EXAMPLE EMAIL TO MENTORS

Resources

Link to the Into orbit challenge instructions, rules and scoresheets and other information is http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge#block-block-19; download all these before mid-next year as they will be replaced with next year’s challenge info

Link to Youtube Into Orbit Intro video – which explains all the tasks - good to review with kids regularly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY1Z9kK71jQ

Whilst we do adhere to the game rules in most cases our judges will be reviewing them and sending out any clarifications or changes to teams at the start of the program

You will be supplied with the challenge table, challenge pieces, challenge mat and two training mats. The challenge mat will have to be trimmed and we will advise you of the measurements before the program starts

The following resources are allowed per team; this is to ensure all teams use the same materials:

Each team will be able to use the Ev3 Core set and expansion kit +

1 extra colour sensor

1 extra medium motor

Mindstorms Software (education edition): https://education.lego.com/en-au/downloads/mindstorms-ev3/software; after you have downloaded the education Mindstorms software you can download curriculum content like the EV3 Science Curriculum: https://education.lego.com/en-au/downloads/mindstorms-ev3/curriculum

Please see below the 10 Week structure for the Isaac Libraries, please feel free to amend the content as needed. As discussed, the first two weeks in the libraries are structured around team building, behaviour and an introduction into Lego Mindstorms. If possible, it would be good if the challenges (Lego pieces) can be built in the last week of Term 2 and basic coding knowledge (as per the below outlined homework) can be taught. In Term 3 you would then start to code for the challenges, build attachments and prepare teams for the Tech Fest. This will give you 8 weeks to complete as many challenges as possible and run a school competition, with the winner going to the Tech Fest. This way your teams spend the same amount of time on the coding and building as the other teams.

In the 1st Session 2hr

Part 1 30min

Setting behaviour and project expectation

Watching last year’s challenge video (produced by Isaac)

Part 2 1hr

Giving hardware overview: motors, brick, connections, sensors

Building the robot as a team (team building exercise)

Learn how to clean up the boxes (everything you take out goes to the exact same place unless used)

Part 3 30min

Overview of the essential coding blocks in correspondence with motors and sensors

Homework: Download Mindstorms and write a program to make the robot drive forward and back into starting position

In the 2nd Session 2hr

Part 1 1hr

Revisiting homework and coding components

Use the training mats to write a code for the colour sensor (stop on a colour)

If time: Start writing a code to do the circle (training mat)

Homework: Build a code to make the robot drive forward until it can read the colour blue; if it reads the blue stop. If it reads yellow drive back to start.

Part 2 1hr

Watch current year’s challenge video

In pairs of two build a challenge

In the 3rd Session 2hr

Part 1 30min-1hr

Go through the homework

Start to work on the circle an oval

Homework: finish the code for the circle and oval

Part 2

Re-watch the challenge video and see how the challenges are to be completed

Set up the challenge mat

Build more challenges and place them on the mat (make sure to use the mat setup and the video to place the challenge pieces correctly)

In the 4th Session 2hr

Part 1

Go through homework

Part 2

Complete building all challenges and discuss which challenge/s should be attempted first

Homework: come up with a team name, bring a photo for the team poster, start building code for your challenge

Session 5+ 2hr

Work on your challenges

Come up with a team and individual introduction for the Tech Fest

Complete the team poster

Timeline

Mentor Training 20/05/2019 – 14/06/2019;

Start of Lego Robotics 17/06/2019;

Tech Fest 7/09/2019

The Tech Fest is held at the Dysart community centre on the 7th of September. I will send you an invitation to the Moranbah mentor training closer to the date.
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