- Loading…
In this lesson, students use robots to explore physics, coding, and engineering. They calculate kinetic energy by measuring their robot’s speed and mass while completing a maze. Then, they program and adjust their robots to compete in a sumo wrestling challenge, trying to knock a ping pong ball off their opponent’s robot.
Students also practice teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving by improving their designs and strategies. The lesson connects coding and science and encourages real-world thinking as students apply their skills to hands-on challenges.
Physical World Concepts Learning Targets:
Energy & Power LT4: I can define, describe, and calculate kinetic energy, potential energy, work, and power. Use conservation of energy to predict the behavior of a system where energy is being transferred.
(this lesson focused on kinetic energy only)
FabFolio SEL Skill Development Targets:
Collaboration: Personal Accountability – Hold self accountable to norms of a group
Metacognition: Reflective Evaluation – Assess thoughts, emotions, behaviors, strengths, weaknesses, and alignment with personal values and goals.
Creativity: Originality – Generate, evaluate, and use unique ideas to solve problems
Students loved using Makecode to move their Finch Robots around a maze. They engaged in friendly competition with zeal. While some struggled with taking accurate measurements, with support all students were able to make the physics calculations.
Each Maze has a solo cup with a ping pong ball balanced on top at the center. The maze has 2 similar (in difficulty and distance) paths that lead from opposite ends to the center of the maze. Each team competes by starting at their end and coding the robot to make it to the center and knock off the ping pong ball. If the maze does not have physical barriers, the lines are "infinitely tall" and cannot be crossed by the robot or legos.
Students use Makecode and the Finch “extension” to code their robots. Each team has access to random Legos to build a “jousting” platform to knock off the ping pong ball.
Students modify the Legos on their robot to hold a ping pong ball. They can modify their "jousting platform as well. Instead of pre-programming the robot, teams now must use another micro:bit as a remote control to engage in one-on-one Sumo Wrestling.
Having trouble? Let us know by completing the form below. We'll do our best to get your issues resolved quickly.
"*" indicates required fields
