The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
Jousting using Sphero Bolts/Sparks
Jousting with Sphero Bolts/Sparks
A 4th-6th grade STEM lesson
Author: Derek Thomas
Date 7 Dec 2023
Notes for teachers
Use clear Solo cups with a round base, this way the students can see what direction the Sphero needs to travel.
List of Materials
Standards
Arizona Educational Technology Standards: Knowledge Constructor - Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts, and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.
6-8.3.d. Students explore real world problems and issues and actively pursue solutions for them.
Standards
Arizona Mathematics Standards 6th Grade:
6.MP.4 Model with mathematics. Mathematically proficient students apply the mathematics they know to solve problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace. When given a problem in a contextual situation, they identify the mathematical elements of a situation and create a mathematical model that represents those mathematical elements and the relationships among them. Mathematically proficient students use their model to analyze the relationships and draw conclusions. They interpret their mathematical results in the context of the situation and reflect on whether the results make sense, possibly improving the model if it has not served its purpose.(Students will calculate distance the Sphero needs to travel across a given plane)
Objective:
Students will understand the basics of Sphero Bolt and its programming environment.
Agenda (5 Days to complete)
Day 1: Introduction to Sphero Bolts and Programming Basics
Objective:
Activities:
Introduction to Sphero Bolts and their capabilities.
Brief overview of block-based programming (using Sphero Edu app).
Hands-on exploration with Sphero Bolts to get familiar with controls.
Differentiation:
Day 2: Programming Basics for Jousting
Objective:Students will learn basic programming commands for Sphero Bolts to perform simple movements.
Activities:Recap of the Sphero Bolts and basic controls.
introduction to basic programming commands: move, turn, stop.
Group practice programming Sphero Bolts to move in a straight line and make turns.
Differentiation:
Day 3: Jousting Arena Design
Objective:
Activities:
Discuss the key elements of a jousting arena (e.g., boundaries, obstacles).
Group work to design and draw their jousting arenas.
Share and discuss the designs, considering the challenges and possibilities.
Differentiation:
Day 4: Jousting Programming Challenge
Objective:
Activities:
Review the jousting arena designs.
Introduce the concept of jousting rules and scoring.
Students work in pairs to program their Sphero Bolts for the jousting match.
Differentiation:
Day 5: Jousting Tournament and Reflection
Objective:
Activities:
Jousting tournament where students compete in pairs.
Rotation of students as spectators and judges to encourage active participation.
Group discussion and reflection on the learning experience.
Differentiation:
Intro/Driving Question/Opening
Description: Students will decorate their cup to make it resemble a knight from the Medieval time period. Allow students to be creative and imaginative to design their knight, take in consideration that the heavier the cup the slower it will move and travel.
The students should be able to code the Sphero to travel on/in whatever arena the students design. The lower grade levels can manually control the spheros at the beginning and progress to actual coding.
Engage: Begin the lesson by showing a short video or image of medieval jousting to captivate students' attention and spark their interest in the activity. You could also share historical facts or anecdotes about jousting to make it more exciting.
Explore: Next, divide students into small groups and provide each group with a Sphero Bolt, Solo cups, and any other necessary materials. Instruct students to explore the Sphero Bolt's features and capabilities, allowing them to experiment with different controls and movements. Encourage them to brainstorm ideas on how to make the Sphero Bolt joust with the Solo cups.
Explain: Gather the students back together and facilitate a discussion about their discoveries with the Sphero Bolt. Encourage them to share their ideas on how to create a jousting mechanism using the Solo cups. Discuss concepts such as velocity, force, and angles, explaining their relevance to the jousting activity.
Elaborate: In this phase, provide students with a variety of materials such as craft supplies, cardboard, or foam to expand their creativity. Allow them to design and build their own jousting mechanisms using the Solo cups and any other materials they choose. Encourage students to think critically and problem-solve to optimize their Sphero Bolt's performance during the jousting match.
Evaluate: Conclude the lesson by hosting a jousting tournament where each group competes against one another. Students can present their jousting mechanisms and explain the strategies they used. Assess their understanding by observing their Sphero Bolts' performance, their ability to apply concepts discussed during the Explain phase, and their overall engagement and teamwork.
Hands-on Activity Instructions
Assessment
Create a Team Bracket and have the class decide the rules and expectations for the students to follow. Additional options would be to search up their family crest and have them design a banner to announce who is jousting in each event.
Differentiation
You can provide additional support or challenge based on individual student needs. For example, students who may need extra assistance can work in a smaller group with a teacher or peer mentor, while students looking for an extra challenge can be tasked with designing a custom armor or building a jousting arena.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Have the students use Tinkercad to design adaptive solutions for their Solo cup Knights ( I.E add a 3d printed Lance or Shield) to make it a more realistic look.