The Sphero Bolt provided a hands-on opportunity for students in grades 4-6 to explore coding skills and concepts. Students created programs that used real-time data from the Bolt's IR sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer, and/or ambient light sensor. Students strengthened their problem solving and computational thinking skills by engaging in a variety of projects and games.
Ambient Light Sensor
Coders were introduced to the Bolt's ambient light sensor (ALS) and used loops and conditionals to have the Bolt react in different ways depending on the lux value measured. For example, if the Bolt's ALS measured a lux value greater than 600, the LED matrix would show a graphic like a sun and play the sound of a rooster, otherwise, the LED matrix would show a graphic of zzz and play the sound of snoring.
Ambient Light Sensor Relay Race
Decomposition was applied during this project to make what seemed to be a very challenging mission turn into a manageable task that each group successfully accomplished.
Spherograph (integrating math and art)
Drawing shapes with the Bolt and confirming results with live sensor data