Intrductry Prgramming with EV3 Rbtics STOMP Curriculum June 2014
Ntes Descriptin This is a 9- week unit designed t give upper elementary and middle schl children an intrductin t prgramming with LEGO EV3 Rbtics. Each lessn is designed t be 60 minutes lng, but may be adapted fr a lnger r shrter blck f time. The purpse f this unit is t teach the basic cncepts f prgramming. The curriculum is intended t give students mre time t prgram by reducing the amunt f time spent n building each rbt. By the end f the unit, students shuld have cnfidence using LEGO Mindstrms. Fr all lessns, yu will need laptps with EV3 Mindstrms sftware (1 fr every 2 students) and EV3 rbtics kits (1 fr every 2 students). These materials will be referred t simply as EV3 Rbtics materials n the activity pages. In Practice Befre ging int the classrm, thrughly familiarize yurself with the LEGO EV3 and Mindstrms technlgy. Resurces are available thrugh the STOMP website and the Center fr Engineering Educatin and Outreach. Build and prgram yurself! Be sure yu have dne all f the activities befre ging int the classrm. It will help yu t predict what will be challenging fr the students. First learning t prgram can be very challenging fr students. T keep students frm getting frustrated and lsing fcus, cnsider befrehand what yu want yur students t spend time n. Fr example, if a student is struggling t cnnect his/her prgramming blcks, yu shuld enable their prgress by shwing them where t place the blcks. On the ther hand, if a student is trying t figure ut hw t make a rbt arm wave, guide him r her t think abut what mtins the mtr shuld make. Questins fr STOMPers t Think Abut Yu may want t cnsider the fllwing questins ver the curse f the semester: What d yu want t see yur students ding in this unit? What d yu hpe yur students will learn? Hw can yu make the activities relevant t the real wrld? What interpersnal skills d yu want them t practice? Hw will yu knw if yur curriculum is successful? Questins fr Yur Students t Think Abut What d engineers d? Are yu an engineer? Hw d engineers behave and wrk tgether? Hw d engineers feel abut failure? What makes a rbt a rbt? What is prgramming? What d sensrs d? What is the purpse f lps?
Table f Cntents Lessn 1: What is Prgramming? Human Rbt and Car Building Lessn 2: Mindstrms Intrductin Art Bts Lessn 3: Sensrs Intrductin Tuch Sensr Challenges Lessn 4: Sensrs Intrductin EV3 Alarm Lessn 5: Using Lps Seeing- Eye Dg Lessn 6: Switches Nighttime Creepers Lessn 7: Final Prject Begin The Perfect Pet Lessn 8: Final Prject The Perfect Pet Cntinued Lessn 9: Final Prject The Perfect Pet Wrap- Up References Image Bibligraphy
Lessn 1 What is Prgramming? Overview: In the first lessn f the unit, students will develp a set f classrm rules, and build cars t use in future lessns. Learning Gals: 1. Students will be familiar with the EV3 kit. 2. Students will be familiar with STOMP. Materials: LEGO EV3 rbtics kits car building instructin packets r equivalent building aid Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (10 minutes) Begin by intrducing yurself, STOMP and this prgramming unit. Discuss classrm behavir (see References). Recrd the respnses n the bard and leave them there fr the class perid fr yu t refer back t if yu see inapprpriate behavir. 2. Main Activity (45 minutes) Give the students sme time t explre the EV3 kits and build a simple car. It shuld have 2 mtrs, bth facing in the same directin. There shuld be a place where the student can tape n markers fr the ArtBts activity. If a grup finishes early, encurage them t design a LEGO structure t hld the markers n the car. Figure 1. Simple NXT Car Be sure t explain that there are many ther types f EV3 rbts yu can even pull up sme vides and that yu are building these cars s that the students wuld be able t spend mre time prgramming. 3. Wrap- Up (5 minutes) Ask the students what they thught abut the building. What was difficult? What was easy? Did anyne make a discvery they d like t share with the class? Mdificatins: If yu want t accelerate the class, yu can pre- build the cars yurself and pack them int the EV3 kits fr the students t use. Then, spend the majrity f class ding an intrductin t prgramming (see Lessn 2).
