1. Getting Started...
To say that the kids are excited about getting started on our robotics unit is definitely an understatement! Using the Lego Mindstorms NXT system, the STEMmers have started on the Green City Challenge.
Green City is an eco-friendly town which has taken steps to ensure that it has very little impact on the environment. In order to complete this challenge, the STEMmers will take 5 steps:
1. Understand the goal of the challenge.
2. Using Legos, build the models for the challenge - a wind turbine, a house with a solar panel, a dam, replacing a smokestack, sorting bins, and finally, the entire city which will be energized if the challenge is completed correctly.
Green City is an eco-friendly town which has taken steps to ensure that it has very little impact on the environment. In order to complete this challenge, the STEMmers will take 5 steps:
1. Understand the goal of the challenge.
2. Using Legos, build the models for the challenge - a wind turbine, a house with a solar panel, a dam, replacing a smokestack, sorting bins, and finally, the entire city which will be energized if the challenge is completed correctly.
3. Within groups, train on using the NXT software to program robots.
4. Design and build robots in order to successfully complete 3 of the 7 challenges. The challenges are:
~ activating a wind turbine
~ placing a solar panel
~ sorting the trash
~ avoiding the flower lady :)
~ closing the dam
~ deploying a new smokestack
~ energizing Green City
5. Use robots to complete each mission and score the team's performance
4. Design and build robots in order to successfully complete 3 of the 7 challenges. The challenges are:
~ activating a wind turbine
~ placing a solar panel
~ sorting the trash
~ avoiding the flower lady :)
~ closing the dam
~ deploying a new smokestack
~ energizing Green City
5. Use robots to complete each mission and score the team's performance
2. Movin' On Up
Today the 4th graders began learning how to use the Mindstorms programming software to move their robots. Starting with the base robots, the STEMmers learned the different parts of their robot, how to write a program to make the robot move 1-2 rotations, and how to download that program onto the robot's brick (or brain).
Working in groups, the 4th graders ran a program to discover how far one rotation and two rotations would take their robots. This information is crucial for them to know once they begin their challenges.
Working in groups, the 4th graders ran a program to discover how far one rotation and two rotations would take their robots. This information is crucial for them to know once they begin their challenges.
3. robot training!
So now that the 4th graders know the basics of programming their robots, it is time for them to learn how to program their robots to move along a specific course as they will have to do for the Green City Challenge. The STEMmers were challenged to program their robots to travel the perimeter of a rectangle. This may sound simple, but it took a lot a trial and error to complete.
Check out how excited the kids are when they're testing! They all worked really hard to try to complete this challenge.
Here's a video of one of the groups testing their program. It's sideways, but you get the gist :)