Author:
Stephanie
Subject:
Computer Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan
Level:
Lower Elementary
Tags:
  • coding
  • computer science
  • computer-science
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Text/HTML

    Bee Bots - K

    Bee Bots - K

    Overview

    This is an introductory Bee Bot lesson for Kindergarten teachers. It introduces students to programming and coding. It is fun, interactive, and engaging for both teachers and students!

    Introductory Bee Bot Lesson Plan - Kindergarten

    Materials: 

    • Bee Bots (students will share, so you only need one Bee Bot for every two students you have in your class)
    • How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk
    • masking tape

    Anticipatory Set: Read the book How To Code a Sandcastle with your students to get them used to the idea of robots and how they work. I put the book on the Smartboard and read to them using the free Sora online library, but you could also get a video of it being read on Youtube or ask your school library if they have it. While you read, have students repeat the words in blue (code, sequence, loop, etc.) 

    Teach: Introduce the Bee Bots to the students and teach them how they work. Ask the students how we should treat the robots and make a few mutual rules about how to handle them. Tell/demonstrate to them how they turn on (the sound and power buttons on the bottom). Then, teach them the four things the Bee Bots know how to do (go forward, backward, right and left).

    Have them get in a circle on the floor so everyone can see while you demonstrate how to program the robot. Program the robot to make a circle (click the right arrow 4 times and then click GO). Then, tell the students you want the robot to go the other way and click the left arrow 4 times. When you click GO the robot will remember the first instructions and add the second instructions, so it will do two circles. Ask the kids what you could have done to make the robot forget the first directions (click the X). 

    Then try and get the Bee Bot to travel to another student in the circle by programming it using the various arrows and see if the student can get it back to you. 

    Guided Practice: Give students a partner and have the pair work together using one Bee Bot.
    Students will:
    1. Turn on the Bee Bot
    2. Sit somewhere on the floor away from partner
    3. Program the Bee Bot to reach the partner
    4. The partner programs the Bee Bot to send it back to the first partner.
    5. Move somewhere else and try again. 

    Teacher will:
    1. Walk around to monitor the groups and see how they work together and if they need any assistance. 
    2. Ask students to speak out loud the directions it is giving to the Bee Bot and ask probing questions about what they could do if the Bee Bot doesn't go where they want it to go. 

     

    Independent Practice: Using masking tape, put a number 0-9 on the child's desk and have them work with their partner to program the Bee Bot so that it traces the number (easiest = 1, 7; medium = 0, 6, 9, 4 difficult = 2, 5; challenge = 3, 8). If they finish, have them do a different number until you need to finish the lesson. 
    Number Examples

    Wrap Up: Instruct students on how to properly wash their Bee Bot with a sanitizing wipe and turn them off before returning them to the teacher.  

    Reflection: Ask students the following questions to finish the lesson.
    1. What did you like about the Bee Bots?
    2. What was challenging about using the Bee Bots? 
    3. What was one thing that surprised you about the Bee Bots?
    4. Can you think of any other things that we could do with the Bee Bots next time?