Lessn 2 ArtBts Overview: This class intrduces students t the cncept f prgramming, and t Mindstrms. Students will use nly the mvement cmmands t draw a picture n a piece f pster paper. Learning Gals: 1. Students will be able t explain prgramming and give examples. 2. Students will familiarize themselves with the basics f Mindstrms. 3. Students will practice writing prgrams with the mvement blcks. 4. Students will learn abut systematic trubleshting/debugging. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials prjectr r paper prgramming bricks markers and pster paper (may already be in classrm) Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (20 minutes) Ask the students, What is prgramming? Cme up with real wrld examples tgether. D the Human Rbt activity (see References). 2. Main Activity (35 minutes) Intrduce the students t Mindstrms and the relevant blcks (mvement blcks, wait fr time). Prgram as a class (see References). Dwnlad a prgram nt an EV3 car t demnstrate. Then distribute cmputers and EV3 cars. Have them write and test the same sequence f blcks. Circulate and trublesht. If there s time, begin the ArtBts activity. Students are t draw a picture (can be an abstract picture!) by prgramming the car with nly the mvement blcks. Remind the kids t take turns prgramming (see References fr helpful tips). 3. Wrap- Up (< 5 minutes) Discuss the activity. Was it easy r hard? Ask the students t make predictins. What else d yu think yu culd prgram the rbt t d? Mdificatins: If yu d nt have the drawing materials, make a simple maze with the EV3 bxes and have the students use the mvement blcks t navigate the maze.
Lessn 3 Tuch Sensr Challenges Overview: Prgram as a class t intrduce the students t the sensr blcks, then have the students cmplete a series f challenges. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice prgramming with the tuch sensr. 2. Students will practice testing and redesigning their prgram Materials: EV3 rbtics materials prjectr r paper prgramming bricks Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (15 minutes) Shw the students the 4 sensrs in their EV3 kits. Explain what each ne des. D the Human Rbt activity in pairs, fcusing n sensrs (see References). 2. Main Activity (45 minutes) Prgram as a class with a prjectr r the large paper blcks. Intrduce the wait fr blck and shw them hw t set the time set t unlimited. D this by asking leading questins. Write a prgram as a class and give the students pprtunities fr guided practice. It can be helpful t d this in half class r smaller grups. Give the students sme (apprximately 6-8) very simple challenges t cmplete with the tuch sensr. Each challenge shuld build n the previus challenge s that nly 1 blck f the previus prgram needs t be changed. Fr example: 1. mve frward, waiting until tuched, then mve backwards fr 5s 2. waits until tuched, then twists side t side 10 times. 3. wait until tuched, then twist side t side infinitely (lps!) 4. start frward, then switch directin each time the tuch sensr is tuched. T make it mre fun, give the whle class ne challenge, and then give grups new challenges individually as they are ready fr them the class will really get int the race aspect. Mdificatins: If the students finish quickly, let them try the challenges with a different sensr r just give them additinal challenges. If the students really liked the ArtBts activity, incrprate challenges with drawing.
Lessn 4 EV3 Alarm Overview: This lessn is a flexible lessn. If yur students need mre practice using sensrs, this lessn will give them additinal practice prgramming with the ultrasnic, light, r sund sensr. If yur students have strng understanding f prgramming with sensrs, feel free t skip this week, r give them a mre challenging task. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice prgramming with the ultrasnic r sund sensr. 2. Students will practice applying the engineering design prcess in its entirety. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials tennis ball fr ultrasnic sensr demnstratin Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (5 minutes) Explain hw the ultrasnic sensr wrks either with a shrt vide r with a tennis ball demnstratin (see References). 2. Main Activity (50 minutes) The challenge fr this week is fr the students t build an EV3 security alarm. Create a back stry that links the engineering curriculum t the real wrld r ther parts f the class s curriculum. Perhaps the alarm will be put in the classrm t prtect frm ther peple cming int the classrm. Perhaps it can be used t prtect the Egyptian pyramids frm tmb raiders. Depending n the cntext, the alarm can be triggered by the ultrasnic sensr, light sensr r the sund sensr. The STOMPers may chse the sensr fr the whle class r let each grup chse. The students shuld add the sensr t their cars s it remains intact fr the next lessn. Give the students the remainder f class t build their alarms. 3. Wrap- Up (5 minutes) If time permits, let sme grups vlunteer t share their alarms with the class r let the students circulate and share their prjects with ne anther in an rganized way. If the teacher wants students t practice presentatin skills, have the students share grup by grup.
