Contents

Summary

These lessons have been designed and tested in workshops held by Robotics WPS over the past five years using a variety of robots. They have now been tested with the Edison robot and have proven to be very successful.

Lesson plan overview

Most lessons have been designed to be completed in 90 minutes; however this will vary based on a student’s age and ability. All lesson plans have been linked to the Australian curriculum.

Relevance to NAPLAN testing (Australian national student testing)

Students find robotics highly engaging which assists in rapid learning in areas such as science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). However there are other educational elements can be leveraged from this high level of engagement

LESSON 1: Get familiar and set up

Students familiarize themselves with the programming environment and how to download a program to the robot.

Lesson 1 Worksheet 1.1 – Meet Edison

Lesson 1 Worksheet 1.2 – Barcode programming

Lesson 1 Worksheet 1.3 – Meet EdWare

Lesson 1 Worksheet 1.4 – Downloading a test program

LESSON 2: Robot movement – driving

Introduction to sequential programming – Students learn how the robot responds to command icons in sequence and bring together the concepts of time, speed, and distance.

Lesson 2 Worksheet 2.1 – Drive the robot forward

Lesson 2 Worksheet 2.2 – Drive the robot backward

Lesson 2 Worksheet 2.3 – Forward and then backward

Lesson 2 Worksheet 2.4 – Speed play

LESSON 3: Robot movement – turning

Sequential programming and basic geometry – Students learn how the robot responds to time and geometry and how they can achieve driving control of the robot.

Lesson 3 Worksheet 3.1 – Right turn 90 degrees

Lesson 3 Worksheet 3.2 – Left turn 180 degrees

Lesson 3 Worksheet 3.3 – Right turn, then left turn

Lesson 3 Worksheet 3.4 – Mini maze

LESSON 4: Maze challenge and Mexican wave

Reinforce learning – Students use knowledge from lessons 1 through 3 to achieve two fun open-ended activities.

Lesson 4 Worksheet 4.1 – Challenge

Lesson 4 Worksheet 4.2 – Mexican wave

Lesson 5: Design brief 1 – My program

Creative thinking and problem solving – Students come up with their own challenge and conceptualize how the robot can provide a solution. This may take two lesson periods; alternatively, this can be a homework exercise.

Lesson 5 Design brief worksheet 5.1 – My program

Lesson 5 Design brief worksheet 5.2 – My program

Lesson 6: Clap sensing

Introduction to inputs (sensors) – Students learn how to make the robot respond to outside stimulus (claps).

Lesson 6 Worksheet 6.1 – Flash LED in response to clap

Lesson 6 Worksheet 6.2 – Drive in response to a clap

Lesson 6 Worksheet 6.3 – Dance in response to clapping

Lesson 7: Detect obstacles

Introduction to the concept of obstacle detection and artificial intelligence – Students program the robot to make decisions (artificial intelligence) in response to obstacles in the robot’s environment.

Calibrate obstacle detection

Lesson 7 Worksheet 7.1 – Infrared obstacle detection

Lesson 7 Worksheet 7.2 – Detect obstacle and stop

Lesson 7 Worksheet 7.3 – Detect obstacle and avoid

Lesson 7 Worksheet 7.4 – Obstacle avoidance

Lesson 7 Worksheet 7.5 – Right and left detection

Lesson 8: Line sensing and tracking

Industrial like robotic behavior – Students learn about basic robot sensing and control similar to that used in advanced automated factories and warehouses.

Lesson 8 Worksheet 8.1 – Line tracking sensor

Lesson 8 Worksheet 8.2 – Drive until a black line

Lesson 8 Worksheet 8.3 – Drive inside a border

Lesson 8 Worksheet 8.4 – Follow a line

Lesson 9: Respond to light

Environmental measurement and programming mathematics – Students learn about measuring light levels, storing them in memory and performing mathematics to control the robots behavior.

Lesson 9 Worksheet 9.1 – Understanding variables

Lesson 9 Worksheet 9.2 – Light alarm

Lesson 9 Worksheet 9.3 – Automatic lights

Lesson 9 Worksheet 9.4 – Light following

Lesson 10: Design brief 2 – My program

Creative thinking and problem solving – This is the second design brief where students come up with their own challenge and conceptualize how the robot can provide a solution This may take two or more lesson periods of 90 minutes

Lesson 10 Design brief worksheet 10.1 – My program

Lesson 10 Design brief worksheet 10.2 – My program

Student achievement chart