Learning Robotics - Define & Ideate a Robotics Project

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

This lesson can be used across multiple curriculum strands in addition to the Maths that have been listed below. In particular, this lesson could also provide opportunities for Digital Technologies and English.

Year 5 Mathematics:

• Plan and conduct statistical investigations by posing questions or identifying a problem and collecting relevant data; choose appropriate displays and interpret the data; communicate findings within the context of the investigation (AC9M5ST03)
• Acquire, validate and represent data for nominal and ordinal categorical and discrete numerical variables, to address a question of interest or purpose using software including spreadsheets; discuss and report on data distributions in terms of highest frequency (mode) and shape, in the context of the data (AC9M5ST01)

Year 6 Mathematics:

• Interpret and compare data sets for ordinal and nominal categorical, discrete and continuous numerical variables using comparative displays or visualisations and digital tools; compare distributions in terms of mode, range and shape (AC9M6ST01)
• Identify statistically informed arguments presented in traditional and digital media; discuss and critique methods, data representations and conclusions (AC9M6ST02)

Syllabus outcomes: MA3‑1WM, MA3‑3WM, MA3-18SP, EN3-1A, EN3-2A, EN3-8D

General capabilities: Literacy, Numeracy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability.

Relevant parts of Year 5 Mathematics Achievement Standards: Students pose questions to gather data, and construct data displays appropriate for the data.

Relevant parts of Year 6 Mathematics Achievement Standards: Students compare observed and expected frequencies. They interpret and compare a variety of data displays including those displays for two categorical variables. They interpret secondary data displayed in the media.

Time required: 120 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – some students may require support to sort and analyse their findings.

• device capable of displaying video to class
• Student Worksheet (one copy per student)
• Sphero SPRK+ (or alternative programmable robot), minimum one per 3 students
• device capable of running Sphero Edu App, e.g. iPad, iPod Touch (or required software for your robot), one for each robot
• variety of reusable construction materials and additional equipment to create contexts/challenges for robots (e.g. Duplo, blocks, rulers, tennis balls, small hoops, etc.)
• large poster sheets (one for each community group surveyed)
• Blu-Tack
• sticky notes

• collaboration
• communication
• community engagement
• creativity
• critical thinking
• digital literacy
• enterprise
• problem solving
• social skills.

This is an original Cool+ lesson.