Dash Robot Life Cycles STEAM Project
Students will work in groups of 3 - 4 students create a Life Cycle project. They will research the life cycle of their plant or animal, write the most important facts of each stage, label it on the presentation poster, measure and program their Dash robots to teach others about their life cycle.
Lesson
Overview
Description
Students will work in groups of 3 - 4 students create a Life Cycle project. They will research the life cycle of their plant or animal, write the most important facts of each stage, label it on the presentation poster, measure and program their Dash robots to teach others about their life cycle. View a finished example here:
Objectives
Create a life cycle project
Research life cycle of plants or animals
Write important facts of each stage
Create poster presentation
Create program for Dash to drive around to teach others their life cycle
Robots and Accessories
Other Supplies
Poster board or thick paper
Pencils
Markers
Meter sticks or rulers with centimeters
Optional: construction paper, masking tape, scissors, pipe cleaners
Before the Lesson
Class 1 - Introduction to Life Cycles (60 Min) - Unplugged
Introduction to Life Cycles
Students will be put in groups of 3 - 4 students. Each group will become experts in one life cycle. They can use the internet, library books, or their science studies book for research.
Each member of the group will be responsible for writing and typing a paragraph about their life cycle stage to teach others.
Students will use the life cycle graphic organizer to define each stage of their life cycle. They should include at least 6 places that they would like Dash to stop at.
lass 2 - Introduction to Blockly (60min)
Introduction to Blockly
Use the attached Presentation to introduce behavior expectations when working with Dash and what's inside a robot.
Students participate in Dash Driving School through the Blockly App.
All Dash's should be numbered so that groups connect to the right robot.
Students will all work on the puzzles in Level 1 of Driving School, some may start level 2.
Class 3 - Create Poster (60min) - Unplugged
Create Poster
Have students in groups of 3 or 4.
Give each group a piece of posterboard, a ruler, pencil, and a few makers.
Students should label their life cycle and their names on the poster.
As a group, they should collaborate and decide how to best organize their information on the poster.
Have students label at least 6 areas for Dash to stop at, reminding them that Dash can only travel in increments of 10 cm (so they should keep this in mind when mapping out Dash's path).
Class 4 - Programming Dash (40min)
Programming Dash
Students will use the Blockly App to program Dash to teach others about their projects.
Remind students that Dash can only travel in increments of 10 cm, so if the distance is not an increment of 10, they may want to pick a different location.
Students should have at least 6 recordings, including the introduction.
Students should also work with their team to add creative details to their life cycle, by using Dash's lights, sounds, looks, and actions.
Optional: Students can use different languages if working with a multilingual population.
Class 5 - Share Their Work (30min)
Share Their Work
Students will share their finished Life Cycles with the rest of the class, other classes, and their families.
As as extension, students can write an informational life cycle report, a video, calculate and compare the average amount of time that their life cycle takes to complete
