Foundation · Kindergarten

Level B: Simple machines

Kindergarten builders explore pulleys, wind blades and levers, and meet early science, the SDGs and careers.

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Level B at a glance

Grade: Kindergarten · Foundation
Technology: Simple machines
Tools: Pre-code, simple machines
Kit: Smart Machines 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 Moving Toy
Sustainability theme: 10 of the 17 SDGs across the level, such as Life on Land, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action

Level B book demo

Book demo

See Level B in action

A short walk through the Level B workbook and the Smart Machines Kit, from the SKOOL21 channel.

Projects from the Smart Machines Kit

By the end of this level

Students can

Build with pulleys, wind blades and levers
Describe how a simple machine changes a push or a pull
Talk about people who solve problems in their community

Summarised from the SKOOL21 Level Exit Outcomes.

Design process

How they work

Plan
Do
Improve
Review

Sample projects

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

Full exit outcomes for Level B

Engineering & Design

Build a simple machine (e.g., a pulley or basic mechanism) from the Smart Machine Kit that performs a specified real-world-inspired function.
Build a device that moves independently across a surface when pushed, and describe how it works (the "Build a Moving Toy" pre/post challenge).
Test whether a built object performs its intended action, adjusting the build with teacher or peer guidance.
Collaborate in a small group to build and test a solution to a simple, real-world-framed scenario, ahead of formally assigned team roles (which begin at Level 1).

Science

Explore and describe basic forces and motion (push, pull, roll) through a moving-machine build (NGSS K-2-ETS1 / Physical Science — Forces & Energy).
Describe a simple human impact on the local environment (e.g., keeping a park clean) in connection with a build (NGSS Earth & Human Activity).
Make simple first-hand observations across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space topics through guided investigation (Cambridge Science Stage 1 — Thinking & Working Scientifically, the leading strand).
Apply the Engineering Design Process at a K-2 level to a simple, real-world-framed problem (NGSS K-2-ETS1).

Mathematics

Count and compare quantities of pieces used in a build (Cambridge Primary Number; Common Core Counting & Cardinality).
Identify and describe simple 2D/3D shapes in kit components (Cambridge Primary Geometry; Common Core Kindergarten Geometry).
Collect and represent simple classroom data, such as tallying how many builds moved successfully (Cambridge Primary Statistics; Common Core Measurement & Data).
Use early operations/algebraic thinking, such as combining pieces to reach a target count (Common Core Operations & Algebraic Thinking).

Computing & Coding

Sequence and assemble mechanical components (pulleys, levers) in a specified order to achieve a moving function — an early, non-digital precursor to procedural thinking.

Social skills

Collaborate in an informal, teacher-guided small group to build, test, and share a solution — the first step toward the formal team roles introduced at Level 1.

STEM career literacy

Not yet introduced — SKOOL21 begins explicitly naming real STEM careers from Level 1 on.

Sustainability literacy

Identify the Sustainable Development Goal connected to their build — spanning 10 of 17 SDGs across the level, e.g. Life on Land, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Climate Action.

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

Sample lesson

Project 1: Build a Habitat

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

Children circle the pictures that show a habitat, trace what theirs will need (a tree, grass and a pond), then build a model of it with the kit.

Standards cited: NGSS K-LS1-1; Cambridge Science 1Bp.02, 1Bp.03; Common Core K.CC.A.1, K.CC.A.3; Cambridge Mathematics 1Nc.01

Build a Habitat, sample lesson page 1 — 1. Objectives and standards

Build a Habitat, sample lesson page 2 — 2. The project begins

Build a Habitat, sample lesson page 3 — 3. Planning the build

Build a Habitat, sample lesson page 4 — 4. Building

Curriculum alignment

Standards cited in Level B, 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
ESS2
ESS3
ETS1

Distinct NGSS sub-domains touched (of 12): 6Projects with ≥ 1 NGSS code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16

Cambridge Science sub-strands

TWSp
TWSc
Bp
Cc
Pf
ESp
ESs
SIC

Distinct Stage-coded sub-strands touched (of 17): 8Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Science code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16

Cambridge Maths sub-strands

Distinct Stage-coded sub-strands touched (of 13): 4Projects with ≥ 1 Cambridge Math code (of 16, incl. capstone): 15 / 16

Project	SDG	NGSS	Cambridge Science	Cambridge Maths	Common Core Maths	ISTE
1 Build a Habitat	Life on Land	K-LS1-1	1Bp.021Bp.03	1Nc.011Ni.02	K.CC.A.1K.CC.A.3	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
2 Build a Boat	Sustainable Cities and Communities	K-ESS3-2	1Pf.031TWSp.02	1Nc.011Gg.02	K.CC.B.5K.CC.C.7	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
3 Build a Playground	Good Health and Well Being	K-PS3-2	1ESs.021TWSp.01	1Gg.011Gg.02	K.G.B.4K.G.B.5	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
4 Build a Truck	Life on Land	K-ESS3-3	1SIC.041TWSc.03	1Ss.031Nc.03	K.MD.A.1K.CC.A.3	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
5 Build a Farm Tool	Zero Hunger	K-ESS3-1K-2-ETS1-1	1Bp.021TWSc.02	1Gg.04	K.MD.A.1	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
6 Build a Wind Meter	Climate Action	K-ESS2-1	1SIC.03	1Nc.011Gg.02	K.CC.A.1K.MD.A.1	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
7 Build a Spin Dryer	Responsible Consumption and Production	K-PS2-1	1Pf.011Pf.02	1Gg.05	K.G.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
8 Build a Box Mover	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	K-PS2-1	1Pf.011Pf.02	1Gg.041Ni.01	K.MD.A.1K.MD.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
9 Build a Sailboat	Life Below Water	K-PS2-2	1Pf.011Pf.02	1Nc.011Ss.03	K.MD.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
10 Build a Bicycle	Climate Action	K-PS3-1	1ESp.021ESs.01	1Nc.011Ss.03	K.MD.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
11 Build a Machine	Sustainable Cities and Communities	K-2-ETS1-2	1Cc.011TWSc.02	1Ni.021Ni.05	K.OA.A.3	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
12 Build a Well	Clean Water and Sanitation	K-2-ETS1-3	1TWSc.05	1Ni.021Ni.05	K.OA.A.3	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
13 Build a Robot	—	—	—	—	—	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
14 Build a Spinning Toy	Quality Education	K-PS2-1K-2-ETS1-1	1TWSp.02	1Gg.05	K.G.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
15 Build a Catapult	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	K-PS2-2	1Pf.02	1Ni.03	K.OA.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.
Capstone Build the Future	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	K-2-ETS1-2	1TWSp.02	1Ni.03	K.OA.A.2	1.3.d.1.4.c.1.7.c.

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.

Look inside

Read Level B online

The full workbook, and the teacher guide where published, in a page-turning reader.

Read online

STEM Innovator’s Workbook, Level B

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Read online

Teacher Guide, Level B

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Inside the level

What you order

Item	Title	ISBN or SKU
Student workbook	STEM Innovator’s Workbook, Level B	978-981-17521-3-1
Teacher guidebook	Guidebook, Level B	978-981-17736-4-8
Learning kit	Smart Machines Kit	STEMSIHKitKG1

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 →