The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

The Little Wooden Robot

The Little Wooden Robot

A K/1 grade STEM lesson

Author:

Phyllis Lussier

Date: July 2023

Notes for teachers

• This lesson took place in a regular ed classroom of kinder and 1st graders.
• Students placed into groups of 4. Groups of 2 could also work.
• Emphasis on block coding robotics.
• Additional ELA comprehension standards could be given incorporated if additional time is provided.
• Lesson as written needs a minimum of 45 minutes.

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List of Materials

• Story: The Little Wooden Robot and The Log Princess by Tom Gauld
• KIBO Robots or any programmable robot
• Lego - various blocks

Enrichment material ( see enrichment slide for details on lesson extension)

• Paper, markers, tape

Arizona Science Standards K-2

Science Crosscutting Concept:

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Science and Engineering Practices

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• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• analyze and interpret data
• use mathematical and computational thinking
• construct explanations and design solutions
• engage in argument from evidence
• obtain, evaluate and communicate information

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Arizona ELA Standards

K.RL.1 with prompting and support, ask and answer questions about details in the text

K.RL.3 with prompting and support, identify character, setting and major events in a story

K.SL.3 Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information or clarify something that in not understood

Objectives:

1. The students will retell major events of the read story with prompting and support
2. The students will replicate the major events by building structures represented in the story using legos
3. The students will sequence the story through retell with prompting and support
4. The students will block program KIBO to duplicate the journey the wooden robot and log princess went on.
5. The students will problem solve their block coding to successfully get KIBO to the two major destinations in the story.
6. The students will gain an understanding and practice of block coding and scanning to program KIBO
7. The students will collaborate and working cooperatively to block code KIBO to successfully

Agenda (45 minutes)

1. Read Aloud the story
2. Use prompting and support in retelling the major events in the story
3. Create the same journey for “your little robot KIBO” to go on as the characters in the story.
4. In groups of 2 to 4 create a North tower and a Castle using legos to represent to two main destinations the Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess went to
5. Model how to use the coding blocks and scanner to program KIBO
6. Have student groups set up their two destinations and then program KIBO to get from start to the tower to the castle.
7. Have students trouble shoot as needed to successfully get to both destinations.

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Intro: Show book cover and read title of the story.

Ask: Have any of you ever seen a wooden robot?

Today we are going to read a story about a little wooden robot and his journey with the Log Princess. Then we are going to program our own wooden robot to go on a journey.

Story: The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess

As you read the story pause to “ask and answer questions” to support the ELA standards. Draw attention to major details like the “north” and the journey to the castle since that is what they will replicate.

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Always good to have students predict. Have student predict what will happen to the princess if she falls asleep on the journey home.

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At the end of the story complete a sequence retelling of the major details to launch into the lego creation.

LEGO Creation

In their determined groups:

Students will create two simple structures to represent the North and the Castle from the story.

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This is a small piece of the activity. I gave only 10 minutes for them to quickly build two structures.

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If you want to allow more building time with building criteria see the enrichment slide.

KIBO Robotics Activity

Model how to use the coding blocks of KIBO. Explain how each of the blocks have different functions.

Ask students to help you build your sequence to get KIBO to the North. Show the starting point and ask “what does KIBO need to do first?”

Select the “forward” block. Then ask the students what is next in the sequence to get to the North?

Continue building the sequence until KIBO gets to the North and then to the castle.

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KIBO Robotics Activity

Model how to scan the sequence and test it.

If you do not get to the two locations successfully ask students what went wrong and model problem solving the sequence.

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KIBO Robotics Activity

Have students work in their groups to program KIBO using the coding blocks to get to the two destinations.

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Most students will get “close” to each destination. Model how to refine their sequence to hit the target with more precision

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Assessment

Success Criteria:

Teams built two lego structures

Teams created a coding sequence that allowed KIBO to reach the two destinations

Teams problem solved their code as needed to get to the structures.

If desired, a scale could be used:

5= reached both structures with accuracy

3= reached both structures somewhat. Could have added more coding blocks to gain greater accuracy

1= programed KIBO but was unable to reach the structures

Differentiation

Some groups will have trouble with sequencing the blocks and/or scanning the blocks.

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Have them do smaller block sequence. First sequence should get them from start to the North. That would only require the “go”, “forward”, and “end” block. KIBO is meant for little hands but helping them scan and listen for the “happy scan sound” vs the “sad scan sound”. Then have them build onto their sequence to then turn toward the Castle etc. until they have completed the task.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Whole group extension:

Create an additional criteria for the lego build. Right now the lesson just asks them to create two structures to represent the North and the Castle. NO criteria other then it can stand.

The criteria could be to add features from the story to increase comprehension. You could also consider limiting the number of bricks to increase the challenge.