LEGO

SPIKE ESSENTIAL KIT

BUILD INSTRUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

1

TASK 1

GREAT ADVENTURES

BOAT TRIP

forces, motion, push, pull

I CAN:

  • Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions

  • Create and debug simple programs

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

FORCES: push, pull, motion

A force is an action that causes an object to move, slow down, speed up, or stay in place.

Force causes motion. Motion is a change in speed or direction.

Push is a force that moves an object away from the source of the force, eg kicking a ball, pushing a trolley, closing a door. Our model will push a boat into the water.

Pull is a force that moves an object closer, eg opening a door, climbing up a rope.

YOUR TASK

  1. Sophie needs a boat and some way to push her boat into the water.

    • Build a boat for Sophie and some way of pushing her boat into the water.

  2. BOAT TRIP BUILD INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change your program to make the model better.

TASK 2

AMAZING AMUSEMENT PARK

CLASSIC CAROUSEL

design, improve, prototype, refine and test

I CAN:

Design purposeful, functional, appealing products for myself and other users based on design criteria:

  • generate, develop, model and communicate my ideas through talking, drawing, templates, mock-ups and, where appropriate, information and communication technology

  • select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics

  • evaluate my ideas and products against design criteria

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

DESIGN: program design is like making a plan for your computer. It's deciding what you want your game, story, or robot to do and then telling the computer, step-by-step, how to do it. It’s like writing instructions for your friend to play a new game

IMPROVE: when we make something better than it was.

PROTOTYPE: is like the first draft of something you’re building. Imagine building a robot out of blocks to see if it works before making it out of real parts. It’s a practice version to test if your ideas work!

REFINE: means to make something better, smoother, or more polished. It’s like when you draw a picture, and then go back to add extra details to make it even nicer. Refine tends to be a repetitive process where we keep going back and making small improvements.

TEST: means trying something out to make sure it works. It’s like building a LEGO car and then rolling it to see if it drives straight.

YOUR TASK

  1. Design and build a new spinning ride for Sophie to try, show your tutor your first prototype. Test it.

  2. CLASSIC CAROUSEL BUILD INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Have you ever gone to a fun fair and wished the rides were even better? Refine Sophie’s ride to make an improved version.

TASK 3

GREAT ADVENTURES

CAVE CAR

sequence

I CAN:

  • Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES

SEQUENCE: is putting steps in the right order to make things happen correctly, like following a recipe or doing each step of a puzzle in the right order so it comes out just right

YOUR TASK

  1. Make and test the program that switches on the Daniel’s cave car’s light.

  2. CAVE CAR BUILD INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change the program for Daniel’s next trip.

TASK 4

AMAZING AMUSEMENT PARK

PERFECT SWING

DESIGN, ROTATE

I CAN:

design purposeful, functional, appealing products for myself and other users based on design criteria

  • evaluate my ideas and products against design criteria

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

DESIGN: program design is like making a plan for your computer. It's deciding what you want your game, story, or robot to do and then telling the computer, step-by-step, how to do it. It’s like writing instructions for your friend to play a new game

ROTATE: means to turn something around, like spinning a top or turning a page in a book.

YOUR TASK

  1. Maria doesn’t want a ride that goes too fast. Do you think that the swing could be a perfect fit?

  2. PERFECT SWING INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change the program to make the swing better for a friend who would like a more exciting ride.

TASK 5

GREAT ADVENTURES

ANIMAL ALARM

sequence, SELECTION, REPETITION, VARIABLES

I CAN:

  • Develop a program to solve a problem

  • Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs

  • Work with variables and various forms of input and output

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES

SEQUENCE: is putting steps in the right order to make things happen correctly, like following a recipe or doing each step of a puzzle in the right order so it comes out just right

SELECTION: means choosing one option from a few choices, like picking a favourite game to play or deciding which crayon to use.

REPETITION: means doing something over and over again, like practicing a song or repeating a dance move until you know it well

VARIABLE: is like a labeled box where you can keep important information you want to remember, like a score in a game or your favorite color. You can change what’s in the box anytime, and use it later when you need it

YOUR TASK

  1. Leo doesn't want to miss any of the animals walking past his campsite while he's asleep. How can his animal alarm help him? Make and try the program that switches on the alarm when a blue creature walks past the Colour Sensor.

  2. ANIMAL ALARM BUILD INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change the program to react when a red creature walks past.

TASK 6

AMAZING AMUSEMENT PARK

TWIRLING TEACUPS

MODIFY, UPGRADE

I CAN:

  • Modify a solution while considering a specific goal or outcome

  • Refine and improve the prototype

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

MODIFY: means to make a small change to something to make it better or work differently. It’s like adding sprinkles to your ice cream or changing the colour of your drawing—just a little tweak

UPGRADE: to make something better or newer. It's like getting a shiny new toy instead of an old one, or putting a cool sticker on your bike to make it look even nicer

YOUR TASK

  1. Round and round! Sofie and Leo are excited to try this new spinning ride today.

  2. PERFECT SWING INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Modify the program to improve the teacup ride.

  4. Upgrade the teacup ride to fit more friends. Make sure that all of the seats can move or spin!

TASK 7

GREAT ADVENTURES

TREEHOUSE CAMP

DEBUG

I CAN:

  • Identify and fix errors within a program (test and debug)

  • Test to ensure the program works correctly

  • Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES

DEBUG: means to find and fix mistakes in a computer program. Imagine you’re playing a game and something isn’t working right, like a character getting stuck. Debugging is like being a detective, looking for the problem and then making it work again

YOUR TASK

  1. Sofie is looking forward to seeing the moon from her tree house! How can she open the tree house roof for a brilliant view of the sky? Make and test the program that opens the tree house roof. (NOTE: you might find that this program does not work! You may need to ‘debug’ it.

  2. TREEHOUSE BUILD INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change the tree house for Sofie’s next camping adventure.

TASK 8

AMAZING AMUSEMENT PARK

SPINNING FERRIS WHEEL

MODIFY, DEBUG

I CAN:

  • Modify an existing solution to make it work properly

  • Refine and improve the prototype

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

MODIFY: means to make a small change to something to make it better or work differently. It’s like adding sprinkles to your ice cream or changing the colour of your drawing—just a little tweak

DEBUG: means to find and fix mistakes in a computer program. Imagine you’re playing a game and something isn’t working right, like a character getting stuck. Debugging is like being a detective, looking for the problem and then making it work again

YOUR TASK

  1. The team wants to ride the big wheel together. How can you help them? Build and test the program that starts the big wheel.

  2. FERRIS WHEEL INSTRUCTIONS

  3. Change the program to make the big wheel better.

  4. Upgrade the big wheel for the team.