If you’ve been around for a while following me on social media (@theSTEMtechie), you know my deep love for Sphero robots because they are accessible to a wide range of learning levels and activities. Sphero robots get kids hands-on with their learning, making them a great option to infuse robotics into your STEM activities for kids. And now, Sphero has outdone themselves again with the release of their updated robot—the Sphero Bolt+! Trust me, it’s even better and is perfect for expanding STEM learning, especially in math!
Why Sphero Bolt+ is Perfect for Math Learning?
The Sphero Bolt+ opens up so many opportunities to teach core math skills—all while engaging with a fun, interactive robot. By allowing students to visualize these concepts through programming, you’re helping them build a deeper understanding of real-world math applications.
So, let’s dive into these updates and math activities you can bring to life with them:
1. Roll to Distance Block
This feature updates the robot from rolling for a set time to rolling a specified distance, making it easier to incorporate measurement and speed into learning.
Math Activity using the Roll to Distance block:
Objective: Have students calculate the time it will take the Sphero Bolt+ to travel a certain distance based on a set speed.
Materials: Sphero Bolt+, measuring tape, stopwatch.
Instructions:
- Set up a track for the Sphero Bolt+.
- Have students set a specific speed for the Sphero Bolt+.
- Ask students to predict how long it will take the Sphero Bolt+ to travel the full distance.
- Use the Roll to Distance Block to program the Sphero Bolt+ to roll the set distance at the chosen speed.
- Measure the time it takes and compare it with students’ predictions.
- Use the formula: Time = Distance ÷ Speed to calculate the expected time, and discuss any differences between predictions and actual results.
2. Drive Block
This feature allows students to manually switch to drive mode while running a program, offering more flexibility and control over the Sphero Bolt+ movement.
Math activity using the Drive Block:
Objective: Explore angles and direction using the Sphero Bolt+ in manual drive mode.
Materials: Sphero Bolt+, protractor, floor grid or tape to mark angles on the floor.
Instructions:
- Set up a grid on the floor with clear markings for angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°) using tape.
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ to drive straight ahead for a set distance (e.g., 1 meter).
- After reaching the endpoint, have kids switch to manual drive mode and guide the Sphero to turn at a specific angle (e.g., 90° to the right) while keeping track of how far it travels after the turn.
- Have kids measure the distance the Sphero travels after the turn and record their findings.
- Repeat the process for each angle marked on the floor, allowing kids to experiment with different angles and distances.
- After completing all the turns, have kids create a chart or graph to display the distances traveled after each angle.
- Discuss how changing the angle affects the path of the Sphero and the distance it travels. Prompt kids to reflect on how angle measurement is used in real-world navigation and design.
3. Ambient Light Sensor
This sensor reacts to different light levels in the environment, making it perfect for generating data!
Math activity using the Ambient Light Sensor:
Objective: Explore the relationship between light levels and Sphero Bolt+ responses to environmental changes.
Materials: Sphero Bolt+, flashlight (or other light sources), graph paper, measuring tape.
Instructions:
- Set up a flashlight at a fixed distance from the Sphero Bolt+.
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ to change its light color based on the intensity detected by the Ambient Light Sensor (e.g., turn red in low light, green in moderate light, and blue in bright light).
- Have kids measure and record the light intensity at different distances from the light source (1 meter, 2 meters, 3 meters) using the Sphero’s light sensor.
- Have kids document the corresponding color changes of the Sphero at each distance and record these observations in a table.
- Once data is collected, guide kids to create a bar graph on graph paper, with the x-axis representing the distance from the light source and the y-axis showing the intensity level (or the corresponding color response).
- Analyze the results as a class, discussing how changes in distance from the light source affect light intensity and the Sphero’s color response.
4. Distance Sensor
The Distance Sensor allows the Sphero Bolt+ to trigger actions based on how far it has traveled, opening up new possibilities for math.
Math Activity using the Distance Sensor:
Objective: Use the Distance Sensor to trigger an event after traveling a certain distance, reinforcing the concept of multiples of a number.
Materials: Sphero Bolt+, measuring tape, markers for distance (optional).
Instructions:
- Choose a number to set as a distance. Ask kids to calculate how far the Sphero Bolt+ will need to travel to trigger an event (e.g., the light turning red) after a multiple of this distance. For example, program the robot to turn red after the first number, blue after the next multiple of the number, and green after the next, etc.
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ using the Distance Sensor to change the LED light color after each multiple of the number.
- Run the program and observe how the light changes as the Sphero Bolt+ moves.
- Afterward, discuss how the multiples of the number are connected to the distances traveled and how multiples work in math.
5. On Time Elapse
This feature allows you to trigger actions after a set amount of time, making it perfect for teaching the concept of elapsed time.
Math activity using the On Time Elapse:
Objective: Understand time intervals and sequencing through pattern creation.
Materials: Sphero Bolt+, stopwatch.
Instructions:
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ to perform a sequence of actions (e.g., move forward for 3 seconds, stop for 2 seconds, change color, then move backward for 4 seconds).
- Ask students to observe the timing of each action and identify the sequence of events based on the time intervals.
- Have kids create their own sequence by setting up specific time intervals for different actions (e.g., changing colors, turning, moving different distances).
- Run the program and observe how the Sphero Bolt+ follows the sequence.
- Discuss how using time intervals helps control the sequence of actions, and relate this to real-world concepts such as timed events in sports or automated systems.
6. On Button Events
This feature adds even more ways to trigger actions in the code, making learning more interactive and allowing for a wide range of possibilities in math exploration.
Math activity using the On Button Events:
- Objective: Practice counting, multiplication, or skip counting using button events.
- Materials: Sphero Bolt+.
- Instructions:
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ to perform an action (e.g., roll or change color) each time the button is pressed.
- Have kids press the button a set number of times and calculate the total distance traveled or total events triggered.
- Use this activity to reinforce counting skills or multiplication (e.g., “If the XXXX button is pressed 5 times, and each press moves the Sphero Bolt+ 2 meters, how far will it travel?”).
7. Display Block
This feature lets students display live sensor data on the Sphero’s screen, helping them visualize and analyze math in real time.
Math activity using the Display Block:
- Objective: Collect and display data related to speed, distance, or time.
- Materials: Sphero Bolt+, graph paper, pencil.
- Instructions:
- Program the Sphero Bolt+ to display data related to its movement (e.g., speed or distance) on the LCD screen.
- Have students record the data as the Sphero Bolt+ moves and use it to create graphs or charts.
- Discuss the meaning of the data and how it can be used to predict future outcomes or compare different runs.
Using robotics for math learning opens up exciting avenues for kids to enhance their math skills through hands-on activities and interactive lessons. With tools like the Sphero Bolt+, parents and teachers can integrate STEM robotics activities into their curriculum, making math education more engaging and effective. From coding integration to problem-solving challenges, the possibilities are endless. Don’t miss out on the chance to spark your child’s interest in technology and math through robotics!
For more innovative ideas using hands-on learning where kids are building important problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation skills? Follow me on social media at @thestemtechie.
Looking for inspiration? Check out my collection of free fall STEM activities ideas designed to engage kids in hands-on learning. Click here to explore and start your journey in fostering creativity and critical thinking!