The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
Robotics or STEM Camp
Organization
Robotics or STEM Camp Organization
A 6th - 8th grade STEM lesson
Jennifer R. Beam
June 7, 2023
Notes for teachers
List of Materials
Objective(s):
To provide educators the organizational structure of how to implement a one or two week camp focusing on STEM, robotics or other topic.
Introduction
This lesson plan came about by posting pictures of the robotics camp facilitated this summer at my school, in my classroom.
I hope that this presentation will inspire others to have a camp and have students explore the wonderful world of engineering.
First - the “What” of camp
Brainstorm a theme. I teach robotics, so my camp was robotics themed.
Brainstorm/plan what you want to do for the lessons.
Think about the PDs you have attend or what materials you have purchased or have for this amazing learning experience. What experiences do you want to provide?
I already had some robots - ozobots. I bought some lego-like robot kits from Amazon. And I bought several Edison Robots too.
My lesson plan - ideas.
Day 1 Welcome to Camp What is a robot? Make Squiggle bots. Robot Art on large post-it note pages or white butcher paper. *snack - goldfish crackers | Day 2 Ozobot Exploration Coding with color Creating paths for the ozobots, creating obstacles(tunnels, bridges, etc.) for the robots to navigate through. *snack - teddy grahams | Day 3 Sphero Mini Robots Coding with a tablet and app, students learned how to navigate the spheros around different obstacles, playing games with the spheros. *snack - ritz crackers | Day 4 Robot Engineers Using the kits from Amazon, students work in pairs to build their robots. Encouraging teamwork and collaboration! (This took most of day 4) *snack - goldfish crackers | Day 5 Robot Engineers Finish building robots, those who finish can start using the remote that came with the kit. After the robots were finished, they played Battlebots! *snack - teddy grahams |
Day 6 Robot Engineers Finished Battlebots Edison Robots Introduced robots, coding with barcodes - going straight, backwards and turning. Following a light and using the remote. *snack - granola bars | Day 7 Reviewed what robots we have used so far. :) Continued with Edison Robots making sure each group has been able to follow a light, use the remote for coding, and then letting them explore. *snack - granola bars | Day 8 Edison Robots We will code with the blockly app, the students coded their way through a maze. (it was just masking tape on the tile floor). The students added to the maze, creating more turns and straightaways *snack - cheez-its | Day 8 Robots and Mazes The students used the edison robots and spheros to navigate the mazes from day 8. There were obstacles placed along the path for the robots to move around. *snack - granola bars | Day 10 The Last Day Robot Day Students get a “free” day to explore robotics with any of the robots we used in camp. By the end of the class, they need to show what they were working on to the whole group. Clean up the classroom and pass out sway bags! *snack - doughnuts |
Don’t forget …
There is fluidity in your plans. As you see students finish early, you can move on
to the next lesson or add to what they are working on.
If students need more time, they should have it.
Have blocks, cardboard boxes (tissue box, pencil box, etc) handy to create
obstacles.
Have groups create a maze and then have other groups try and navigate through it.
The ideas are endless - we are all creative.
Next - Where - Location
To have a successful camp, your location should be a safe place for children, have restrooms and a drinking fountain close by. Examples of location ideas include a classroom, library, cafeteria or gym.
I used my own classroom. I had all the supplies and room to prep. I could also lock the door at the end of each camp day to keep things safe.
Make sure you get permission from your administration to hold the camp on your campus. And share with them your ideas for feedback.
Next - When - Days/Time
For a successful camp - think about how many
days you want it to run. 5? 10? 1 week or two. And for how long? 2 hours? 3 hours?
Next - Who
Think about the grade levels you want to have
attend the camp. It is nice to offer a range so that siblings can attend.
I teach 7-12th grade robotics. My goal was to reach the elementary students because 1) Some of the sixth graders will be attending the jr. high next year on the campus 2) They don’t have STEM as an “special” 3) I wanted to spark wonder and excitement in the younger kids so that they would possibly take robotics in the future. The grade range I chose was 4th-8th (going into).
Registration
Create a simple registration form for your
records.
Student Name, grade going into, emergency contact information - phone number, who is dropping off/picking up, etc.
I created a google form and linked it to a QR code.
Grade Range for Camp explained …
I have experienced that younger students tend to get tired more and then play around. Unless there is something that keeps them busy. They also tend to group together and then you need to find something else for them to work on.
With the older students, they seem to have more stamina and are able to work on more challenging tasks longer. Once they work in a group or partner, time goes by fast.
*This year, I had two students that took my class during the school year. Even though we did not use the LEGO EV3 Mindstorm kits, they had a great background regarding how to code and robotics in general. I partnered them up with other students who needed help or encouragement.
Next - Why
When you start to advertise for camp, make sure
that your “why” is shared on the flyer or email.
Let parents know that you want to expose
students to STEM, engineering activities,
etc. Your why might be different than someone else.
This is the flyer I created. It doesn’t state my “why”
however, I did share it via email when I notified
parents about the camp.
Materials
Choose materials that will be engaging and fun for a range of ages. Older students can help the younger students.
Are students taking their items home?
Are you sending the non-consumables home (motors, alligator clips, etc)
Consumable items - what will be needed (don't’ forget the googly eyes!)
If an activity takes you 30 minutes to complete, double it for the students. They might need an hour to complete the activity.
STEM Camp
My camp was robotics themed. The activities were based around robots.
An idea of STEM camp might be to have themed days. Do activities based on the different branches of engineering.
Search websites Pinterest for ideas. Use what you have learned in the PDs.
Providing Examples
I don’t have examples already made for some activities. I make it with the students. When I get done, I show the students and ask, “how does this look?”
For some students, you may need to help them or have the more difficult steps already done.
Differentiation
Extension/Enrichment
Have students do a gallery walk to see what everyone has worked on and completed.
Take pictures and share them as a ppt at the end of camp, send a copy to parents.