Spring STREAM and ROBOTICS Challenges

It's been a long winter ... we even had some snow. BUT you may have notciced the weather is warming up. We have been having more recess outside. That's because winter has turned into spring. March 20th was our first official day of spring!

Tell your partner or group what are some things you already know about the spring season?

Clues and Hints

What happens to the trees?
What is the weather like?
What are things you do or see?

"Spring adds new life and new joy to all that is."

During the Spring Season we usually get a lot of rain. Even though we may not love it when it rains, the trees and flowers need it to grow. If we are lucky we may even see a rainbow.

Spring brings new life!

The sun stays out longer so we have more daylight, animals come out of hypernation and birds migrate back home.

Today, we will...

participate in spring themed STREAM and Robotics challenges

We Can:

understand the challenge
set up the challenge
Collaborate with my partners and teammates
Develop a plan
Carry out the plan (test it)
Reflect on our outcome
Make adjustments when necessary

Code

using a set of instructions to communicate with computers and robots.

Code and Go Coding Cards

Algorithm

a list of step by step instruction that you program into the computer in the correct order

Bug

error in your code

Debug your Code

To fix your code

shelter

A structure or home designed for protection

turbine

a special machine with blades that spin when something like wind, water, or steam pushes against them, and that spinning can be used to make electricity or do other work.

symmetry

something is the same on both sides, like a mirror image

Lifecycle

the stages of a living thing's life

pollinate

to help plants make seeds by moving tiny grains called pollen from one flower to another, usually with the help of animals like bees or butterflies.

Pollinators

an animal, like a bee or butterfly, that helps pollinate flowers

Robotics Challenges

BEE a Pollinator - up to 4 players

How many flowers can your bee pollinate?

I can:

scatter the flowers and obstacles around my table
pick a place to put the start card and tape it down
place my robotic bee at the start
pick a flower to pollinate
work with my partner to program my bee to a flower

Rules:

If you reach the flower you keep it and the next team goes.
If not, go back to the start and the next team goes and tries to get the flower that the first team could not get.
Keep switching places until all flowers have been collected or until time runs out.

Cracking Up - up to 4 players

What comes first the chicken or the egg?

I can:

scatter the egg pieces and obstacles around my table
pick a place to put the start card and tape it down
place my robotic chick at the start
place my program sheet next to the start and place my B egg cards face down.
Turn over an egg card onto my program sheet
Work with my partner to program my chick to the matching egg piece

Rules:

If you reach the correct egg piece you can keep it and the next team picks a new egg card
If not, go back to the start and the next team goes and tries to to get the piece that the other team could not get.
Keep switching places until all eggs have been collected or until time runs out.

Plant Life Cycle - up to 4 players

Can you complete the plant life cycle?

I can:

scatter the plant life cycle pieces and obstacles around my table
pick a place to put the start card and tape it down
place my robotic truck at the start
pick a piece of the life cycle you will program your truck to pick up
work with my partner to program your truck to the piece

Rules:

If you reach the piece you place it on the life cycle sheet and the next team goes.
If not, go back to the start and the next team tries to get the same piece that the first team could not get.
Keep switching places until all pieces have been collected and placed correctly on the life cycle sheet or until time runs out.

Butterfly symmetry - up to 4 players

Can you make a garden of Butterflies?

I can:

scatter the butterfly wings and obstacles around my table
pick a place to put the start card and tape it down
place my butterfly robot at the start
place my program sheet next to the start and place a set of wing cards face down.
Turn over a wing card onto my program sheet
Work with my partner to program my robot to find the symmetrical wing.

Rules:

If you reach the correct wing you can keep both cards and place the symmetrical butterfly on the garden sheet and the next team picks a new wing card
If not, go back to the start and the next team goes and tries to to get the wing card that the other team could not get.
Keep switching places until all wing cards have been collected and placed on the garden sheet or until time runs out.

Creativity Challenges

The goal of creativity challenges is to help students think in different ways. The ability to generate unique thoughts and ideas is known as divergent thinking. When students are thinking outside the box it results in creative solutions. In a creativity challenge, students are presented with a problem that they have to solve using their creativity.

Directions: How many eggs can you decorat in 3 minutes? Each egg must have a unique (different) design.

Make patterns
Make a symmetrical design

Directions: Add more details to complete the drawing.

You can turn your drawings into anything except....

Example/Inspirations

Offline coding activities and algorithms

extra station for 2nd grade

Directions: Follow the algorithm and draw the flower - independently

Design your own algorithm of a drawing - have your partner try out your algorithm.

New-Draw_a_Flower_Algorithm.pdf

Directions: Build a path from the honeybee to the hive. Add 3 flowers, 2 rain clouds, and 2 enemies to the path!

Copy of HONEYBEE CODING

STREAM Builds

Timers/Groups

groups

Overall Reflection

**Stem Builder stations also have reflection sheets

Educational Videos

Extra Robotics Station

Butterfly Ballet

Can you make your butterflies do the same dance moves at the same time?

Place your Robots side by side and place the dance challenge cards face down
You and your partner turn over a dance challenge card and solve the dance challenge by creating an algorithm using your code cards
Test your code: Each person should program their butterfly with the same algorithm.
Activate your code (make sure you press it at the same time)

STANDARDS:

K-1.CT.4 Identify a problem or task and discuss ways to break it into multiple smaller steps.

K-1.CT.6 Follow an algorithm to complete a task.

K-1.CT.9 Identify and fix (debug) errors within a simple algorithm.

K-1.CT.10 Collaboratively create a plan that outlines the steps needed to complete a task

K-1.NSD.1 Identify ways people provide input and get output from computing devices.

K-1.DL.2 Communicate and work with others using digital tools.

What was Carlos practicing in the garden?
Why did Phoebe want to get a plant from her old school?
What insect did the characters see in the park?
What is something Miss Frizzle always says?
How did the characters feel when they were flying on a ladybug?

Answer Key:

Carlos was practicing being famous. (0:55)
Phoebe wanted a plant to be on the cover of a magazine. (1:33)
They saw a ladybug. (3:44)
Miss Frizzle always says to take chances and make mistakes. (2:03)
They felt excited. (5:19)

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