Summer SAVY, Session 5 Day 4, “Intro to Coding” (1st-2nd)
We started our day by visiting another PTY program! We visited high school students in the VSA (Vanderbilt Summer Academy) program. Their professor explained that they have been working on building and programming autonomous driving machines. Our class observed how high school students used the engineering design process to improve code and robots during trials. Then, our students helped set up the track for a robot drag race! The students really enjoyed interacting with the older students and watching the robot race. It is a unique and wonderful opportunity to be able to learn from professors and students in other PTY programs! (see photos)
Our theme for today was space! Today’s read-aloud was the picture book version of Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. We talked about what it meant to be a human “computer.” This book helped illustrate the role of mathematics in coding. We made connections between the math that women did to help prepare to launch rockets and the math done by personal computers, tablets, and smartphones today. We watched two career connection videos about how NASA uses coding today. One was an interview with three astronauts at the International Space Station. The second was an interview with an aerospace engineer.
The coding challenges today used a map of our solar system on a mat that is designed to be used with the Sphero robots. Each team selected its “mission.” Ms. Kat and I worked with the teams individually to help them write the code for the mission they selected. Students also completed the Hour of Code “NASA Space Jam” unit on code.org. This independent activity guides students in coding their own songs. Sound bites taken from real space data are used in the songs. They also selected photographs taken by satellites to be a background for the instruments.
Lego Spike Essentials robots are another coding center. These kits include the pieces to build a robot, motors, and a hub. The app walks students through Lego building and programming. When they code their robot, it moves, lights up, and uses sensors to respond to stimuli. During coding centers, students worked with a partner to build an amusement park ride. For older students, Lego also makes Spike Prime robots. The SAVY “Coding and Robotics” course for third and fourth graders uses Spike Prime robots.
Extensions for Home:
- Ask your child what they asked the high school student they spoke with on our field trip.
- Ask your child to explain the Sphero space mission that their group chose. Ask them what the goal of the mission was and how they accomplished it.
- Research a rover or satellite used by NASA. Find out how this device is programmed.
