Session 5: Creating Patterns with Your Robot
Session Architect: Muhammad Bilal
Session Length: 40-50 minutes
Equipment Required:
- M3D Robotics kit.
- Laptops with Scratch pre-installed.
- Paper and pencils for students to note down their pattern ideas.
- A small area for the robots to move.
Resources:
Scratch Code File:
Grade 1 Session 5.sb3 (3.4 MB)
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the basics of coding through block-based programming.
- Learn how to create movement patterns by combining simple coding blocks.
- Experiment with different movement blocks to create unique robot dances.
- Develop problem-solving skills through coding and pattern creation.
1. Introduction to Code Blocks (10 minutes)
Activity:
Introduce the idea of coding by comparing it to something the students are familiar with—building with blocks or Legos.
Instructions:
- You might say:
“Have you ever played with blocks or Legos? When you stack one block on top of another, you can build something cool, right? Coding our robot is also bit like that! We’re going to use blocks in our computer to build instructions for our robot. Each block tells the robot what to do, and when we put them together, the robot will follow all the steps!”
- Introduce the “When Green Flag Clicked” block by explaining that it’s like a “start button”:
“This green flag is like a ‘go’ button for your robot. When you click it, your robot will start following the blocks you put underneath it.”
Show them where it is located in the blocks on the left side:
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Show them how they can use the block simply by clicking on it, and dragging it to the center.
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Demonstrate by attaching any block (e.g., Move Forward_Steps) to the “When Green Flag Clicked” block. This will help students understand the process of block coding.
Teacher’s Role:
- Walk students through the concept of block coding and how stacking blocks creates instructions for the robot.
- Make sure students understand how to attach the blocks and click the green flag to make the robot move.
2. Exploring Movement Blocks (10 minutes)
Activity:
Students will learn about the first set of movement blocks, including Move Forward_Steps, Move Backward_Steps, Turn Left, and Turn Right. Encourage them to experiment with these blocks to see how the robot moves.
Instructions:
Start by introducing sprites with a relatable example:
“Do you see the Bluetooth icon in the bottom right section?” Wait for them to identify it. You may have a picture of the section on projector screen:
Just the the way it helps our robot connect to our computer. To move the robot, we use the ‘My Robot’ icon, just like we used the Bluetooth icon. These special icons are called sprites. They help us control different parts of the robot! Each sprite has its own job, and for today, we’ll be using the ‘My Robot’ sprite to tell our robot what to do."
Show students the movement blocks:
“Open the “My Blocks” section on the right. These blocks are what we’ll use to move our robot. If you want the robot to go forward, use the Move Forward block. Want it to turn? Use the Turn Left or Turn Right block.”
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Let the students try dragging and attaching these blocks to the “When Green Flag Clicked” block. Explain how the robot will perform the actions in the order they place the blocks.
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Encourage them to try different combinations of movements:
“What happens if you tell the robot to go forward, then turn left, then go backward? Let’s see how you can make it move in different ways!”
Teacher’s Role:
- Guide students as they experiment with the movement blocks, helping them understand how to navigate the “My Robot” sprite and give it instructions.
- Encourage creativity, asking students to try different sequences of actions and experiment with new patterns to move their robot.
3. Creating Movement Patterns (15 minutes)
Activity:
Now that students are familiar with the movement blocks, they will combine them to create movement patterns for the robot.
Instructions:
You can say:
“Now that we know how to move our robot, let’s create patterns! You can make the robot move forward, turn, go backward, and even create a little dance. Let’s see what kind of cool patterns you can come up with!”
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Ask students to use multiple blocks to create a sequence of movements. For example, they can make the robot move forward, turn, move backward, and then turn again to create a pattern.
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Encourage them to keep testing their patterns and adjusting the order of the blocks:
“Does your robot move the way you want it to? Try changing the blocks to see if you can create a new pattern!”
Teacher’s Role:
- Walk around the room, helping students as they create their movement patterns. Encourage them to try new ideas and test their code multiple times.
- Offer suggestions if students struggle with creating patterns, but let them explore their ideas independently.
4. Experimenting with Dance Patterns (10 minutes)
Activity:
Once students are comfortable with creating movement patterns, encourage them to mix and match movements to create a “dance” for the robot.
Instructions:
- Encourage students to get creative with their movement blocks, turning their patterns into a fun robot dance:
“Remember that button we used to make our robot dance. Now we can do that ourselves without any button. Combine your blocks in a fun way to make the robot move and turn. Maybe it can spin in a circle or zig-zag across the floor!”
- Allow students to share their robot’s dance moves with the class, showing off the patterns they’ve created.
Teacher’s Role:
- Encourage students to be creative and have fun with the dance patterns, while providing guidance if needed.
- Celebrate their efforts and creativity by asking students to share their robot’s movements with the class.
5. Reflection and Wrap-Up (5-10 minutes)
Activity:
Gather the students together to reflect on their experience creating movement patterns with code blocks.
Reflection Questions:
- “What was the most fun pattern you created today?”
- “Was it easy or hard to make the robot move the way you wanted?”
- “What would you try differently next time?”
Teacher’s Role:
- Lead the reflection discussion, encouraging students to share their experiences and celebrate what they’ve learned about coding and patterns.
- Reinforce the idea that coding is like building with blocks, where the order of actions creates a fun pattern for the robot.
Learning Outcome:
By the end of the session, students will have learned the basics of block-based coding and how to create movement patterns for the robot. They will have explored how to sequence actions and experiment with combining movements to create their own unique robot dances.