Elementary (DLCS) Robotics Integration

Bee Bot - Bee Bot helps children develop directional language and programming skills through sequences of forwards, backwards, left and right 90 degree turns.

• Pros: Perfect for teaching children about directions while they are playing; play-based learning at its best.

• Cons: Limits turns to 90 degrees, ideal for lower grades.

Blue Bot - With Blue-Bot, you can control it with your Android, iOS, Mac, or Windows device or operate it on your own. Students can see all of the parts of the Blue-Bot so they can understand how it works. When the Blue-Bot is turned on, it will light up. You can move it forward, backward, left, and right (90-degree turns) after placing it on the ground. A one-second pause command can be used as well.

• Pros: Using Blue-Bot is fun, simple, and colorful.

• Cons: Despite being free, the app isn't entirely intuitive, especially for younger users.

• Bottom Line: In addition to developing logical and sequential thinking, students will establish a foundation for future coding activities with Blue-Bot.

Botley - To introduce kids between the ages of five and eight to the basics of coding, the coding robot 2.0 is an interactive toy that is screen-free. By playing several fun, interactive games, children can learn coding concepts such as loops and if-then logic.

• Pros: Access to free online lessons, screen-free coding challenges, and visual coding cards.

• Cons: Obstacles can easily block the infrared signal, and the line following mode is not perfect.

Code-a-Pillar - While the skills of problem solving, sequential thinking, and patience can be improved, this type of training will not teach actual coding skills. After all, this type of training is aimed at young children. To that end, kids enjoy the toy and requests to play with it more than once a week if not every day, even if it is only for a few minutes at a time.

• Cons: Children as young as 5 love to play with it, it's like a train or a pet to them. In general, they like the character it possesses, follow it around, and try to determine what it's doing.

• Pros: Hard surfaces are required for the floor. Having carpets or other surfaces will aggravate your kids as well as you.

Code and Go Mouse - Is your child in need of a fun toy that helps them develop important skills for the future? Make sure you give the Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set a try. Programming the robot mouse is a wonderful, screen-free introduction to coding for children. It focuses on logical reasoning, problem solving, correcting errors, and critical thinking. Students who master these skills will be successful innovators and leaders in the future.

Coding Critters - Your first coding buddies are here: the Coding Critters! Through 100% screen-free coding, these puppy pets teach preschoolers early STEM concepts. Children code along with their new pets storybook adventures, and help Ranger and the mischievous Zip have the time of their lives!

CoDrone Mini - A mini drone, CoDrone Mini is the smaller cousin of the Pro/Lite. The drone can be programmed in Blockly, which allows you to make it fly in patterns, control the lights, and even flip. Seeing your code take flight is an awesome way to learn basic coding concepts.

• Pros: Build is small and durable & tutorials online are free.

• Cons: Approximately 5 minutes of flight time.

Cue - Cue the Clever Bot is controlled by Wonder Workshop's Cue app. You must purchase the robot separately for $200, and the app is free with some in-app purchases. App features three modes for controlling robots: Control, Create, and Code. This robot can also be controlled manually using a joystick. You can control the robot using coding blocks and JavaScript in Code mode.

• Pros: Students of all levels will remain engaged with the built-in games and multiple ways to program.

• Cons: There are glitches in the app, odd robot interactions, and limitations for multi-user activities.

• Bottom Line: Cue has tremendous potential as a learning tool, but it needs more support to be classroom-friendly.

Dash - It is hoped that the Dash Robot will introduce novice programmers to computational thinking and allow them to experiment with programming, all while enhancing the skills of kids who are already somewhat proficient with programming. It comes with an array of projects and challenges that can scaffold skills and continuously encourage your child to improve their programming skills.

• Pros: Kids ages 6 and up may be able to understand the Dash Robot's instructions, and learn important STEM lessons.

• Cons: Hard surfaces are needed for the floor. If you've got carpets or different surfaces, you'll get annoyed and your kids will be too.

