JK - Grade 3
Robots for Pre/Emerging Readers
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Robots are cool! There are lots of free coding environments, but robots can help make the coding concrete. Some for young children do not need computers.
Here we have critiqued a few newer robots.
Blue-Bot (formerly Bee-Bot)
Blue-Bot® Bluetooth Programmable Floor Robot
Blue-Bot (formerly Bee-Bot) is a programmable floor robot with a simple, child-friendly layout which is a perfect starting point for teaching control, directional language and programming to young children.
Coding Concepts: Sequencing, spatial reasoning
Activity:
Similar Coding Activity from code.org
Resources:
Affordance
Blue-Bot has built-in Bluetooth and can be programmed from an iOS, Mac, Windows or Android device but can also be used completely offline by programming with the buttons on the back of the device.
The Blue-bot moves and turns accurately- 15 cm is one unit, a 90 degree turn is 90 degrees not 88 or 91 degrees. This is important to move on grids
Blue-Bot and Bee-Bot apps can be used to program without the robots through the Bluebot app is more comprehensive.
Limitations
Each bot is close to $150 but can be used with no additional purchases.
Difficult to keep track of commands when inputting them without a computer. There is also a tile with a rack to sync your steps to the Blue-Bot for an additional fee.
Osmo
Resources:
Lesson Plans and other teacher resources available at the Osmo Education Site
Transform your tablet into a hands-on coding adventure. The Coding Starter Kit builds coding skills in progression with 3 hands-on learning games. Students connect colourful blocks of code in front of the tablet’s screen to chart the adventure on their screen.
Teach coding at an age-appropriate pace. Start the adventure in Coding Awbie, create music with Coding Jam, and then show off your advanced skills in Coding Duo! Early learners can begin with games focused on problem-solving and progress to concepts like sequencing and looping.
Coding Concepts: Sequencing, spatial reasoning
Affordance
Hybrid of hands-on and connected coding using attractive, physical coding blocks with a camera-enabled tablet that plays fun and interactive coding games.
Osmo also has many add-ons that touch on math, literacy, art and more.
Limitations
Cost of entry as they no longer sell Awbie, the beginner’s coding app, on its own. You also need a Kindle Fire or an iPad and the corresponding accessories for Osmo to play (~$150 for the coding starter kit)
No free option to try as you need the Osmo base, camera reflector, cards and either buy the app or enter the code from the purchased box.
Root (by iRobot)
The iRobot® Root® coding robot makes learning to code easy and natural in any environment, at home or at school.
Children can code their Root® robot to draw artwork, play music, respond to touch, light, and sound, and more, all while exploring the fundamentals of robotics.
No matter your students' experience with coding or robotics, the innovative, free iRobot® Coding app makes coding easy with 3 Learning Levels. Begin with graphical, drag-and-drop code before advancing to hybrid code and finally, full-text code.
Using tangible, hands-on experiences to teach coding and strengthen computational thinking skills, Root® makes a perfect addition to any school or learning environment.
Coding Concepts: Sequencing, spatial reasoning
Activities:
Check out Root's online coding environment and try the tutorials for Bump Drive and Forest Adventure Activities.
Affordance
Learn how iRobot’s Roomba robot vacuum works with block coding
Cross-curricular activities using visual arts, music, storytelling.
Brings conceptual coding into the realm of functional coding.
Simple enough with increasing complexity that it can be used for all ages, pre-readers and up
The Root moves and turns accurately- 15 cm is one unit, a 90 degree turn is 90 degrees not 88 or 91 degrees. This is important to move on grids.
Limitations
Costly. The educational level model is $200 USD not including premium educational level membership fees.
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