approximate time 30-40 minutes
Lesson 1: Finding iPad App, Pairing Sphero, Opening a new Program
Probably several lessons to get this mastered.
Demo – How to open app, how to pair Sphero, how to start and name a new block code program, how to Aim Sphero, how to drag a roll block up to the workspace, variables for roll block (heading, speed, duration) How to reverse, copy and paste blocks. Show them the JavaScript for their code, and explain that the block code is just an easy way to write JavaScript. I usually make them all stand up and “do a 180” so they know what they are about to do. We do 180’s and 360s and 90s and 270s before we move on. It’s a game – I do it like Simon Says, just to remind them.
Task – Sit about 1 meter from your partner, facing each other, legs crossed. Roll Sphero to your partner and back to yourself without having to press start more than one time. Sphero should just touch your partner’s shoe before it returns to you. Early finishers can change Sphero’s light when it gets to their partner.
Pair students or make small groups. Hand out iPads to each group. Show how to open Edu app, Name and open a blocks program. Send groups off to different parts of the room before letting them open the app to facilitate bluetooth pairing. Explain that Sphero gets confused if there are other robots too close to it. Stress that if they are having problems, they should NOT walk around with iPad or Sphero to try to find you, but wait for an adult to check in with them. Make sure to check in with each group!
This may take a few sessions until everyone is successful. Add new challenges to keep everyone engaged, ie: change the speed, do it going side to side instead of front and back. Make sure everyone has succeeded at the basic challenge before you move on.
Lesson 2: Changing Colours and adding Sounds
Demo – Review lesson 1. Show how to change colours, and add a sound block. (random sound)
Task – Sit about 1 meter from your partner, facing each other, legs crossed. Roll Sphero to your partner have it change colour and play a random animal sound. Your partner should guess the sound. Trade who uses the iPad, this person should change the colour and continue playing until you have heard all the animal sounds.
Pair students and let them go.
Lesson 3: Adding Speech
Demo – Review lesson 1. Show how to add a Speak block and type in the block.
Task – Sit about 1 meter from your partner, facing each other, legs crossed. Roll Sphero to your partner have it change colour and say your partner’s name, and then roll back to you and change the colour back to the original. Trade places and do it again. Early finishers can ask their partner to do something ie: Stand up, touch your toes, do a 360 etc.
Pair students and let them go.
Lesson 4: Fairy Tales
Demo – Review lesson 1-3.
Other Materials – Fairy Tale books for each group. (Red Riding hood, 3 little pigs etc.) Make sure kids know the stories. Whiteboard to write spelling for them to copy. ie: Fee fye fo fum, Oh my! I lost my slipper)
Task – In your partner group, decide on a line from your fairy tale that would let the room know what fairy tale it is. (ie: Oh Granma, what big teeth you have!) Have students place their books on the floor in a line. Roll sphero to their book and have it change to an appropriate color (ie: red for Red Riding Hood) and speak their line from the story. Do a demo at the end of class. Sphero should stop before it topples the book over!
Pair students and let them go.
Lesson 5: Fairy Tales Round 2
Demo – Review lesson 1-3. How to find their program and open it from round 1. How to add action sounds or music. What variables there are in the sounds block.
Task – In your partner group, decide on what sounds might fit with your fairy tale. (animal sounds, music etc.) Roll Sphero to your book, add sounds and roll it back to the start.
Lesson 6: Fairy Tales Round 3
Demo – Review lesson 1-3.
Other Materials – Building materials, (blocks, Straws and connectors, whatever you have access to)
Task – Assign a Fairy tale to each group. Ask them to “build” one small element of the story. (ie: Grandma’s bed, or Goldilock’s chairs) Set a time limit on it, have students set a timer (about 10-15 minutes) to complete the building phase. Then have students roll Sphero to the building, change colour, speak something that is a hint of the story and stop. Do a demo at the end of class have the other groups guess.
Lesson 7: Story Elements 1
Demo – How to find the Storytelling Sounds
Other Materials – Teaching beginning, climax and end, a story or book that illustrates this nicely. ie: This is not my Hat by Jon Klassen.
Task – Students create at story with a beginning sound, some movement, a climax sound, more movement, and an ending sound. Lights are optional. Early finishers can add extra sounds or make their movements more interesting.