Dash and Dot Robots: Around and Around We Go!

 

Around and Around We Go!

 

I love a good challenge and this week I gave my 2nd graders a new Dash challenge called Around and Around We Go!  

I placed an x inside our tape squares and a rectangle in the middle.  Their first task was to code Dash around the square and avoid the green rectangle in one button press or event.

   

 I also created two student handouts.  I wanted to make sure all group members would have a job to focus on during the task.  We worked in groups of 3-4 students.

 

The first handout was used for recording the original code the groups created.  I also asked them to briefly write about what happened when running the code.

 

The second handout was placed in a dry erase sleeve and used to guess and check their code as they worked.

 

The guess and check strategy was another important part of this lesson.  I stressed to the kids that programmers write small parts of their code and then test them often.  The kids did a great job with this!

 

 

Cheers could be heard around the room as groups completed a challenge.  

Once they coded Dash around the square, I would give them another challenge.  

Several groups made it through 3 of the challenges in 1 50 minute class period.  

I loved how this activity turned out.  It was open enough that groups could have creativity, yet challenging enough they really had to problem solve.

Around and Around We Go Challenge Cards

Around and Around We Go Handout

Around and Around We Go Guess and Check Sheet

 

Comments

[Micah Brown]

I have commented before and I am a huge superfan of you and your Dot & Dash adventures! I received a grant to purchase of sets and I am very excited to get started with them and to start a STEM club. Would love to pick your brain some time about how you got started with different grade levels. I am sure you are super busy, but if you ever get a chance to brainstorm, I'd love to hear your story!

[Lori Vines]

I am getting ready to start with our class set of 5 Dash/Dot robots, and you blog has been so helpful in my planning! Thank you so much for sharing. I was wondering what "roles" you have for students when using Dash in a small group-I will have one robot for 4 students. How do you handle sharing of tasks?

[Susan]

Thank you, Lori! I also usually had 4 students to 1 robot. I usually had a programer holding the ipad, a robot manager who would press the top button and move Dash when necessary, a writer holding the worksheet, and Thinker/Encourager who was thinking about the next steps they need and encouraging the group. We would trade roles often, so all got a turn with the ipad and the robot. I hope this helps!
Susan