St. Finbar’s exploring the use of Blue-Bots in Mathematics

At St. Finbar’s Glenbrook, the children in Stage 2 and Stage 3 have been using Blue-Bots to explore measurement concepts and developing coding programming skills.

Stage 2 Exploring Perimeter with Blue-Bots

Stage 2 students used the Blue-Bots to explore the measurement concept of perimeter. As this was their first experience with this kind of robotic technology. The students began by estimating how far a Blue-Bot travels with each programmed forward move. They confirmed the distance by measuring accurately with rulers or tape measures. Children converted these measurements between mm and cm.

Then students were introduced to the symbols of coding. In teams, they were challenged to programme (code) their Blue-Bots in teams to travel a perimeter of more than 80cm. They recorded their programming code in their Mathematics books. Students verbally discussed in their group and wrote reasoning statements to prove how they have been successful or the changes they needed to make to fix the programming code if they were not successful.

After this session, the children in Stage 2 also used the Lightbots Website (link below) to further explore basic coding programming concepts.  http://lightbot.com/flash.html

Stage 2 Blue-Bot Obstacle Course

The children used their understanding of basic coding programming concepts to create an obstacle course for their Blue-Bots to travel through.

The students worked in small groups of 4. They coded their Blue-Bots to travel through the course and return to their original starting position. The students recorded the coding instructions used in their Mathematics books, so that they had a point of reference as they programmed their Blue-Bots. Students then collaborated, communicated and problem solved their way through trying to fix the programming errors as they trialled their Blue-Bots navigating through the obstacle course.

 

Stage 3 Exploring Area with Blue-Bots.

Stage 3 students used the Blue-Bots to explore the measurement concept of area. The students began by estimating how far a Blue-Bot travels with each programmed forward move. They confirmed the distance by measuring accurately with rulers or tape measures. Children then worked with a scale of 1 movement forward = 15 or 16cm.

Once introduced to the symbols of coding. In teams, they were challenged to programme (code) their Blue-Bots in teams to travel an area of more than 1800 square centimetres. Students worked out the mathematical calculations for their programmed areas and recorded their programming code in their Mathematics books. Students verbally discussed in their group and wrote reasoning statements to prove how they have been successful or the changes they needed to make to fix the programming code if they were not successful.