It & Robotics

Intro to Scratch Jr Today we were more creative when using Cybot, we created a series of commands that led the robot to entertain us in many ways. We had some fun while experimenting with the different options the Cyber Robot App provides. Using the coding cards we played a game that one of us pretended to be Scratchy the cat; we created all together a series of commands to guide 'scratchy' to move around. After practicing in real life we were able to open the Scratch Jr app for the first time. This is an app to practice coding in the language of Scratch Jr, we learned how to change the background and how to make a series of basic commands. From now on we'll be focusing on learning how Scratch Jr works to create content with the help of our little friend Scratchy the cat. To download the app and practice at home click here .

Cybot's House We realized that Cybot didn't have a house like Blue Bot, therefore we created our own in which Cybot can navigate around with he help of a colorful grid decided by the whole team. This activity was mainly focused on exploring the creativity while having precise measurements in mind that reinforce the mathematical thinking of the kids. Four squares is 5x Forward , this means that it takes Cybot 5 steps forward to complete a column of four squares.   Communication with Cybot Since the main goal is for all of us to become creators and we already understand that the robots are our friends that help us learn, we are starting to become more independent in using the tablet to give Cybot's commands. We explore the different possibilities we have when using Cybot. All of us created a long sequence of commands to see how Cybot works. We also got to learn the basics of how to find and recognize the app in the tablets menu.

After a big accident one of the Scratchies got stuck in Gimbebé's campus and needed some help from the other Scratchy, who went on an adventure to find Bluebot and Cybot's help to fix the spaceship. We helped them find their way to the robots to ask for help and get back to the ship. We used the coding cards and as a whole team we helped them achieve their goal. We decided to keep building Cybot's new house but before continuing we tested the already built blocks with some basic commands. We learned that Cybot can make many different sounds that can be added to the programming sequence.  The main vocabulary practiced today was OFF  and ON. We learned that when something is OFF  it doesn't work and the system is shut down, therefore we can't do anything with it. And when it's ON is actually when we can interact with it.

Offline Learning Kids don't only spend the whole time in front of a screen when learning robotics and coding. To reinforce the sequence and problem solving skills we played a fun game: two characters (CodeApillar, Red Car, Scratchy) get to meet each others, but they need the help of the whole group to get there. In our classes we use coding cards that are also items that the kid will see in other coding apps to indicate the directions of the programmed objects. By working as a team we got to discuss about possible ways, with the help of the coding cards, to help the characters meet each other. Cybot's New House Today we learned that Bluebot is a baby robot, thus has less attributes than Cybot. Therefore the house (grid) that we use for Bluebot doesn't match Cyborg's movements.  By testing with different commands, we realized that by moving forward several times we would be able to draw our own grid, in other words, Cybo...

Robot's Halloween During the Halloween week it was time for us to practice what we've learned until now; we helped Bluebot and Cybot get the Pumpkin and take it to The Monster's Halloween Party . We did this by using the cards and commands learned until now to achieve it. Besides practicing the commands with our Coding Cards, each kid got to choose its favorite app to practice the coding skills learned until now. (CodeApillar and CodingKart) We also got to practice with Cybot and how to use the tablet to make it move around, during this activity we got to think about the difference between Cybot(faster) and Bluebot(Slower).