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Volume III, Issue 2 ~ October 2024


Greetings!


Bee-Bot Buzz helps you make the most of the Bee-Bots, Blue‑Bots, and other related STEM products we offer for your young learners. Engage students in curriculum concepts and problem-solving with these fun robots and find out how other educators use them.


In this issue:

  • Updated Hive Case for All Your Robots and Accessories
  • Bringing Coding to Children in Carson, California
  • New Version of Kinderlogo Lets Learning Continue at Home
  • How a Pumpkin becomes a Bee-Kin!
  • Quick Links to Resources


Click to view archives of past Bee-Bot Buzz issues.

Updated Hive Case for Your Bots & More

Are your robots and accessories scattered here and there? Do you have a good place to store them or take them with you? Our newly redesigned Hive Case solves your problem!


The Hive Case can store up to eight Bee-Bots and/or Blue-Bots and their accessories. There is room inside to put your Docking Station, Six-Bot USB charger, charging cables, TacTile Code Reader, and more. The new Hive Case collapses and lies flat when not in use to save space.


Extra durable, the Hive Case offers:

  • generous protective padding around all sides
  • extra movable padded squares to customize your case
  • a tough zipper
  • a clear pocket on the front to insert a card or label
  • room enough for many accessories
  • a comfortable grab handle for easy carrying


The Hive Case can store a collection of your 'bots and their accessories. Click on these links to see how it holds 8 Bee-Bots/Blue-Bots or 2 Tuff-Bots or 6 Pro-Bots or 6 InO-Bots, or the entire Programming Journey Bundle (Bee-Bot, Blue-Bot, Tuff-Bot, Pro-Bot, and InO-Bot). It can also store other equipment such as these microscopes from Terrapin: 12 Easi-Scopes or 12 Wireless Easi-Scopes.


There are so many ways to use a Hive Case. You'll definitely need more than one!

Bringing Coding to Children in Carson, California

In partnership with the City of Carson's Parks and Recreation Department, the Snap Inc. Institute for Technology and Education (SITE) at California State University, Dominguez Hills, offered free coding classes to local students aged 5–12. Project CODER (Computing Opportunities for Discovery and Engagement through Robotics) was a resounding success, introducing young minds to the exciting world of computer science and robotics.


Over the course of five weeks, students explored the fundamentals of coding through a variety of engaging activities. From unplugged exercises to hands-on robotics projects using Bee-Bots, the program provided a fun and interactive learning experience.


The culmination of Project CODER was a special event where students showcased their skills to their families. With pride, they demonstrated what they had learned and received certificates of completion. To add to the excitement, students had the chance to win a Blue-Bot in a raffle and were given a Bee-Bot/Blue Bot Step Ruler, courtesy of Terrapin.


The positive response from families has made it clear that there is a strong demand for more coding opportunities in Carson. SITE is committed to working with the city to expand its programming and continue inspiring the next generation of computer scientists.


Read this Customer Story by Ashley Ruiz with more pictures.


Perhaps your school could hold a similar event to show parents what your students are learning with Bee-Bots!


Are you hosting or presenting at a tech event?

If you are showing or using Terrapin products at an educational conference, training, or special event, we can support you. Fill out the Presenter Support Request Form and we will work out a plan together. This might include products to show, discount codes for attendees, and maybe even a product to raffle off.

New Version of Kinderlogo Lets Learning Continue at Home

When families license Terrapin Logo for their home, younger children who aren't ready for Logo coding may feel left out. The new Kinderlogo Home Version is just what they need!


Younger children (ages 4–8) can explore with the turtle just like their older siblings. The Kinderlogo interface is easy to use and children will create designs that will surprise and delight. With time to complete projects at home, children will love exploring with the turtle and playing the games that practice the new commands at each level.


As they progress through the levels, children learn to draw shapes, make patterns with commands and beads, move the turtle without drawing a line, name a set of commands, and much more. They move the turtle through mazes, sort toys into baskets, and even use a turtle that looks like Bee-Bot! Kinderlogo offers a truly fun coding experience!


