Robo Looks 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 ●
Which Modules did we use for our last project?
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What was the function of the Motors in this project?
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How do Motors work?
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In which devices are motors used in real life?
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Are all the motors the same? Why?
Lead-in: activate and motivate students asking about their previous knowledge and personal experiences. 4 steps - 5 - 7 min 1. Recall: ● Which Modules did we use for our last project? (We used: the Main Block, (RGB) Light, the (DC) Motors and Big Wheels.) ● What was the function of the (DC) Motors in this project? (We used the (DC) Motors in order to build a Robo-vehicle and program it to drive.) ● How do (DC) Motors work? (There is the rotating part on each Motor; it rotates around itself.) ● In which devices are motors used in real life? (Many different devices such as car or scooter, fan...) ● Are all the motors the same? Why? (There are different types of motors to be used differently - they have different functions.)
Keywords ● Motor ● DC Motor
Lead in - 5-7 min 2. Discuss the keywords: ●
Motor - a machine or a detail of a machine (= module) that converts energy (electricity) into mechanical energy and is thus able to cause motion.
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DC Motor - a type of motor with a rotating part; in Robo Wunderkind robotics kit the DC Motors rotate around themselves and can be programmed to rotate a certain distance
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Rotating part (Optional for more advanced students) - the part of the DC Motor which rotates around itself; There are no Pogo-pins on it.
Robo’s Story Last time we helped Robo travel to Toytown. Now it’s time to meet other creatures - the toys! Robo wants to learn how to look around in order to communicate with the fun toys.
Lead in - 5-7 min 3. Tell the Robo’s Story: Last time we helped Robo travel to Toytown. Now it’s time to meet other creatures - the toys! Robo wants to learn how to look around in order to communicate with the fun toys. 4. Lesson’s Goal: To help Robo look around, we will build a Robo with a head and program it to turn around using different motors.
Robo travels to Toytown! Plan: 1) Which Modules will we need? 2) Build a Robo that can look around 3) Program a Robo to look around
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 that can look around
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Program a Robo to look around
1) What Modules will we need?
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out: Step 1: Modules for the project. ●
Hand out the Robo Wunderkind boxes.
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Open the boxes and ask:
1) What Module(s) we will need for a project? (We will need the Main Block in order to make all other Modules work; head; and a motor) 1) Which Module is a Robo’s head? (The red Module with eyes looks like a head.) 1) How can Robo turn its head? (We need to use a motor.) 1) How many motors can you find in the box? How did you find it out? (There are 3 Motors in the box. We already used the dark blue DC Motors last time; there is the light blue Module which is probably also a motor.)
1) Motors: Are they different or the same?
DC Motor
??? Motor
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out: Step 1: Modules for the project - Compare the DC Motor to the Servo Motor their color and mechanical design. â—? Are these motors the same? How are they same or different? (Two dark blue (DC) Motors are the same; there is the light blue motor which also has a rotating part (=same mechanical design) but it is slightly different color.) â—?
Conclude: There are two types of Motors in the box. We are going to find out how they are different in terms of their functions.
2) Build a Robo that can look around
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out: Step 2: Build a Robo that can look around ●
Use the (Universal) Connector to connect any of the Motors to the Main Block. Discuss: Why should the Motor be connected to the Main Block by the Connector and not by the rotating part?
(The Motor should be attached by the Connector, so that electricity and commands can flow from the Main Block to the Motor through the (Pogo-)Pins.) ●
Attach Robo’s head to the rotating part of the motor.
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Try the other Motor.
3) New project in Robo Code App
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out: Step 3: Program: Let students do these steps by themselves consolidating the learned skills. ●
Open the Robo Code App and connect the Main Block to the tablet.
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Check My Robo Menu to see if Robo’s battery level is enough to program it.
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Create a new project and get ready for programming.
Challenge 1: DC Motor - Motor 1 action
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out: Step 3: Program Robo to look around. Set challenges for students and let them explore Robo Code programming language on their own; guide them by questions if needed. Challenge #1: Robo looks around using the DC Motor - Motor 1 action ●
Attach the DC Motor
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Open the Actions Dock and look at Movement - Motor 1 action
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Program the Motor 1 action - drag and drop it on the Programming screen and try different settings: Robo turns its head to the right / left / back / around.
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Discuss Robo’s movement: it can turn its head around several times!
Challenge 1: DC Motor - Motor 1 action Distance Speed Reverse button
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #1: Robo looks around using the DC Motor - Motor 1 action ● Ask: What kind of settings can we set for the Motor 1 action? (distance and speed) ●
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Introduce the Reverse button: try it out and discuss what changed in Robo’s movement. Conclude: By pressing the Reverse button we change the direction of the Motor’s rotation.
Ask: There are no more Drive and Turn actions in the Action Dock. There is only one Motor 1 action. Why is it so? (We need both DC Motors attached In order to be able to program the Drive or Turn actions.)
