Learning Resources STEM Programmable Robot Mouse User Manual
Programmable
Robot Mouse
Ratón robot programable • Souris robot
programmable • Programmierbare Robotermaus
Activity Guide
Guía de actividades • Guide d’activités • Spielanleitung
LER 2841
5
+
ages
años • ans • jah re
grades
K
+
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We 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!
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 specic 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
• 1 Robot mouse
Basic Operation
POWER Slide to turn the power ON. Jack 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. For best accuracy and
results, always use the mouse on a smooth, hard surface.
FORWARD For each FORWARD step, Jack moves forward a set amount
REVERSE For each REVERSE step, Jack moves backward a set amount
ROTATE RIGHT For each ROTATE RIGHT step, Jack will rotate to the right
90 degrees.
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Basic Operation
POWER Slide to turn the power ON. Jack 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. For best accuracy and
results, always use the mouse on a smooth, hard surface.
FORWARD For each FORWARD step, Jack moves forward a set amount
(5") (12.5 cm).
REVERSE For each REVERSE step, Jack moves backward a set amount
(5”) (12.5 cm).
ROTATE RIGHT For each ROTATE RIGHT step, Jack will rotate to the right
90 degrees.
CLEARACTION
ROTATE
RIGHT
POWER/SPEED
ROTATE
LEFT
GO
REVERSE
FORWARD
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ROTATE LEFT For each ROTATE LEFT step, Jack will rotate to the left
90 degrees.
ACTION For each ACTION step, Jack 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 conrmation tone
Important note: 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.
Replace the old batteries as soon as possible to restore complete functionality.
Coding cards
Colorful coding cards are included to help keep track of each step in a
sequence. Each card features a direction or “step” to program into the mouse.
Cards are color-coordinated to match the buttons on the mouse (see Basic
Operation for details about each command). They are also double-sided. The
front side shows the directional arrow command, and the reverse shows the
position of the mouse. Please note the red “Lightning Bolt” card is used to
represent the “ACTION” command (red button).
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.
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Activities:
Your Robot Mouse can be a great tool for teaching about logic, sequencing,
and problem solving—the very basics of computer coding and programming.
Try setting up a maze with blocks or other toys on a tabletop or oor, and
program Jack to make it to the end. Also, try creating tunnels or other
obstacles for Jack to navigate through or around using nearby items, such as
pillows or books. Since Jack moves 5” (12.5 cm) for every forward or backward
movement, plan out your maze carefully!
After you’ve sent Jack through your maze, experiment with dierent paths and
routes, varying the mazes’ lengths and numbers of obstacles each time. Predict
how many programming steps it will take to reach the end of the maze. Did
you predict correctly? How many inches in total did Jack move (remember:
each move is equal to 5 inches)? Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the
total length of the maze. Keep building, estimating, measuring, and learning!
For even more fun…
The Robot Mouse is a great way to bring early coding lessons to life! For a
more complete introduction to coding basics, look for our Robot Mouse
Coding Activity Set (LER 2831). This deluxe set includes a programmable robot
mouse (Colby), a fully customizable maze board with walls and tunnels, and
activity cards with 20 preset mazes! Jack is the perfect complement to this
comprehensive set: pit Jack against Colby in a race to the cheese, or work
together with a friend to navigate the challenging mazes. It’s everything you
need for a crash course in coding!
Battery Information
Installing or Replacing Batteries
WARNING! To avoid battery leakage, please follow these instructions
carefully. Failure to follow these instructions can result in battery acid
leakage that may cause burns, personal injury, and property damage.
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