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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Robot Unpuzzle

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Robot Unpuzzle

A 6th-8th Grade STEM lesson

Author Lezly Garcia

Date 04/30/2023

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Notes for teachers

  • Groups of 3 to 4 students
  • Each student on the team can have a role
  • Set time frames for each part of the plan
  • Lesson can be done in a class period of 45-60 minutes

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  • Items with asterisk* are optional
  • Sub bullet point provide options
  • Extra notes in the speaker notes

List of Materials

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  • 4 Technology pieces
    • Sphero EDU App
  • 4 Sphero Robots
  • Large butcher paper (4x4)
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Yardsticks or Measuring Tape*
  • Timer*

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Standards

Arizona Educational Technology Standards

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  • 6-8.4.c. Student engage in a design process to develop, test, and revise prototypes, embrace the iterative process of trial and error, and understand setbacks as potential opportunities for improvement.

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  • 6-8.7c. Student perform a variety of roles within a team using appropriate technology to complete a project or solve a problem

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Standards

Science and Engineering Practices

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  • Develop and use models
  • Plan and carry out investigations
  • Analyze and interpret data
  • Use mathematics and computational thinking
  • Construct explanations and design solutions
  • Engage in argument from evidence
  • Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Arizona Mathematics Standards

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  • 6.NS.B Compute fluently with multi digit numbers and find common factors and multiples
  • 6.NS.B.2 Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using a standard algorithm
  • 6.EE.A Apply and extend previous understanding of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
  • 6.EE.A.2 Write, read, and evaluate algebraic expressions

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Standards for Mathematical Practices

  • 6.MP.1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them

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Objectives:

Objective - Students will be able to create a puzzle, add math equations, and solve another team’s math problems.

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Sub Objective

SWBAT solve equations

SWBAT create a map

SWBAT use prior knowledge on robots to code

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Today we will create a puzzle and add math equations…

So that we can switch with another team and solve theirs …

I know I succeeded if our robot makes it to the end the fastest.

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Agenda

Teams will…

  1. Create a puzzle
  2. Add math equations to each piece
  3. Switch with other teams
  4. Program robot

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Today we are going to be looking at a STEM lesson. We are focusing on three areas of STEM, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

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How have/can you use technology in STEM?

How have/can you use engineering in STEM?

How have/can you use math in STEM?

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Based on the title, how can we use technology, engineering, and math together?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

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Part 1

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  1. Each team is given materials
  2. Using the butcher paper, fold into 12 spaces
  3. Cross off one of the boxes
  4. Add one step equations to each box, except the one with the X
  5. The equations should be in order from numbers 1- 11
  6. Create 1 line for the robot to follow, must touch each box once

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

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Part 2

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  1. Cut out the twelve boxes
  2. Throw away the box with the X

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

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Part 3

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  1. Mix up the 12 boxes
  2. Switch with other teams

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

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Part 4

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  1. Teams must answer the equations
  2. The boxes must be put back in their original order
  3. However you can not pick up the pieces or move them

from outside the box, this is like playing games like

box moving puzzles

  1. Once the puzzle is put back together, program the robot to

get from the start to the end

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Assessment

Groups Assessment

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Teams are assessed on these four things:

  • Difficulty of puzzle
  • Difficulty of math equations
  • Solving other team’s puzzle
  • Correctly coding the robot

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Differentiation

  • Use the drive section on the app
  • Use pre written equations
  • Only using addition and subtraction to create equations
  • Use multiplication charts
  • Use calculators to come up with equations
  • Use calculators to answer equations
  • Solving their own puzzle

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

  • Only use multiplication and division to create equations
  • Use other math skills when creating their map (fractions, decimals, ect)
  • Creating multiple lanes

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