First Grade Robot Exploration

First graders spent several weeks exploring different robots, bringing coding to life in the Kovler Library. Students worked in small groups to code two different kinds of robots: Dash robots and Sphero robots.

Dash Soccer and Bowling Coding

For the Dash robots, first graders used block coding. Block coding uses drag and drop, where groups of code in the blocks are already prepared. Block coding allows students to select the block they want, drag, and drop it into the input field. Students are then able to choose another group of coding blocks to add to the field until they’ve constructed a sequence of coding that develops their ideas, in this case, where and how they want the Dash robot to move.

Block coding with Dash robots is great for first graders because it is a beginning programming activity that allows children to gain an understanding of how coding works to develop robot movement, digital animation, and even games. It also helps young children use computational thinking that’s needed in programming.

First grade programmed their Dash robots to engages in soccer and bowling games. Students were given miniature bowling pins, and designed them in a variety of ways for game play. They then had to use block coding to program their Dash to knock all of the pins down. For soccer, students practiced coding their Dash robot to hit a goal, and then played in a soccer tournament with other robots.

Next, students created obstacle courses using Sphero robots.

Sphero Obstacle Courses

First graders used a different coding approach to create obstacle courses for their Sphero robots. The Sphero robot coding app has something called the “Draw” canvas that allows students to draw shapes that represent code and execute that code using their Sphero robot.

First, students designed an obstacle course for their Sphero using cups, cardboard, and tape. The objective was for students to create a physical obstacle course that their robot could navigate with the code provided by the student. This created a spatial challenge that required first graders to test and retest their drawing code to perfect the path of their Sphero. We talked about how “debugging” is part of the coding process, and testing and re-testing is also a part of creating good code. Students used the Draw coding tool to plan out a course for their robot that would allow it to complete the obstacle course. After a lot of trial and error and building/re-designing, all of the groups created a successful obstacle course for their Sphero robots.