Edison 2.0 - Microbic created the programmable mobile robot Edison. This small robot is both affordable and full of potential, and is cheaper than Dash, Photon, even Ozobot. Three different programming languages are supported by this universally designed application. The producer says that both children and teenagers will find this robot educational.

• Pros: Children are allowed to learn at their own pace and without pressure with a step-by-step guide.

• Cons: Children might have difficulties learning the coding because it is a bit advanced.

GiggleBot - Don't have the time to pursue that PhD in robotics, but want to build a robot with your kids? Learn to code a robot with GiggleBot, a delightful way to teach your kids. GiggleBot makes it easy to mess around with micro:bit robots. Micro:bits are tiny computers used for learning digital skills and computational thinking. You can turn your GiggleBot into a playful toy by connecting your micro:bit.

Lego Spike - For grades six through eight, Lego Education Spike Prime is a set of construction materials. There are three motors, a hub, and force, distance, and color sensors included in the starter kit. There is an audio and video player through the hub. The kit also includes more typical Lego connectors, wheels, blocks, and figures. It is designed so that all parts will survive falling off a table.

• Pros: With real-world engineering tasks and lesson plans; an easy-to-use app; block-based programming.

• Cons: There are only two starter kits, and the text is minimal and there is no text-to-speech option.

• Bottom Line: This is a well-designed product that provides layered learning resources and teacher support.

Lego WeDo 2.0 - From the perspective of a teacher, there is no more effective educational tool. Child-friendly, well-prepared for learning at school, and an unbeatable price-to-benefit ratio, this set has it all. There are more than a dozen new products launched every year on the dynamic market of educational tools for programming and robotics, but WeDo 2.0 is the undisputed leader.

Marty - By dancing, walking, and wiggling his eyebrows, Marty the Robot V2 inspires the next generation of roboticists and engineers. You can program Marty using Scratch Jr., Scratch, or Python, all of which are text-based coding languages. Additionally, Marty includes extensive teaching resources, including lesson plans and classroom-ready presentations.

Micro Bit - On its own or in combination with other devices, this handheld computer can be used to code games, animations, and more. The Microsoft MakeCode platform provides students with the opportunity to program using blocks (similar to those in Scratch) or JavaScript through one of the coding editors.

• Pros: It can be used with Scratch and Arduino. Students can learn block coding, JavaScript, or Python.

• Cons: The Bluetooth connection is difficult as the program must be downloaded to the device every time.

• Bottom Line: STEM classes and clubs would benefit from this versatile tool for learning how to program using blocks or text.

Ozobot - Ozobot's Evo is a miniature robot that has lights, sound, sensors, and wheels. The robot is designed to teach children how to code. Using a joystick or OzoBlockly, a web-based visual programming editor, Evo can be controlled and programmed. As well as following colored lines on white paper, Evo can also be told different commands through different color combinations, such as turning, going fast or slow, or spinning.

Pros: Every action earns the student experience points, which encourages students who are hesitant to code.

Cons: The app and a web browser are required to use Programming Evo, adding a data transfer step that could frustrate students.

Bottom Line: Students at Evo are encouraged to be creative, emphasizing that coding is a tool in your pocket, not the goal.

TinkerBot - Tinkerbots are turning children into budding programmers and addressing the coders of tomorrow. Here, Wall-E comes into play as an assistant, assembled from LEGO-like bricks. You might think that this robot is aimed only at children from its appearance, but this is not the case.

VEX 123 - Students can control movements and sounds of the 123 robots using touch. Sequencing, logic, and solving problems are among the skills they learn. To control the 123 robots, learners use coding cards and the VEX Coder. Real programming is taught away from tablets and computers. The 123 robots are coded using VEXcode with Drag & Drop blocks. Available for tablets, Chromebooks, Mac, and Windows. Powered by Scratch 3.

VexGo - Through fun, hands-on activities, this affordable construction system teaches STEM concepts in a fun and positive way! The activities offered by VEX GO encourage participation from all students.