Robo-car Drives Around
Activity Stages: I.
Lead-in: 4 steps - 5 - 7 min
II.
Guided Activity: 6 steps - 15-20 min
III.
Independent Activity: 15 - 20 min
IV.
Reflection and Feedback: 5-7 min
V.
Clean Up
Recall ● What did we create last time? ● Which Modules did we use for this project? ● Which Actions did we program? ● What type of a code did we program?
Lead-in: activate and motivate students asking about their previous knowledge and personal experiences. 4 steps - 5 - 7 min 1. Recall: ● What did we create last time? (We created the Robo-Light to light up a classroom!) ● Which Modules did we use and why? (We used the Main Block because we need it in every project in order to make all the other Modules work and in order to program it; we used the (RGB) Light because we wanted to program light signals.) ● Which actions did we program? (We programmed Visulas: Constant Light and Blink actions) ● What type of a code did we program? (We programmed Sequential logic code)
Keywords ● ● ● ●
Action Connection Sequential code Loop
Lead in - 5-7 min 2. Discuss the keywords: ●
Action - it's an icon which indicates a command for Robo to perform; it has different parameters: Lifespan, Speed, Distance etc
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Connection - Arrow between two Actions which show us that Actions are connected in one code and will be performed by Robo one after another.
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Sequential code - the type of a code where one Action leads to only one other Action until a program is complete.
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Loop - a sequence / an order of Actions that leads one Action to the next, at the end it leads back to the starting State, so the order of Actions is repeated until we stop it by pressing the Stop button.
Robo’s Story Robo is a very curious creature who likes to discover the world around it! Robo wants to travel, but first, Robo needs to learn how to drive. As we know, robots can do many things, but only if we program them!
Lead in - 5-7 min 3. Tell the Robo’s Story: Robo is a very curious creature who likes to discover the world around! Robo wants to travel, but first Robo needs to learn how to drive. As we know, robots can do many things, but only if we program them! 4. Set the Lesson Goal: To help Robo drive around, we will build and program a Robo-car.
Robo wants to drive! Plan: 1) Which Modules will we need? 2) Build a Robo - car 3) Program a Robo - car
Guided Activity: Plan => Carry Out => Sum Up - 15-20 min Plan the activity together with your students: ●
What are the steps for our project?
Discuss all the answers and formulate the plan: ●
Find the Modules needed for a project
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Build a Robo-car
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Program a Robo-car
1) Which Modules will we need?
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 1: Modules for the project. ●
Hand out the Robo Wunderkind boxes.
● Open the boxes and recall the function of the Main Block as the Robo’s brain. (The Main Block has to be in each projects in order make all other Modules work; it has to be connected to a tablet in order to program Robo. ) ●
Which Modules will we need to add to the Main Block to build the Robo-car? Why? (We will need: 2 (DC) Motors in order to make Robo-car drive 2 Big Wheels, 2 Connectors and small wheel)
2) Build a Robo - car
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 2: Build a Robo-car. ●
Attach (DC) Motors to the Main Block.
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Let students attach the (DC) Motors differently and see if they appear in the App or not.
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Discuss their mechanical details: the rotating part without Pogo-Pins, compare it to the Connector. The Pogo-Pins help the electricity and signals from the Main Block flow to the (DC) Motors. If there are no Pogo-Pins - electricity won’t flow to the Motors and they won’t work.
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What is the right way to attach the (DC) Motors and why?
Conclude: (DC) Motors should be attached with the help of the Connectors in order to work properly. The rotating part should be attached to the Wheels.
2) Build a Robo - car
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 2: Build a Robo-car. â—?
Add a small wheel to the build
3) Program a Robo-car: Robo Code App
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 3: Program a Robo-car. â—?
Open the Robo Code App and connect the Main Block to the tablet.
Robo Code App
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 3: Program a Robo-car. â—?
Ask students to share some information about their robots (EX: Names or battery %) in order to recall My Robo Menu;
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Create a new project and get ready for programming.
Action Dock: Movement
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 3: Program a Robo-car ●
Find Movement in the Action Dock.
● How does Movement look like? What is the color of lights? (Movement look like blue bubbles with different icons.) ● Why are they blue? (They are blue because the (DC) Motors are blue.) ● How many different Movement are there? (There are two different types of Movement)
Challenge 1: Drive action Distance Speed Reverse button
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Step 3: Program a Robo-car Set challenges for students and let them explore the Robo Code programming language on their own; guide them by questions if needed. Challenge #1: ●
Program the first Movement - Drive action; try different settings for it: distance and speed; reverse button. Try it out!
Distance - for how long Robo will drive; Speed - how fast Robo will drive; Reverse button tap on it to change the direction in which Robo will drive
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Ask students to explain what the Drive action is, what the settings for this Action are and how they influence Robo’s movement.
(Drive action is a command for Robo to drive forward. There is distance and speed settings; there is a reverse button which changes the direction of the movement.)
Challenge 2: Turn action Angle Speed Random button
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #2: Turn action ●
Program the second Movement - Turn action; try different settings for it: angle and speed. Try it out!
(Angle - to which side Robo will turn; Speed - how fast Robo will turn.) ●
Ask students to explain what the Turn action is, what the settings for this Action are and how they influence Robo’s movement.
Challenge 3: Sequential code
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #3: Sequential Code ●
Program Drive and Turn actions with different settings and Connections between them to form a Sequential code - it can be any length.
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Discuss: Action’s settings and how they influence Robo’s performance.
Sum Up ● Movement ● Drive action ● Turn action ● Sequential code
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Sum up new information before the independent activity. ●
Movement - blue Actions in the Action Dock which are commands for Robo to drive forward or turn around;
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Drive action - the type of Movement, the command for Robo to drive forward;
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Turn action - the type of Movement, the command for Robo to turn around;
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Sequential Code - a code when Robo performs the Action one after another sequentially.
Build and program YOUR Robo!
Independent Activity: 15 - 20 min Students work independently, in pairs or in small groups; they can cooperate to make the common project with two or more robots. Teacher observe or help students if needed. The concrete tasks for the own project: ●
Think about how Robo with (DC) Motors can help you in your life;
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Build any variation of Robo and program Movement for this particular situation;
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Use some materials to customize your Robo.
* Additional: Presentation of own projects for the class.
Check for understanding âž” How to attach the Motors to the Wheels?
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 1) How to attach the (DC) Motors to the Wheels? â—?
The rotating parts of the Motors (without Pogo-Pins) have to be attached to the Wheels because the rotating parts will rotate the Wheels around;
Check for understanding âž” How to attach the Motors to the Wheels?
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 2) How to attach the (DC) Motors to the Main Block? â—?
The (DC) Motors should be attached to the Main Block with the help of the Connectors in order to work properly. The electricity and signals from the tablet flow through the Connectors from the Main Block to the (DC) Motors.
Check for understanding Is this code correct?
1
2
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 3) Is this code correct? Why? / Why not? â—?
The 1st code is NOT correct because one of the Connection is drawn in the wrong direction;
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The 2d code is CORRECT because all the Connections are drawn in the right directions.
Reflection & Feedback ● Today I have learned… ● The tasks were… easy or complex,interesting or boring? ● Which part of the lesson was the most interesting? Why?
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min Ask students to make a short reflection on what they have learned today. Receive feedback: Were the tasks easy or complex? Interesting or boring? Which part of the lesson was the most interesting? Why?
Clean Up
Clean up: Teach students to take care of the devices they use - RW Modules and the tablets.
Thank you!