Coding Stories – Screenless Coding for Div 1

Coding Stories – Screenless Coding for Div 1

20 No-Prep Coding Lessons that do not involve screens
Theme: Growth Mindset

When we ask children to retell a story, the process is linear. There is a set sequence of events, and deviating from that sequence is incorrect in the retelling process. As is the case with retelling a plot sequence, coding is also a linear process.

To begin to cultivate the concrete-sequential nature of coding, literature is a natural place to start. These coding stories all involve the reading of a children’s book. All of them include a Youtube link to someone (the author or the publishing company whenever possible) to make them a good fit for remote learning as well as in-class learning.

Students listen to the story. They then cut out the “buttons” (arrows that they glue to the paper to retell the story). Starting at the icon containing the triangle (the start button), they glue the arrows to the coding story grid, using the images on the grid to guide the direction the arrows must point in.

The goal is to use as few steps as possible in the retelling. An example is provided based on the story “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie”.  You can see in the image that students could bring the mouse to the cookie using two different paths, both using the same number of arrows (five in total). Either answer would be correct. A path that uses more than five arrows to arrive at the cookie would be, through the lens of coding, incorrect and would need a reduction of steps, as a reduction would be possible.

The booklet of 20 coding stories can be found on our CESD Teacher Share website!

 

Dot & Dash for the Classroom

Dot & Dash for the Classroom

In January 2020 we added a class set of Dot & Dash coding robots to the IMC.  Since their arrival, they have been booked solid.  These robots are fantastic classroom robots for a few reasons, not the least of which is that they are endearing.  If they are switched on, their eyes blink, they make occasional quiet sounds, and give the coder a sense of “aliveness” to the robot.  Dot (the small one) and Dash are great in classrooms because they are durable, they don’t have small/breakable parts, and the kit has allt he accessories including the xylophone and ball launcher! Here is a visual of what is in each of the 9 Dot & Dash robot sets contained in our IMC kit.

We have also purchased the Dot and Dash Curriculum book to accompany this set in the IMC, and encourage teachers to search for lessons online – Pinterest has thousands of resources catalogued.

Additionally, we have digital resources to offer teachers.

Sphero Bolt for the Classroom

Sphero Bolt for the Classroom

The Sphero Bolt is Sphero’s most widely used in-school robot. This robot is larger than the Sphero Mini, and would be described as feeling around the same size as a baseball when held in one’s hand.  Bolt’s programmable sensors include a gyroscope, accelerometer, motor encoders, infrared communications and a light sensor.  The built-in compass lets users automatically aim and drive the robot.

Sphero has a huge library of educational resources for all levels of coding skill to use in conjunction with the Sphero Bolt. Additionally, their home-learning guide is a great place for adults to get started with this fun robot!

What’s in the Box? – Unboxing the Sphero Bolt

Sphero Mini for the Classroom

Sphero Mini for the Classroom

The Sphero mini is the little sibling of the classic Sphero. These spherical robots are easy to use, and fun to play with; a genuine favourite of kids!  They are a great introductory robot for all ages and all coding skill levels.  Though they are small, there is a gyroscope, accelerometer and LED lights inside this small ball. The Sphero Mini can be used in drive mode, through draw coding and through block-based coding.

This hyper-linked chart of activities and learner progression will ensure that tasks assigined in classrooms are feasible for the level of coding of the students.

The Sphero At Home Guide is a great place for teachers (and parents, of course) to start their learning!

Additionally the Sphero Mini At Home Challenge Cards and the Sphero Mini At Home Play Cards offer immediate activities to get excited kids started!

What’s in the Box? – Sphero Mini

Sphero Indi for the Div 1 Classroom

Sphero Indi for the Div 1 Classroom

Sphero Indi is a coding robot designed for younger children by the well-known robotics company Sphero. Indi encourages open-ended, imaginative play-based learning with real-life scenarios as learners build custom mazes, solve puzzles and drive.

Indi allows students to learn to code without the use of a screen (no Chromebook or tablet needed). 
Indi is an entry level robot designed to introduce early learners to the fundamentals of computational thinking, STEAM, and computer science principles. It offers an unplugged experience with its on-board colour sensor; each colour tile is pre-programmed to instruct indi how to move and operate.

To assist you with getting started, here are a few resources

What’s in the Box? – Unboxing the Sphero Indi