Sphero Modular Puzzle Maze Blocks - Build your own robot maze to challenge your programming skills!

thingiverse

This challenge is designed specifically for Sphero Robots, but its potential can be scaled up or down to suit various robots. The activity includes three distinct maze types that can be rearranged to create different paths for Sphero, ensuring a constant stream of math and programming tasks for students. We successfully printed these maze blocks at Camp Sachem's Summer Enrichment Program this summer using a Makerbot Replicator borrowed through a Federal Grant. The size of the puzzle pieces allows them to fit snugly in a small flip-top Sterilite container, which can hold 10-12 blocks stacked together. This is crucial since our mentoring program needs to transport the robots and mazes from school to school. The blocks can be easily printed with any 6x6 or larger printer using low-resolution settings. I recommend securing them together with masking tape on the backside of the seams, but I'm also considering adhesive velcro and a 20"x20" coroplast or masonite board for younger students to arrange the mazes independently. Print Settings Printer Brand: MakerBot Printer: MakerBot Replicator (5th Generation) Rafts: Yes Supports: No Resolution: Low Infill: 50% How I Designed This Project Project: Sphero Maze Navigation Overview: Need a way to get young students excited about programming? Use these maze blocks with your Sphero robot and Lightning Lab to program Sphero through the maze! Objectives: Students will problem-solve by programming Sphero's speed, direction, time, and distance to navigate through various maze combinations. Audiences: This activity is geared towards grades 2-8. My goal is to establish a mentoring program where high school students can teach programming skills to younger age groups under teacher supervision, catering to diverse learning needs. Subjects: Math, Science, Behavioral Science, Robotics, Linguistics, Technology Standards NYS MST Technology Standard 5.3: Use a computer system to monitor and control external events and/or systems. Activity Groups of 2-3 students will use a Sphero Robot and paired Tablet with the Lightning Lab app to write a program for Sphero to navigate through the maze. Start with one maze block, have students outline the steps Sphero must take to complete it, and discuss variables like direction/heading (how does Sphero sense its direction?), speed (why is the speed range 0-255?), and delay (how long should Sphero move before reaching the next step?). After mastering one Maze Puzzle Block, add more blocks and challenge students to see how many they can navigate through. Alternate assignments can include racing through mazes, sensing collisions, and changing colors based on maze block color. Advances students can create code blocks based on maze block color and develop faster methods for programming any configuration of maze blocks! Duration A basic Sphero maze programming challenge can be completed in as little as 40 minutes, ideal for traveling to multiple schools. Our school district has three middle schools and nearly a dozen elementary schools, so we'll focus on reaching out to as many students as possible during the first year. Later lessons may include blocking code together and racing through maze designs if time allows, extending the duration to three 40-minute sessions. Preparation To complete this activity, you'll need multiple printed maze puzzle blocks, a Sphero robot, and paired Bluetooth-enabled tablets per group. I recommend working on a comfortable carpeted or padded floor to minimize wear and tear on equipment. References: https://sprk.sphero.com/ http://www.sphero.com/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sphero.sprk&hl=en Handouts: SPRK Lightning Lab Activity for Sphero Maze Puzzles PDF located in thing files