Learning Resources Code -Go Robot Mouse Activity Manual

LER 2831

ages

años

ans

jahre

4

grades PreK+

Code & Go® Robot Mouse

Activity Set

Set de actividades ratón robot programable

Kit d'activités Souris robot programmable

Aktionsset „Programmierbare Robotermaus“

+

Guía de actividades • Guide d’activités • Spielvorschläge

Dear Parents & Educators:

Today’s children are surrounded by technology like never before. Video games. Smart phones.
Tablets. These are all forms of communication that impact our lives every single day. And what they
have in common is that they all involve coding!

Activity Guide

So, what is coding?

Coding literally means the transformation of data into a form understandable by a computer—
basically, telling a computer what you want it to do. Coding also factors into some everyday tasks
that people perform without a second thought: for instance, programming a microwave to heat
yesterday’s leftovers, or entering numbers into a calculator in a specifi c order. Coding today may
not always look like the routine programming of the past. It can be active, visual, engaging, and
most importantly, fun! Educators agree that an early introduction to basic programming concepts
can help children build problem solving and critical thinking skills. This set provides that very
introduction, giving early learners a fun, real-world application of these essential 21st-century skills.

What can using a programmable
robot teach?

• Problem solving

• Self-correcting errors

• Critical thinking

• Analytical thinking

• If-then logic

• Working collaboratively with others

• Discussion and communication skills

• Calculating distance

• Spatial concepts

Pieces included:

• 30 Coding cards

• 22 Maze walls

• 16 Maze grid pieces that connect to form a
large board

• 10 Double-sided Activity Cards

• 3 Tunnels

• 1 Robot mouse (Colby)

• 1 Cheese wedge

Introducing Code & Go: Tips for Beginning Programmers

Start by providing a simple, guided introduction to the mouse: identify the color and function of
each of the mouse’s buttons (see Basic Operation). Reinforce that the green button means go—it
tells the mouse to perform an action. Set the mouse on the fl oor or a table. Let the child try moving
the mouse forward, by pressing the blue arrow once and then the green button. Point out that the
mouse moves forward in the direction its nose is pointing. Let the child explore the other directional
arrows, one at a time. The right and left arrows make the mouse rotate, in place, 90 degrees in either
direction.

Remember to press and hold the yellow button to clear the mouse’s memory after each command.
Otherwise, the mouse will remember previous commands and perform them along with new
commands. Children need to see each movement in isolation. Pressing Clear before entering new
steps will ensure that the mouse moves exactly as programmed.

Set up a maze and complete a programming sequence, as follows:

• Snap together the maze pieces to form a 4 x 4 grid.

• Select the fi rst activity card; position the mouse, cheese, and maze walls as shown.

• Help the child count the number of spaces between mouse and cheese.

• Lay out the coding cards. Explain that these cards help map the mouse’s path. Work together
with the child to fi nd the correct cards (two forward) and place them side by side.

• Ask the child to program the mouse to reach the cheese. Does the child tap forward twice?

If the child easily grasps this concept (i.e., programs the mouse to match the coding string), try
adding 1–2 more spaces between mouse and cheese, placing additional maze walls on the grid,
or even integrating a turn for the mouse to make before reaching the cheese. At this age, multi­step sequences can be very di cult for young learners to remember, although the coding cards
help. Begin with short series of moves, before gradually adding in turns and building di erent maze
confi gurations. Most of all, keep it fun!

Basic Operation

POWER Slide to turn the power ON. Colby is ready to program!

SPEED Choose between Normal and Hyper. Normal is best for regular use on the maze

board, while Hyper is best for play on the ground or other surfaces.

FORWARD For each FORWARD step, Colby moves forward a set amount (5”) (12.5 cm).

REVERSE For each REVERSE step, Colby moves backward a set amount (5”) (12.5 cm).

ROTATE RIGHT For each ROTATE RIGHT step, Colby will rotate to the right 90 degrees.

ROTATE LEFT For each ROTATE LEFT step, Colby will rotate to the left 90 degrees.

ACTION For each ACTION step, Colby will perform one of 3 RANDOM actions:

• Move forward and back

• Loud “SQUEAAKK”

• CHIRP-CHIRP-CHIRP (and light-up eyes!)

GO Press to execute or perform your programmed sequence, up to 40 steps!

CLEAR To clear all programmed steps, press and hold until you hear a confi rmation tone.

Important notes: if the mouse begins to move o the programmed course, or if it fails to turn a full
90 degrees, this could be a sign of low battery power. When the batteries are very low, the mouse
will begin to beep and fl ash its eyes, and the GO button will be disabled. Replace the old batteries as
soon as possible to restore complete functionality.

Please do not push the robot mouse forward or back with force. This can damage the wheels and
break the axles inside.

FORWARD

CLEARACTION

ROTATE
LEFT

ROTATE
RIGHT

GO

REVERSE

POWER/SPEED

Assembling the Grid

Connect all 16 grid pieces together to form one large square maze board—or make any

confi guration you can imagine! Pictured below are several mazes you can build:

Connect all 16 grid pieces together to form one large square maze board—or make any
confi guration you can imagine! Pictured below are several mazes you can build:

Using the Maze Walls

Create a maze by inserting the walls into the lines on the board. Follow the patterns on the activity
cards to re-create each maze. Then, program Colby to maneuver through the maze and to the
cheese! Because the maze is customizable, children can build their own maze, try their hand at
programming Colby from start to fi nish, or invite a friend to try the maze they created. For those
aspiring engineers who want to build their own maze using items from home, Colby can also
maneuver on most surfaces, independent of the maze.

Coding cards

Colorful coding cards help children keep track of each step in a sequence. Each card features a
direction or “step” to program into Colby. Cards are color-coordinated to match the buttons on the
mouse (see Basic Operation, on the second page, for details about each command). For ease of use,
we recommend lining up each card, in sequence, to mirror each step in a program. For example, if a
programmed sequence includes the steps FORWARD, FORWARD, TURN RIGHT, FORWARD, ACTION,
place those cards in order to help follow and remember the sequence.

Forward Forward Right Forward Action