The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Edison Adventure

Edison Adventure

A 6th grade STEM lesson

Rachel Carpenter

06/09/2023

Notes for teachers

Students should already be familiar with operating and coding Edison robots.

Students should already be familiar with using the if…else code with Edison.

List of Materials

• Edison Robots
• Access to EdScratch App
• various arts and crafts supplies, including markers, scissors, glue, tape, construction paper, foam sheets, felt, googly eyes
• recycled materials such as cardboard, tp rolls, old wire, egg cartons, lids

Standards

• 6.AP.C.1 Design programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and compound conditionals.
• 6.AP.M.1 Decompose problems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs.
• 6.AP.PD.1 Seek and incorporate feedback from team members and users to refine a solution that meets user needs.

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Standards

Science and Engineering Practice:

• Use mathematics and computational thinking.

Objective(s):

• I can use what I know about coding Edison to create a story for Edison to act out.
• I can use if…else statements in my code.
• I can use feedback to improve my design.

Agenda (five 60 minute classes)

• Talk about stories: what do stories need (students can brainstorm in small groups and then share out)?
• characters, plot (beginning, middle, end), a problem to be solved, setting
• Review if…else command
• What are some possible ways this could be used in a story?

• Students work in groups to begin planning possible storylines. Encourage students to combine ideas.
• Once a group has a story planned and written, they can begin working with materials to create props and backdrops.
• Students should divide tasks so someone is working on the code while the physical items are being created.

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Agenda (five 60 minute classes)

• Once students have mostly completed their work (but before they are finished), pair groups up to share their plans and progress. Groups should give feedback to each other:
• Does the story make sense?
• Does the code support the story?
• Where is the if…else command?
• What can be added or changed to improve the props and the code?

• Gallery Walk for whole class to experience each group’s completed Adventure.

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Let’s build on the skills you used to create the Path for Edison! Send Edison on an adventure!

Now, you will use props along with code to create an adventure for Edison.

Edison Adventure

Write and code an “adventure” for Edison

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Should have:

• A story
• props
• At least one if…else…
• Collaboration in groups of 2-4

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Students can choose groups (2-4 people works well) or teacher can assign.
• Circulate often to meet with groups and check on their progress.

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Student Work

Student Work

Edison has to navigate to the restaurants, avoiding children in a crosswalk and other obstacles along the way. Then, Edison has to decide between two restaurant choices.

Assessment

Each group’s Adventure should have a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

The code must include at least one if…else.

Differentiation

Check in on students frequently as they are working. Direct their attention to possible problems with the design:

• What about ___?
• How will Edison move through this part?

Refer to previous work as a model when groups are stuck.

• This is kind of like when you coded the hexagon. How did you get Edison through that? Would that work here?

Use Pair Up as a chance for students to further refine their designs with feedback and advice from peers.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Designs and codes can be very complex. Encourage students to try more complicated designs/ challenging code (reacting to inputs, etc).

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