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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Robotic Rhythms: Exploring Music with Edison Robots

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Robotic Rhythms: Exploring Music with Edison Robots

A fifth grade STEM lesson

Dr. Maggie Dominguez

April 2024

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Notes for teachers

Students will create musical compositions.

List of Materials

  • Edison robots (one per student or small group)
  • Computer or tablet with access to the EdBlocks programming interface
  • Headphones or speakers for listening to music
  • Various objects for creating percussion sounds (e.g., cups, pencils, small drums)
  • Writing materials for documenting ideas and observations - science notebook

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Science & Engineering Practices

Standards

  • Plan and carry out investigations
  • Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.

Arizona Educational Technology Standards:

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Standard 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.

Crosscutting Concepts

  • Cause and effect

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Objectives:

Students will learn the basics of coding and robotics using EdBlocks programming language to create musical sequences with Edison robots. They will explore the concepts of rhythm, pitch, and tempo while designing and executing their own musical compositions.

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Agenda (95 min.)

Introduction (10 min.)

Activity 1: Getting to Know Edison and EdBlocks (15 minutes)

Activity 2: Exploring Musical Concepts (20 minutes)

Activity 3: Creating Musical Compositions (30 minutes)

Assessment/Closure (20 min).

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Begin by discussing the concept of robotics and its applications in various fields, including music.

Introduce the Edison robots and explain that today, students will be using them to create their own musical compositions.

Discuss the basics of music, including rhythm, pitch, and tempo, and how these elements can be manipulated to create different musical effects.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Activity 1: Getting to Know Edison and EdBlocks (15 minutes):

  1. Provide a brief tutorial on using the EdBlocks programming interface.
  2. Demonstrate how to connect the Edison robot to the computer or tablet and upload programs.
  3. Guide students through a few simple programming exercises to familiarize them with the capabilities of Edison and how to control its movements and sounds.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Activity 2: Exploring Musical Concepts (20 minutes):

  1. Divide students into small groups and provide each group with an Edison robot and a selection of objects for creating percussion sounds.
  2. Instruct students to experiment with creating different rhythms and patterns using the Edison robot's built-in sound capabilities and the percussion objects.
  3. Encourage students to consider how changes in tempo, pitch, and rhythm affect the overall feel of their compositions.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Activity 3: Creating Musical Compositions (30 minutes):

  1. Allow students time to brainstorm ideas for their musical compositions, considering factors such as theme, mood, and structure.
  2. Instruct students to use the EdBlocks programming interface to code their Edison robots to perform their musical compositions.
  3. Circulate around the room to provide assistance and guidance as needed, encouraging students to test their programs iteratively and make adjustments as necessary.

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Assessment

  1. Have each group share their musical compositions with the class, explaining the creative decisions they made during the process.
  2. Facilitate a discussion about the experience, asking students to reflect on what they learned about both coding and music through this activity.
  3. Emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of STEAM learning and encourage students to continue exploring the connections between science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in their future endeavors.

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Differentiation

If students struggle with the third activity of programming, work with students in small groups modeling how to use it while students are on their own computers and can mimic you.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Challenge students to incorporate additional musical elements, such as melody or harmony, into their compositions.

  • Explore the use of sensors with Edison robots to create interactive musical experiences.
  • Integrate concepts of music theory, such as time signatures and chord progressions, into future lessons on coding and robotics.

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