The fourth grade at The Blake School studies gears in the classroom using the LEGO Dacta Gear Set #9610. After this science unit is complete fourth graders move to the Engineering and Programming lab and create an amusement park ride. Through this project students have the opportunity to design and assemble an amusement park ride out of LEGO parts, some lamps, and 1-motor. Next they use an interface device called a Yellow Brick to connect their ride to a computer and use MicroWorlds EX Robotics version to program their creations to do their bidding. During course of the unit, teams invite their parents, friends, classmates, and teachers to visit the computer lab to observe the process that each team is going through and to share their project to date.
The process includes-
Brainstorm ideas
Sketch out designs
Creating a “shopping list” of needed LEGOs
Building the ride.
Written description of what the ride should do
Translate description into Yellow Brick Logo commands
Enter description into computer. Test. Debug and test again. Debug and test again....
Create a setting or theme for your project, Elaborate!
Assessment Rubric includes-
Application of Basic Building Principles
Interfacing Hardware
Knowledge and Application of Logo Programming
To find out more about Programmable Bricks at Blake read, Wireless Constructionism in the Lower School.
Enjoy the projects for the 2006-2007 school year!!
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