Lessn 5 Seeing- Eye Dg Overview: Prgram as a class t intrduce the students t lps in prgramming. Then students will design rbtic seeing- eye dgs. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice using lps t prgram repeated actins. 2. Students will practice testing and imprving their prgram. Materials/Preparatin: EV3 rbtics materials the bxes f the EV3 kits (already in the class) Use the EV3 bxes t set up a shrt bstacle curse Other bstacles (ptinal) Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (10 minutes) Ask the class what they did last week? Wh remembers smething cl abut prgramming? Explain hw lps wrk. Prgram as a class. Write a prgram that uses a lp. Dwnlad and demnstrate the prgram. 2. Main Activity Present the seeing- eye dg challenge. Students must try t get their LEGO figurine thrugh the bstacle curse withut hitting the bstacles. Review the EDP. Befre passing ut the cars, kits and cmputers, have the pairs talk t ne anther t plan which sensr they will use. Let the students wrk n their prgram. Refer back t the EDP t encurage frequent testing and imprvement. Mdificatins: Fr grups that finish mre quickly: Teach the students hw t make sunds n the EV3 r display images.
Lessn 6 Nighttime Creepers/Freeze Dance Overview: Prgram as a class t intrduce the cncept f switches in prgramming. Chse between the tw activities. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice prgramming with switches. 2. Students will practice prgramming with the light r sund sensr. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials prjectr r paper prgramming bricks spky Hallween decratins fr the rbts (ptinal) Lessn Plan: 1. Warm- Up (10 minutes) Intrduce the last prgramming cncept: switches. As a class, prgram a simple example prgram using the sund sensr. If the nise is belw a certain level, the rbt will d smething. If it is abve that level, it shuld d smething else. If yur students seem t be grasping prgramming, yu can let them explre this n their wn. 2. Main Activity (50 minutes) Nighttime Creepers: The students are t make were- rbts that act nrmal when the lights are n, but d smething crazy and spky when the lights are ff! This is a gd pprtunity t shw the students hw t make nises r display images n the EV3. Als encurage them t recnstruct parts f their pre- built car (i.e. replace the wheels with scary legs!) Freeze Dance: The students are t make a rbt that stays still when the sund is belw a certain level and dance when it is abve a certain level. Befre building, determine a threshld, fr the switch. Use the datalgging r VIEW feature f the EV3 t measure the ambient light r nise in the classrm. Mdificatins: If grups finish early: encurage them t use anther sensr t practice parallel prgramming encurage them t build mre features nt their rbt r decrate it! If the class is nt ready t learn abut switches, skip them altgether. Yu can adapt this lessn t be a mre simple prgramming challenge by having the rbts simple wait until the lights g ff, then d smething creepy fr a set amunt f time.