Challenge 2: Servo motor - Servo action
Angle Degree
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #2: Servo Motor - Servo action ●
Attach the Servo Motor instead of the DC Motor and discuss its name.
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Open the Actions Dock and look at Movement - find a Servo action.
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Program the Servo action - drag and drop it on the Programming screen and try different settings.
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Introduce new terms: Angle - the amount of turns between the first position of the Module and its end point. Degree - a unit of measurement of angles.
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Discuss Robo’s movement and conclude: Robo turns its head to the exact angle.
Challenge 2: Servo motor - Servo action
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #2: Servo Motor - Servo action ● How is this action different from the Motor 1 action? (The icon looks different, there are different settings.) ● What kind of settings can we set for the Servo action? (We can set a certain angle; there is also the reset button.) ● How is Robo’s movement different? (Robo’s head is not turning around but turns to the exact angle from the first position.)
Challenge 3: Servo action
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #3: Explore the Servo action - Zero position ●
Ask students to turn Robo’s head exactly to the middle.
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Set a certain angle for the Servo action (for example, 50 degree) and try it out.
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Ask them to play the same Servo action once again (without changing the setting or Robo’s head’s position).
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Ask: Did Robo turn its head the second time? Why not?
(Robo already turned its head to 50 Degree; if we play this Action once again Robo doesn’t turn its head the second time because it is already turned to the 50 degree.) ●
Ask: How can we return Robo’s head to it first position?
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Conclude: We can press the Reset button and Robo’s head returns to the same position as it was before playing the Action.
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Play the same Servo action once again and ask again: Did Robo turn its head now? Why did it do it now?
(Robo turned its head again to the 50 degree because we had returned the Servo Motor to its first position) => Use the next slide to introduce the new terminology
Challenge 3: Servo action Zero position Reset button
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #3: Explore the Servo action - Zero position â—?
Introduce the term: Zero position - the position from which Robo will turn the exact degree.
â—? What does it mean to set a Zero position? (To set the very first position for the Servo motor from which it will turn the exact degree.)
Challenge 4: Random function
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #4: Random function ●
Find and try the random function of Servo action and discuss it.
● What does “random” mean? (Without our command, without a definitive goal / setting.) ● Who generates the setting if it is random? (Computer decides itself.) ● How can we control the random settings? (We can set the range of possible angles, the computer will choose one from this range.)
Challenge 5: Play around ●
Robo turns its head right and then left
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Robo shakes its head
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Robo turns its head around 2 times
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Robo turns its head in another direction 4 times
Guided Activity - 15-20 min Carry Out Challenge #3: Play around ●
Program different Servo actions and Connections between them; so Robo turns or shakes its head.
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Change the Servo motor to DC Motor and program Motor 1 action - Robo turns its head around.
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Compare the difference between Robo’s movement.
Sum Up ● Servo Motor ● Servo action ● Zero position ● Angle, degree ● Random function
Guided Activity Sum up new information before the independent activity. ●
DC Motor - dark blue motor which rotates around itself;
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Servo Motor - light blue motor which turns to an exact angle;
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Zero position - the position from which the Servo motor will turn when you play the code;
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Angle, degree - ?are these two missing?
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Random -
Build and program YOUR Robo!
Independent Activity: 15 - 20 min Students work in small groups; they can cooperate to make a common project with two or more robots. Teachers observe or help students if needed. The concrete tasks for the own project: ● Think about how Robo with the Servo Motor can help you in your life; ● Plan the project; ● Build any variation of Robo and program Servo action(s) for this particular situation. ● Use other Modules and some materials to customize your Robo. Additional: Presentation of individual projects for the class.
Check for understanding
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 1) Name the motors: â—?
Servo Motor
â—?
DC Motor
Check for understanding
Servo Motor Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 1) Name the motors => Check â—?
Servo Motor
â—?
DC Motor
DC Motor
Check for understanding Match the Actions with their settings 1)
1)
Motor 1 action
Servo action
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Reverse button
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Angle
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Speed
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Distance
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Random function
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Reset button
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 2) Match the Actions and their settings - check the answers on the next slide.
Check for understanding Match the Actions with their settings 1)
Motor 1 action
1)
Servo action
➔ ➔ ➔
Distance Speed Reverse button
➔ ➔ ➔
Angle Random Reset button
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 2) Match the Actions and their settings - check the answers
Check for understanding ● ●
Which Actions can be in one State? Combine them
Reflection and Feedback - 5-7 min 3) Which Actions can be in one State? Combine some of them. (The Actions of different color - different types of Actions can be one State. For example: Motor 1, action, Sound action and Blink action can be all in one State etc.) ●
Can Motor 1 and Servo actions be in one State? (Use your Robo to find the answer.)
(Yes, if both Motors are attaches to the Main Block.)
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!