This is a game that allows students to try to control CO2 in the environment from human activities. Saving the planet isn't as easy to do as it is to say!

Tynker is easy to begin working with, as it is a block coding style software, with several themed examples are available on the site. It is scalable in offering sections to free code, and build programs from scratch, to accomplish individual unique content, as well as can control some external devices: WeDo, Sphero, and certain Drones. Free for a good amount of content or for free coding, and is fee based for advanced lessons. 

MakeCode is both a block editor as well as a JavaScript editor, along with containing a simulator, for students to see a simulation of their code on an external device which may or may not be attached. The software can control multiple external devices, such as Micro:bit, Adafruit’s Circuit Playground Express, Minecraft game design, LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robotics, Wonder Workshop’s Cue robot, and Chibi Chip from Chibitronics. 

PurpleMash is a suite of multiple apps that contain activities and lessons from Story Animation, Math Lessons, Reading, Paint & Draw, Music, 3D Design and Coding. My favorites are 2Design & Make, 2Code, 2Beat, 2Explore, 2Sequence, and MashCams. It is from the UK, and requires User Licenses, but they are supportive of schools to try out their Trial subscription, then purchase student licenses. It is a very nice one-stop shop for multiple apps within one student login with a nice teacher dashboard to control logins and student grouping into different classes.

This small robot, with only 2 wheels, all pre-built, is sturdy for young users, has LEGO style studs on top and can be programmed using Edison’s EdBlocks, Scratch, or Python. Students can add LEGO people, LEGO bricks, and/or robots can be stacked to work together to create more complex machines. The robot has light sensors, infrared sensors, and a download. It has some prebuilt free lessons using printed bar codes, as well as custom coding from EdBlocks, Scratch, and Python. The best part is the price: about $30 each. 

Merge Cube is a foam cube that students hold up in front of their tablet, phone, or Merge headsets along with the app to hold something in their hands that turns into a virtual object that they are studying. Using iOS, Android or Windows it can be used to learn about and teach AR Gaming, all types of STEAM Learning, and Creating Virtual Objects. Current Merge Cube apps are most abundant for Science content, but also available are 3D Graphics Design, History, Reading, Social Studies, and Geography. The Merge Cube is $15, the Merge Goggles are $29.99, or classroom packs are $995 for a year, for 25 Cube & Headsets, access to Lesson Plans, Admin licensing, User Logins, Teacher Dashboard.

Uses:

Students have talked over a recording of their work, explaining their ideas. In 3rd grade, they drew maps (on construction paper) and created a voice-over video explaining the features of their map.