Lessn 7 The Perfect Pet (Part I) Overview: The students will begin their final prject, t build and train The Perfect Pet. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice planning as they design their prjects. 2. Students will apply and reinfrce their prgramming knwledge. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials prject plan wrksheets (1 per 2-3 students) Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (5 minutes) Present the final prject: Yu want a new pet; hwever smene in yur family is allergic t animals with fur and afraid f everything else. Yu decide that yu will build yurself yur wn perfect rbtic pet! Yur pet must use at least tw different sensrs t interact with yu. 2. Main Activity (45 minutes) Pass ut the prject plan wrksheets (see References). Give the students time t brainstrm and fill them ut. Cnference with each grup and ensure that their idea is feasible befre apprving it. Help steer students tward ideas yu knw are achievable in this time frame. Yur guidance and invlvement during the beginning steps is crucial. Let the students wrk n their pets. Make sure that the students save their wrk. (See References fr tips n saving students prgrams frm week t week) 3. Wrap- Up (10 minutes) Have the grups share their prjects t the class (quickly, at their desks). Allw the ther students t give feedback. Be sure that it is psitive and/r cnstructive. Yu may need t guide the discussin by asking fr ne cmpliment and ne suggestin after each presentatin. Cllect their prject plan wrksheets. Review them with yur STOMP partner t be sure that students are n the right track. Bring the wrksheets back the fllwing class. Mdificatins: If yu think it wuld be helpful, start with a whle class brainstrm befre breaking them up int their grups
Lessn 8 The Perfect Pet (Part II) Overview: Students cntinue their final prjects. Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice prgramming with multiple sensrs in Mindstrms. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials cmpleted prject plan wrksheets frm last class craft materials t decrate the rbts (ptinal) Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (10 minutes) Have each grup share what part f the prject they will wrk n during class. Be sure that all grups are n schedule. Take nte f each grup s prgress s that yu can give mre help t grups that are behind schedule. 2. Main Activity (50 minutes) Give the students time t wrk n their final prject. They shuld finish prgramming their rbts by the end f this class perid. Figure 2. NXT Puppy
Lessn 9 The Perfect Pet Presentatins Overview: Students will finish their prjects and present their perfect pets! Learning Gals: 1. Students will practice cmmunicating their ideas t the class. 2. Students will evaluate their wrk and reflect n the design prcess. Materials: EV3 rbtics materials craft materials t decrate the rbt (ptinal) Lessn Plan: 1. Intrductin (15 minutes) Give the students the first prtin f class t finish their rbts. They shuld have cmpleted prgramming last week. This time shuld be dedicated t creative tuches and physical features. 2. Main Activity (35 minutes) Have the class sit in a circle. Grups shuld sit tgether. Set expectatins fr the presentatin (e.g. every member f the grup talks). G arund the circle having each grup present their perfect pet. If time permits, let ne persn frm each grup circulate and talk t their classmates abut their prjects. The ther persn stays with their prject t explain it. Then switch s the ther partner can walk arund and see ther students wrk up clse. 3. Wrap- Up Optin A: Lead a discussin t wrap up the unit as a whle. Example questins: What was yur favrite/least favrite part f the unit? What was the mst challenging part? What is the mst imprtant thing yu learned? Optin B: Yu may cnsider ding a free write. Give the students a guiding questin (e.g. What was yur favrite part f STOMP?) and have the students write r draw (withut stpping!) fr 5 minutes. Their free writes are fun t read afterwards! Thank the students fr all their hard wrk this semester!
References Setting Classrm Behaviral Nrms Setting classrm rules may seem unnecessary, but it will help greatly thrughut the rest f the semester! Take the extra 5 minutes at the beginning f the unit. It will make it easier fr yu t crrect bad behavir in later classes by referring back t the rules/nrms. One simple and effective way t create nrms is by asking kids t cmplete the sentence Gd engineers Be sure that they answer psitively. Fr example, Gd engineers listen carefully while thers are talking. instead f Gd engineers dn t talk while ther peple are talking Human Rbt Human Rbt is a fun way t intrduce students t the cncept f prgramming. There are a variety f ways t lead the activity. Here are tw examples: 1. As a class: One f the STOMPers pretends t be a rbt. The ther STOMPer shuld help the students prgram him/her t cmplete a task in the classrm. The task can be anything frm putting n scks and shes (prps required) t picking up an item and thrwing it in the trash can. *Be sure that the students give specific in a way that is cmparable t Mindstrms (e.g. have the students specify which leg- - right r left- - the stmper shuld lift, just like the students have t specify the prt f the mtr that they want t mve). 2. In pairs: This activity is great fr transitining the students frm thinking abut prgramming cnceptually t actually using the NXT Mindstrms technlgy. It is especially helpful t teach students abut using sensrs. As a class, write a simple prgram n Mindstrms. Then, put students int pairs. One student is the rbt and the ther ne will interact with it t activate its sensr (i.e. pke their partner s arm because it is the tuch sensr). Prgramming as a Class Prgramming as a class is a great way t intrduce the prgramming technlgy. Like Human Rbt, this activity can be altered depending n yur classrm and teaching style. Using a prjectr r paper prgramming blcks, demnstrate t the class hw t write a Mindstrms prgram. It is imprtant that yu keep the class engaged by asking the class fr advice and suggestins alng the way. It s imprtant t ask a wide variety f students, nt just thse that raise their hands yu can even just g in a set rder thrugh everybdy. After writing the prgram, dwnlad and test the prgram n a pre- made rbt. The kids get excited when they see their prgram in actin! If there are any bugs, systematically debug as a class. Debugging can be ne f the mst valuable parts f prgramming as a class.
