors into one audience-facing program and debug it for a live presentation.

Social skills

Take on a project-based team role — Leader, Material Manager, Reporter, or Testing Supervisor — using more advanced collaboration and presentation skills.

STEM career literacy

Recognize real health, environmental, and — for the first time — AI-titled careers, such as Oceanographer, Microbiologist, or First Responder.

Sustainability literacy

Identify the Sustainable Development Goal connected to their build, themed around Land, Industry & Climate.

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

Sustainable Development Goals at this level

3 Good Health and Well-being
4 Quality Education
7 Affordable and Clean Energy
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
13 Climate Action
14 Life Below Water
15 Life on Land

Source: SKOOL21 Five Pillars Framework. Compare all levels

Sample lesson

Project 1: Sunlight Finder

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

Gardeners want their plants to grow strong and healthy. But it is hard to know which spot in a garden gets enough sunlight for “full-sun” plants. Your team will help by building a smart device that measures sunlight and finds the best planting spot.

The problem, as printed in the workbook.

Goal named: SDG 7 · Affordable and Clean Energy
Careers named: Botanist, Farmer
Standards cited: NGSS MS-LS1-2; Cambridge Science 7Bs.02; Common Core 7.RP.A.1; Cambridge Mathematics 7Nf.11

Sunlight Finder, sample lesson page 1 — 1. Objectives and standards

Sunlight Finder, sample lesson page 2 — 2. The project begins

Sunlight Finder, sample lesson page 3 — 3. Planning the build

Sunlight Finder, sample lesson page 4 — 4. Building

Curriculum alignment

Standards cited in Level 7, 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

PS1
LS1
LS2
LS4
ESS1
ESS2
ETS1

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

Cambridge Science sub-strands

TWSc
TWSm
TWSa
Bp
Bs
Be
Cm
Cp
Pf
Pe
ESp
ESs
ESc
SIC

Distinct Stage-coded sub-strands touched (of 17): 14Projects 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 Sunlight Finder	Affordable and Clean Energy	MS-LS1-2	7Bs.02	7Nf.11	7.RP.A.1	1.4.a1.4.c	Botanist, Farmer
2 AI Fitness Timer	Good Health and Well-Being	MS-ETS1-4	7TWSc.037TWSa.017TWSa.02	7.Ae.03	7.EE.A.1	1.4.a1.4.c	Medical Professional, Fitness Instructor
3 Key Classification	Life on Land	MS-LS2-1	7Bp.04	7Nf.01	7.RP.A.2	1.3.d	Wildlife Biologist, Paleontologist
4 Decomposer Population Analysis	Life Below Water	MS-LS2-2	7Be.017Be.02	7Nf.09	7.RP.A.3	1.3.d	Microbiologist, Waste Management
5 Metal or Nonmetal?	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	MS-PS1-1	7Cm.03	7Ni.01	7.NS.A.1	1.7.c	Materials Scientist, Electrical Engineer
6 Thermal Particle Model	Decent Work and Economic Growth	MS-PS1-4	7Cm.067Cm.07	7Nf.03	7.NS.A.2	1.6.c	Materials Scientist, Chemist
7 Acids and Bases	Quality Education	MS-PS1-3	7Cp.027Cp.03	7Nf.01	7.NS.A.3	1.3.d	Materials Scientist, Chemist
8 AI Animal Recognition System	Life on Land	LS2.C	8Be.03	7Ae.04	7.EE.A.2	1.3.d	Biologist, AI Engineer
9 Smoke Alarm	Life on Land	LS4.D	7SIC.059Be.01	7Gg.01	6.G.A.3	1.3.d1.4.a	Environmental Engineer, First Responder
10 Humidity Monitor	Climate Action	MS-ESS2-4	7ESc.01	9Gg.01	7.G.B.4	1.3.d	Environmental Engineer, Meteorologist
11 Tides	Climate Action	MS-ESS1-2	7ESs.03	8.Gg.11	7.G.B.5	1.3.d	Weather Analyst, Oceanographer
12 Circuit Current Control	Decent Work and Economic Growth	MS-ETS1-3	7Pe.04	7.Gg.01	7.G.A.1	1.7.c	Electrical Engineer, Electrician
13 AI Storytelling Device	Quality Education	MS-ETS1-4	7TWSc.037TWSa.017TWSa.02	7.Ae.03	7.EE.A.1	1.4.a1.4.c	AI Product Manager, Reading Specialist
14 Earthquake Alarm	Climate Action	MS-ESS2-3	7ESp.017ESp.02	7.Gg.01	7.G.A.2	1.7.c	Geologist, First Responder
15 Simple Machines	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	MS-ETS1-3	7Pf.017SIC.02	7As.04	6.EE.C.9	1.3.d1.4.a	Mechanical Engineer
Capstone AI Magic Show	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	MS-ETS1-4	7TWSm.01	—	—	1.3.d1.4.a	—

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 7	978-981-17494-3-8
Teacher guidebook	Guidebook, Level 7	978-981-17737-1-6
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 →