The Kinderlogo 30-Day Trial is for the School version, but the activities are the same in both the Home and School versions. The Home version just has a simpler interface to help children use it independently. Plus, parents have access to the full teacher documentation on our website.


Kinderlogo is a great addition to your school or home!

Here are some examples of children's Kinderlogo creations.

My name is....

KL-grade-two-scooter image

I love my scooter!

Houses, flowers, & patterns

KL-firetruck image

Fire trucks are awesome!

KL-color-grid-face image

A face I made in Color Grid.

Symmetry with 4 turtles

How a Pumpkin Becomes a Bee-Kin!

Cross a Bee-Bot with a pumpkin and you get a Bee-Kin! Rachel Parker and her colleague Hank Bryant, who were both teaching technology at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, MA, at the time, converted a pumpkin into a Bee-Bot as their entry in the annual employee pumpkin carving contest at their school. The Bee-Kin, as it came to be known, sported the familiar yellow and black along with GO and movement buttons.


Rachel reports that “It didn’t function exactly like a Bee-Bot, but we used circuitry equipment to give it some similarities. We made the buttons out of cardboard and the GO button was wired so when the kids pushed GO on the top of the pumpkin, the eyes lit up.”


Did these creative teachers win the pumpkin-carving contest with their Bee-kin? You'll have to read the full Customer Story to find out! Happy Halloween!

If you want to try this project, but don't have the time or skills, consider getting some "Bee-Signer" Jackets for your Bee-Bots or Blue-Bots. Your students can decorate them as their favorite Halloween characters!

bb-zoo-thumb image

Send Bee-Bot to visit some zoo animals in this colorful Coding Journeys mat.

Ready for a new adventure? Tuff-Bot is a great next step after Bee-Bot. Use these new free lessons to get started!

Try our free calendar mat each month. Add circles and squares to note special days!

Quick Links to Resources


Bee-Bot Lessons ~ Explore 200 lessons and 600+ online activities for K–2 learners in all curriculum areas. Preview it!


Problem-Solving with Bee-Bot ~ 150 challenges to try in the classroom or online. Preview it!


Exploring Math with Blue-Bot ~ Coding fun with Blue-Bot while practicing math skills. Preview it!


Pro-Bot Lessons ~ Guided explorations, videos, and tips help students navigate Pro-Bot in the classroom or online. New this fall are 60+ lessons to practice key geometry concepts. Preview it!


Kinderlogo ~ Creative math activities organized in 5 levels for K–3 learners to explore online. Preview it! or Get a 30-day Free Trial!


52 Ideas for Kinderlogo ~ Free booklet to get you and your students started with Kinderlogo. Included are lessons for each of the five levels.


Accessories Chart ~ See which accessories and curriculum products work with each robot.

Bee-Bot Online Emulator (free) ~ Explore with Bee-Bot in your web browser using a variety of mats.


Blue-Bot Online Emulator (free) ~ Navigate Blue-Bot using both 45° and 90° angles and repeat loops.


Pro-Bot Online Emulator (free) ~

Are you ready to explore Pro-Bot's bumper sensors? Here's how!


Coding Journeys ~ Compare Bee-Bot, Blue-Bot, and Pro-Bot in 13 sets of free online activities.

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We Want to Hear from You!


We love feedback about our products and ideas for new content and features. Fill out our Customer Contribution Form to share your ideas with us.


Do you have images of students using Bee-Bots or Blue-Bots that you can share? We'd love to feature them in a Bee-Bot Buzz or a Customer Story.

Terrapin | 955 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 365 | Cambridge, MA 02139 

800-774-LOGO (5646) | +1-508-487-8181 (international) | Fax 617-302-9778

terrapinlogo.com | facebook.com/BeeBot.us | instagram.com/terrapin.tools.for.thinking


Find our Turtle Tuesdays Logo coding challenges on Facebook and Instagram each week!

Visit the Turtle Tuesdays web page to see all the challenges and solutions.

Some challenges also apply to Kinderlogo, Pro-Bot, and InO-Bot users.

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