Code a Sphero Robot

Activity Idea:

• Divide your class into 3 or 4 Teams...and then each Team into Groups of 2 students.
• Create a set of review questions that encourage group discussion/reflections. 12-15 questions for each category work best. For example you may create 12-15 questions about Culture, 12-15 questions about Architecture, 12-15 questions about Climate, and another 12-15 about History. Print each set of questions on different colored paper.
• Clear your classroom of desks and chairs and place other items in the space to create obstacles (such as large boxes, trash barrel, borrowed gym mat, etc) ...turning the floor of your classroom into a gameboard.
• Place your discussion/reflection questions around the perimeter of the classroom...one color of each at each station.
• Assign each Team a Color and provide each Group with an iPad that has the Sphero Edu App installed.
• Tell the students that they have 10 minutes (or whatever time you desire) to work with their Teammates to collect as many discussion/reflection questions by coding their Sphero robot to each station.
  • if the robot does not stop on the intended target move it back to the starting point and make adjustments to the program.
  • if the robot lands on the intended target, take your Team's colored paper with the question. (you will answer it a bit later).
• Set a Google Timer. When the time expires...ask your Teams to meet to discuss the questions they've gathers...record answers, etc.
• Reset the game board and repeat the activity as many times as you like...reassigning the Team colors of course.

Use the videos below for some basic training about coding if needed.