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Notes for Teachers

In this lesson teachers will facilitate students to design and build Meet Edison Robots for Cougar Clash “BattleBot” robot battle classroom tournament. (We named ours Cougar Clash as your school mascot was Cougar.)

Extra Note: In order for the sensors to pick up colors you will need to paint a flat matte thick coats of paint.

List of Materials

Edison Robots
32 inch circle wood
LEGO pieces to add to Edison Robot
Robot Game Rules
Music
Tournament Bracket
Video Camera to record matches and for replay
See video link for classroom transformation I did for our Cougar Clash. https://youtube.com/shorts/aUswKEs1nSU?feature=share

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Standards

Math

7.G.A Draw, construct, and describe geometrical figures, and describe the relationships between them.

7.G.B Solve mathematical problems and problems in real-world context involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume

Ed. Technology

6-8.5.b. Students find and organize data and use technology to analyze and represent it to solve problems and make decisions.

6-8.5.c. Students break problems into component parts, identify key pieces, and use that information to solve problems.

6-8.6.a. Students select appropriate platforms and tools to create, share, and communicate their work effectively

6-8.6.b. Students create original works or responsibly repurpose digital resources into new creative works.

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Standards

Science

U2: The knowledge produced by science is used in engineering and technologies to solve problems and/or create products.

7.P2U1.2 Develop and use a model to predict how forces act on objects at a distance.

7.P3U1.4 Use non-algebraic mathematics and computational thinking to explain Newton’s laws of motion.

This lesson also encompasses the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts

ELA

7.W.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline‐specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Comprehension and Collaboration

7.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one‐on‐one, in groups, and teacher‐led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. a. Come to discussions prepared having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion. b. Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed. c. Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed. d. Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

7.SL.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, and orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study. 7.SL.3 Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

7.SL.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, appropriate vocabulary, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

7.SL.5 Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.

7.SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grade 7 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

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National Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Connection: The "Cougar Clash" tournament serves as the systematic process where student designs are tested against each other to see which robot functions best under the rules of the battle.

MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Connection: Students are given "adequate time... to build, code and modify" their robots, engaging in an iterative cycle of testing and improving their designs before the tournament.

Common Core Mathematics (CCSS.MATH)

7.G.B.4: Know the formulas for the area and circumference of a circle and use them to solve problems.

Connection: The battle arena is a "32 inch circle wood" platform. Students "plan and measure out battle area," engaging directly with the geometric properties of circles.

7.G.B.6: Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, volume, and surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects.

Connection: Students use LEGO pieces to modify their robots, dealing with spatial constraints and surface area as they design defensive or offensive add-ons.

Computer Science (CSTA K-12 Standards)

2-CS-02: Design projects that combine hardware and software components to collect and exchange data.

Connection: Students build physical robot modifications (hardware) using LEGOs and write code (software) using EdScratch or EdPy to control the robot's behaviors during the match.

2-AP-12: Design and iteratively develop programs that combine control structures, including nested loops and compound conditionals.

Connection: To succeed in a battle, students must program logic (e.g., "If sensor detects black line, turn back; Else, push forward"), likely requiring loops and conditionals to stay in the ring and attack opponents.

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE Standards for Students)

1.4 Innovative Designer: Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.

Connection: Students design a "BattleBot" strategy and build a custom robot configuration to execute that strategy, solving the problem of how to push the opponent out of the ring.

1.5 Computational Thinker: Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions.

Connection: Students use algorithmic thinking to code their robots, creating sequences of instructions to automate the robot's reactions during the clash.

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Learning Objective:

The learning objective for the "Meet Edison" robots battle bot lesson is for students to design, build, and program Meet Edison robots to participate in a "BattleBot" style classroom tournament.

Through this project, students will gain hands-on experience in robotics, problem-solving, and teamwork while applying STEM skills in a fun and competitive setting.

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Success Criteria:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Robot Design and Construction:

- Design and build a functional Robot that can battle using Meet Edison robots.

- Incorporate suitable materials and components to enhance the robot's durability and performance during the tournament.

2. Programming Skills:

- Program the Meet Edison robots to execute various movements, maneuvers, and offensive/defensive actions during the robot battle tournament. (We named ours Cougar Clash as your school mascot was Cougar.)

- Demonstrate an understanding of basic programming concepts to control the robot effectively.

3. Problem-Solving:

- Analyze potential challenges and obstacles the BattleBot may encounter during the tournament and develop strategies to overcome them.

- Implement iterative design processes to improve the robot's performance based on test runs and observations.

