TI STEM resources
Design smart systems
Explore STEM projects on designing, building and coding smart systems. Made for use with the TI-Nspire™ CX or TI-84 Plus CE families of graphing calculators.
Try out the STEM Projects Pilot Program
Ready to start a STEM project? Before purchasing TI technology or materials, request to participate in the pilot program and borrow everything you need for up to two weeks for your first project at no cost.*
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Meet the TI-Innovator™ Hub
Get up to speed with using your
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Concepts explored
- Basic setup
- Introduction to coding
- Creating, executing and editing programs
- Color outputs
- Sound outputs
- Brightness inputs
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
Digital Mood Ring
Highly recommended for beginners. Design a working digital mood ring using temperature sensors, wires and lights. Duration options: 1, 4 or 6 hours.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Concepts explored
- Science of colors and color LED output
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
- Boolean operators
- Inequalities
- Feedback and control systems
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- Grove temperature sensor
- Chenille wire
Making Music With Code
Create music through code and engage students in math, science and design at the same time by programming the
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Choose your coding language
Python
TI-Basic
Concepts explored
- Musical scale
- Tempo
- Loops
- Arrays
- Variables
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
Slide Into Sound With Sensors
Make a working digital slide whistle using a distance sensor, paper products and a linear equation. This fun STEM activity is perfect for algebra I classrooms. Average duration: 1 to 2 class periods.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Concepts explored
- Input/output
- Distance measurements
- Frequency/music
- Loops
- Conditional statements
- Application of a linear equation
Required technology and materials
- TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- Grove - Ultrasonic Ranger
- Paper towel tube
- Scissors
- Tape
- Heavy cardstock (or equivalent)
- Popsicle stick
Smart Irrigation System
Build a system that monitors soil and weather conditions to determine whether or not a pump should be turned on. Average duration: 6 hours.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Concepts explored
- Water cycle
- Soil composition
- Power control system
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
- Boolean operators
- Interpreting graphs
Required technology and materials
- TI-Nspire™ CX II or TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- Grove light sensor
- Grove DHT (humidity and temperature) sensor
- Grove soil moisture sensor
- Submersible pump, controlled by a Grove Mosfet
Pet Car Alarm
Create an alarm system that sets off warnings and signals for help if it senses the presence of an animal inside a car with unsafe heat conditions. Average duration: 6 hours.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Choose your coding language
Python
TI-Basic
Concepts explored
- Greenhouse effect
- Homeostasis of mammals
- Temperature scale conversion
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
- Boolean operators
- Multiple inputs and outputs
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- Two (2) Grove temperature sensors
- Two (2) Grove white LEDs
- Grove hall sensor
- Grove continuous servo
- USB battery
- Ceramic disk magnet
- Tape
- Shoebox or fashion doll model car
The Heart Project
This two-part project starts with students designing a system that models the flow of blood through the heart (the Plumber). Part 2 extends the learning with students exploring how the model heart operates electrically and mechanically (the Electrician). Average duration: 2 to 3 hours.
Eligible for Teacher Starter Kit only.
Choose your coding language
Python
TI-Basic
Concepts explored
- Heart anatomy and homeostasis
- Calculation of rates (beats per minute)
- Feedback and control system
- Temperature sensor input
- Color LED and sound output
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- LEDs and breadboard cables pack
- Grove temperature sensor
- 2 or 3 ounce can of Play-Doh
- Toothpicks
- 2 x 3/4" adhesive labels
Some Like It Tepid
Feel the heat as students collect temperature data of their favorite beverage, define thresholds and program LEDs to indicate the temperature. Average duration: 2 to 3 hours.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Choose your coding language
Python
TI-Basic
Concepts explored
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
- Inequalities
- Feedback and control system
- Temperature sensor input
- Color LED and sound output
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- TI-SensorLink Adapter
- Vernier BTA SS Temperature Probe
- Cup or coffee mug
Running the Bases
The TI-RGB Array provides another level of engagement as students experiment with controlling each of the 16 individual RGB LEDs. Math, science and design all come together when using the TI-RGB Array. Average duration: 1 to 2 hours.
Eligible for STEM Projects Pilot Program and Teacher Starter Kit.
Concepts explored
- Relationships among base-2, base-10 and base-16 number systems
- Decimal to binary algorithms
- Encoding and decoding ASCII characters
- Variables
- Loops
- Conditional statements
Required technology and materials
- TI graphing calculator
- TI-Innovator™ Hub
- TI-RGB Array
STEM Projects equipment list for TI-Innovator™ Hub activities
Get the complete list of the TI technology and equipment needed for each STEM project with quantity and setup recommendations for your classroom.
Engineering and electronics
TI’s Path to STEM covers six units on input, output, analog, digital, calibration and feedback and control — ideal for high school students.
Requires the TI-Innovator™ Breadboard Pack, TI-Innovator™ Hub and compatible
TI graphing calculator.
BBC micro:bit
The BBC micro:bit V2 board is a great way to introduce input/output control with a TI Python-capable graphing calculator.
Learn more
Coding + data collection
Empower students to code their own data collection programs. The TI Python module for Vernier Go Direct® sensors adds a new dynamic to learning the basics of both.
Go Direct is a registered trademark of Vernier Science Education™.
*While supplies are available; some exceptions may apply. Refer to the STEM Projects Pilot Program request form for terms of the equipment loan.