Online Physical Computing Workshop - Intermediate
| Ideal Age: | 9 - 11 Years | |
| Dates: | Part 1 - Thursday 2nd July | from 2:00pm - 4:00pm |
| Part 2 - Monday 6th July | from 2:00pm - 4:00pm | |
| Price: |
This workshop runs across 2 x 2 hour sessions and requires the Workshop Kit Workshop fee and Kit Option 1: £50.00
Workshop fee and Kit Option 2: £37.00
Workshop fee and Kit Option 3: £20.00
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| Choose Your Session | ||||
Description
To make this fun little robot, children will make 2 mechanisms, one for the mouth and another for the eyes. Each workshop session will involve lots of making, with a great opportunity to decorate the BoxBot after the session and adjust the code to make their BoxBot behave in all sorts of ways.
This workshop challenge provides opportunities to learn and practice:
- Maker Skills
- Core fundamentals of programming taught at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 including:
- Sequence
- Iteration
What will young participants need?
1 laptop with a power supply or a desktop computer:
- With either a built-in or external webcam and a microphone
- With a high-speed internet connection
- At a table with space around to work
- Earphones or a headset are recommended, except when parents are joining to support
- Workshop Kit:
- A micro:bit starter kit (we have stock of these available for purchase)
- A ring:bit (included in the workshop kit)
- 2 x servos (included in the workshop kit)
- BoxBot Parts (included in all workshop fees)
- Materials:
- Sellotape or paper tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
Description:
Using a combination of mechanisms and code, your child will make their very own robot with blinking eyes and moving mouth it's sure to be a real character! After the session kids can choose to decorate their 'make' and they will have the skills they need to continue tinkering with their robot's code.
As well as coding, kids will spend time building their robot make including the putting together the mechanisms. The majoriity of the first session will be spent building the robot.
Will an adult need to accompany their child?
We ask that an adult remains present in the room. This request is with child safeguarding in mind.
This also means if your child runs into difficulties, there will be an adult on hand to support.
The adult doesn't have to take part in the session and could easily be sitting nearby achieving other tasks.
If your child finds fine motor skills challenging, please ensure that an adult is involved for the first 60 minutes of each workshop.
How will the workshop be run?
We will use a paid-for Zoom account which will be invitation only and will be locked once all participants have arrived. The workshop will be delivered by our experienced Enhanced DBS certified workshop facilitator. The zoom invitation will be sent to you before the workshop with instructions on how to join.
What kit is needed for the workshop?
During the workshop, kids will use the BBC micro:bit, a ring:bit add-on for the micro:bit and some servos for movement. Your booking requirements depend on the kit you already have, we have 3 different options available:
Option 1 - For kids who don't have their own micro:bit. This kit includes the BBC micro:bit, the ring:bit add-on for the micro:bit, 2 servos, the robot parts and the workshop fee for 2 sessions
Option 2 - For kids who have their own micro:bit, but don't have a ring:bit and servos. This option includes the ring:bit add-on, 2 servos, the robot parts and the workshop fee for 2 sessions
Option 3 - For kids who have previously participated in the Robot Maker: BoxBot Workshop and so already have the BBC micro:bit, the ring:bit and 2 servos. This option includes the workshop fee for the 2 sessions and robot parts only, no additional kit.
The BoxBox parts, including the box and brackets, eyes and mechanism parts will also be required, these are included in the fee for all workshop options and will be sent to you.
Can you tell me more about the workshop itself?
This workshop uses a free online programming environment which allows the workshop facilitator to efficiently support your child whilst coding.
During the workshop, our workshop facilitator will welcome the group and introduce how to use video communication software as a member of a group and share the expectations.
After the initial introduction, we will begin teaching kids to code, moving on to the workshop itself where kids will:
- Find out about circuits and simple electronics
- Discover some simple mechanisms that can be used in robotics
- Connect the parts for their make
- Explore the free programming platform used in the workshop to code the robot
- Learn about the fundamentals of programming
- Build the code for their make
- Transform simple everyday items into their own robot with multiple movements, which they can control and proudly share!
By the end of the workshop, kids will have a simple understanding of robotics, be familiar with the free online environment introduced in the workshop and have their own robot 'make'.
Equipment used in this workshop can be used in other workshops.