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Success Criteria:

4. Teamwork and Collaboration:

- Work collaboratively in teams to distribute tasks, share ideas, and pool their strengths to create a successful BattleBot.

- Demonstrate effective communication and cooperation among team members.

5. Sportsmanship and Fair Play:

- Display good sportsmanship throughout the tournament, respecting opponents and the rules of the competition.

- Accept both victories and defeats graciously, showing respect for fellow participants' efforts.

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Success Criteria:

6. Presentation and Demonstration:

- Present their Robots to the class, explaining the design choices made, the programming logic, and the strategies employed during the competition.

- Demonstrate the Robot capabilities through live demonstrations during the classroom tournament.

7. Reflective Learning:

- Reflect on the challenges faced during the design and construction process and identify areas for improvement and further exploration in future robotics projects.

8. Safety Awareness:

- Understand and adhere to safety guidelines while working with robotics components and during the BattleBot tournament.

By achieving these success criteria, students will have not only learned practical skills in robotics and programming but also developed essential qualities like teamwork, problem-solving, and sportsmanship. The Robot (Cougar Clash) tournament will serve as an engaging and motivating context for the application of their knowledge, making the learning experience more enjoyable and memorable.

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Agenda

5-minutes for Bellwork Essential Questions
40 minutes for Student Design of robot for robot battles
20 minutes for basic coding
5 minutes for measuring battle area for coding and testing codes in battle area.
We used: EdScratch – Scratch-based programming language for the Edison robot

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Bellwork

Bellwork Essential Question:

Essential Question:

"How can we design, build, and program battling robots to compete effectively and ethically in a classroom tournament?"

What will you do in your coding to ensure you stay in the boundaries of the battle?

What will you add to your robot to help you in the robot battle tournaments.

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Plan, Create, Collaborate, Discuss, Robot Design and strategies

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Plan, Create, Robot, prepare for battle

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Set your room for robot battles tournament style

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Have students come up with name for the robot or team name and logos

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

1. How can we design, build, and program robots using “Meet Edison” to participate in a classroom tournament?

2. What programming concepts and skills do we need to learn to effectively control our robots during the competition?

3. What potential challenges and obstacles might our robots encounter in the tournament, and how can we strategize to overcome them?

4. How can we effectively collaborate as a team to distribute tasks, share ideas, and utilize each team member's strengths to create successful robots?

5. How can we demonstrate good sportsmanship and fair play during the tournament, respecting our opponents and adhering to the competition rules?

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Additional other possible questions to consider

6. What design choices and materials can we incorporate into our robots to enhance their durability and performance in the intense competition?

7. How can we use the iterative design process to continuously improve our robots' performance based on test runs and observations?

8. What safety guidelines and precautions do we need to follow while working with robotics components and during the robot tournament?

9. How can we effectively present our robots to the class, explaining the design decisions, programming logic, and strategies employed during the competition?

10. What can we learn from our experiences and challenges in this robot project, and how can we apply this knowledge to future robotics projects or real-world applications?

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Additional other possible questions to consider

11. How does participating in a robot-style classroom tournament provide a hands-on opportunity to apply STEM skills and experience the excitement of robotics in action?

12. How does the robot project promote teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills while fostering a sense of camaraderie and competition among students?

13. What are the broader implications of robotics and engineering in society, and how does this project encourage us to think about the responsible use of technology and its impact on the world?

14. How does the robot project inspire creativity and innovation, as students design and program their unique robots to compete in a challenging and dynamic environment?

15. How can we reflect on our learning and growth throughout this project, identifying areas of improvement and celebrating our achievements as we become more proficient in robotics and programming?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Students need to be in small groups.
Have each student group discuss, strategize for robot battles.
Have students develop team names.
Next students need to build robot.
Name your robot.
Begin to code your robot based on the rules that the class set.
Student groups then need to plan and measure out battle area based on their strategy and coding.
Give students adequate time for students to build, code and modify.
Provide LEGO pieces that students can add to robot.

PITS (Robot Part Area)

EdScratch – Scratch-based programming language for the Edison robot

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Assessment: Rubric

Robot

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Robot

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Robot

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Robot

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Differentiation

Group work of teams of two students. There are three different formats of coding that could be used in the Meet Edison website: Ed blocks, Ed Scratch, Ed Py.

I did best out of three matches per match up. So the student team had to win two of the three matches to be deemed the winner.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Have students design, code and prepare for tournament style of battling robots based on the rules determined by students.

Have students present robots to judges with engineering notebook that shows the tracked changes in their robot modifications.