Fundamentals of Coding with LEGO SPIKE Essential
Fundamentals of Coding with SPIKE Essential teaches coding and STEM concepts to elementary school students using the LEGO SPIKE Essential kit. The curriculum covers topics such as basic coding, creating algorithms, conditional statements, and loops.
Students assemble robot designs with the SPIKE Essential kit based on real-world robots, which helps to foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of how coding and robotics are used in the real world. Fundamentals of Coding with SPIKE Essential is designed to develop a foundation in coding that will prepare students for more advanced programming concepts in the future.
Fundamentals of Coding with SPIKE Essential is designed to be standards-aligned while embracing the concept of "play" as a core learning approach. Each badge earned through the curriculum is built around playful exploration, where students are encouraged to build, remix, and experiment with their robot designs. The curriculum seamlessly integrates coding and computer exercises with unplugged activities, ensuring that students not only develop technical skills but also engage in creative problem-solving.
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Unit 1: Light Up Snackbot
Snackbot is a robot that was designed to deliver snacks to people within an office. It communicates using lights and sounds. Build a robot like Snackbot and use the Light Matrix to display colored patterns and messages! |
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Unit 2: Spinny Snackbot
It's snack time! In this unit you will learn how to make Snackbot deliver snacks by attaching and programming the motor to make it move. |
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Unit 3: Buggy Bugs
Not every program is perfect, some may have errors (a.k.a "bugs"). Let's identify the errors and make a plan to fix them! |
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Unit 4: Journey on the Moon
Iris is a lunar rover that drives on the moon collecting data for geological sciences. Build your Iris robot and program it to move forward and explore on the moon! |
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Unit 5: Dodging Craters
Iris may come across some craters on the moon. Program the robot to be able to turn so that you don't run into them! |
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Unit 6: Strawberry Spotting
Unit 7: Loopy Strawberries Unit 8: Sorting Strawberries
Unit 9: Tilt it, Shake it, Bot-It!
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Required Materials
Robot Hardware and Software
- LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Set
- Laptop (up-to-date Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook)
Other Materials
- Electrical or Painter's tape
- Open areas for the robot to safely move
- Small, colored objects for the robot to manipulate
- Meter sticks