Number Line

This colorful mat is a long strip of numbers from zero to ten, with the appropriate number of animals in each box. Students can move Bee-Bot forward and back along the number line to reach target numbers.

This mat is a perfect way to introduce Bee-Bot to your youngest students. They don’t need to turn the ‘bot, just move it in a straight line from number to number.

When they use Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot, be sure they understand that they should:
• Always press X before their turn to erase the commands from the previous student.
• Always let the ‘bot finish its instructions without touching it, unless it is going to fall off a table or run into an obstacle.
• Always press Go again to stop Bee-Bot when it is moving or just pick it up when it is going to fall off a table or run into an obstacle.
• Never push or turn the ‘bot when it is moving, as that could harm its motor.

The math concepts involved in using this mat include:
• counting
• matching
• simple addition and subtraction

Social skills include:
• taking turns
• working in a group
• helping others who may need support

Lesson Ideas

Although these ideas refer to Bee-Bot, they can all be done with Blue-Bot as well.

Remind students to press X to erase the commands the previous student entered.

Lesson Idea 1: Going to a Specific Number

Divide students into groups.
The teacher calls out a number.
One of the students navigates Bee-Bot forward or backward to that number and counts the number of animals for that number out loud.
The student places Bee-Bot back to zero.
Repeat, with all students having a turn.

Lesson Idea 2: Going to a Random Number

Each student in a group rolls dice or picks a playing card from a deck at random.
The student then gives Bee-Bot commands to go to that number.
The student places Bee-Bot back to zero.
Students take turns navigating Bee-Bot to the number they picked.
This idea is similar to the first one, but does not require teacher interaction.
Students need to determine what to do if the number rolled is too high (twelve for the dice).

Lesson Idea 3: Counting to Reach a Target Number

In this lesson, students use counting to determine how many steps Bee-Bot should take to get to a target number.

The teacher tells the first student in the group to go to one of the animals.
The student counts the number of steps forward or backward to get there and instructs Bee-Bot to go that many steps.
Without moving Bee-Bot, the next student navigates Bee-Bot to the box with the next animal the teacher names.
Continue so that all students have had several turns.

For example, with Bee-Bot on the zero box:

Student 1 goes to the turtles. Forward 7 steps, then Go.
Student 2 goes to the sheep. Back 5, then Go.
Student 3 goes to the bees. Forward 8 steps, then Go.

Lesson Idea 4: Using the Online Number Line Mat

If students are using computers in your classroom, have them use the online Number Line Mat in the Bee-Bot Emulator in a browser. They can use dice or playing cards to choose how far to move Bee-Bot.

Lesson Idea 5: Exploring Addition and Subtraction

Two students choose a number from 0 to 10.
The first student navigates Bee-Bot to their number.
The second student navigates Bee-Bot to their number.

Ask students to consider the two numbers chosen.
If Bee-Bot goes in a straight line, the two numbers are added together. What is their sum?
If Bee-Bot goes forward and then back, the second number is subtracted from the first. What is the difference?

Lesson Idea 6: Exploring Multiplication

You might think that this mat is too simple to engage students in thinking about multiplication.
What if they did this?

A student starts with Bee-Bot on zero and moves it forward a small number (2 or 3 step).
Then, without pressing X, another student presses GO. Where did Bee-Bot end up?
Then, a third student presses GO once more. Where is Bee-Bot now?

How many times can Bee-Bot go forward and stay on the mat if the first number of steps is 2?
What if the first number of steps is 3?

Do you see how students might understand that moving 2 steps 3 times gets them to 6?
Have them experiment with other numbers, such as 4 or 5 to explore multiplying numbers.

Mat Details

This mat is incorporated into several of the Bee-Bot Lessons. These lessons give teachers lesson plans that are tied to national curriculum standards. They give students an opportunity to engage in 200 learning activities using the floor Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot or the same activities in the online emulator.

The mat is made of washable vinyl and measures approximately 13” by 74” (30 cm by 165 cm)

View the mat in Terrapin’s store.