Wrking in Grups All f the activities shuld be dne in pairs (r if necessary grups f 3) s that each student gets the chance t use Mindstrms. T fster sharing and cllabratin, have the students alternate wh is at the cmputer fr each challenge r every 5 minutes. Remind the students that even if they are nt tuching the cmputer, they can still cntribute ideas t prgramming. Fr larger, mre pen- ended prjects, such as the final prject, it can be helpful t have students adpt rles such as the prgrammer r the builder (r the cmmunicatr if in grups f 3). These labels give students a chance t fcus n the aspect f rbtics they like best and help students delegate wrk. Ultrasnic Sensr Demnstratin Stand abut 4 feet frm a wall and bunce the tennis ball against the wall. Ask the students t predict. Will the ball take mre r less time t return t me if I back up? Shw that it takes mre time. Mve clser t the wall and demnstrate the ppsite. Explain that the ultrasnic sensr sends ut waves (instead f a ball) and measures the time it takes t cme back. This demnstratin is helpful as students ften cnfuse the ultrasnic sensr fr a camera. Vide: Click next in the upper righthand crner t g t the page with the vide. http://www.educatin.rec.ri.cmu.edu/previews/nxt_prducts/rbtics_eng_vl_1/prev iew/cntent/reference/helpers/ultrasnic.htm Saving Student Wrk frm Week t Week T save students prgrams n Mindstrms frm week t week, save them t the STOMP Drpbx. It s n all the CEEO laptps r can be accessed thrugh the internet. Please save yur students wrk neatly in a flder labeled with yu teacher s name and yur schl. If, fr whatever reasn, yu cannt use the STOMP Drpbx, save the students wrk t the cmputer desktp under their names. Then make a written recrd f which students were using which cmputers. D nt label the cmputers as tape can leave adhesive marks and pst- it ntes fall ff. Bring the same cmputers back t the next class. Yu can als mve all the prgrams frm the desktps t the Drpbx when yu get back t the CEEO.
Names: The Perfect Pet Prject Plan Imagine that yu (r a friend) desperately want a pet. Unfrtunately, yur dad is allergic t anything with fur and yur little brther is afraid f anything withut fur. Yu decide that if yu can t adpt a pet, yu ll make ne! Using any parts frm yur LEGO EV3 kit and ther STOMP materials, make yur wn perfect pet! It des nt have t be based n a real animal, but it des have t use at least ONE sensr and at least ONE mtr. Briefly describe yur pet. What will it be able t d? Which sensr will yu use? What will happen when the sensr is activated? Please request any additinal materials yu will need t create yur pet. On the back f this page, draw a picture f yur rbtic pet. Label the brick, the sensr(s) and the mtrs n yur drawing. STOMPer Apprval:
Image Bibligraphy Figure 1. Simple NXT Car http://www.legengineering.cm/wp- cntent/uplads/2013/06/screen- Sht- 2013-06- 26- at- 9.40.22- PM.png Figure 2. NXT Puppy http://nxtprgrams.cm/puppy/dcp_4730.jpg