Introductory Lessons
What is one distance of Bee-Bot?
Overview
Students will determine the distance of 1 unit of Bee-Bot. This will be helpful when using the Bee-Bot and solving future challenges.
Concepts
- Estimation
- Distance
- Measurement
Materials Needed
- Bee-Bot
- String or other resource for measuring such as yarn or ribbon.
- Marker
- Scissors
Activity
Place the Bee-Bot on the floor. Have a student or students place one end of string next to the front of the Bee-Bot. Have a student select the forward arrow one time and then go.
- The Bee-Bot will move forward 1 unit. Mark the string where the front of the Bee-Bot stopped. Cut the String where marked. This represents the distance of one unit of Bee-Bot.
Extension
- Have students create a name for the unit of measurement.
- Compare the string to a ruler and see how many inches/centimeters one unit of Bee- Bot represents.
- Estimate how many units it will take to move Bee-Bot to a designated location in the classroom. Try it and see if you were right, need more, or less.
Getting to Know You
Overview
Students will apply units of measurement to move the Bee-Bot to another location.
Concepts
- Estimation
- Distance
- Measurement
- Direction
Materials Needed
- Bee-Bot
Activity
Have students sit in a circle. One student picks another student sitting in the circle and estimates how many units it will take Bee-Bot to reach the selected student. The Student will estimate, test, and adjust if necessary. Once the Bee-Bot reaches the student, have that student answer a question before selecting another student to send the Bee-Bot to. Perhaps introducing themselves if it is the beginning of the school year, their favorite something, a book they recently read they would recommend, their are infinite ways you can incorporate questions from current units of study..
Extension
- Addition problems: Write the student’s initial estimate on a chalkboard, dry erase board, somewhere where all can see. For example if a student estimates forward 5 write 5. If the estimate is too short put a plus sign next to the 5, creating an addition problem and “add” the additional units need to reach the desired location. Place the Bee-Bot back where it began, Enter the additional units and select Go. (Bee-Bot remembers the previous entry) OR Clear Bee-Bots memory by selecting the Clear (x) key and enter the new estimated total.
- Apply the same concept for subtraction, if the Bee-Bot goes to far students can use the back button to take away steps. Make sure you place the Bee-Bot back where it started.
Don’t forget the Bee-Bot holds all previous commands entered, and adds new ones onto the end. You can delete previous commands by selecting the clear button.