Implementing VEX 123 STEM Labs

STEM Labs are designed to be the online teacher’s manual for VEX 123. Like a printed teacher’s manual, the teacher-facing content of the STEM Labs provides all of the resources, materials, and information needed to be able to plan, teach, and assess with VEX 123. The Lab Image Slideshows are the student-facing companion to this material. For more detailed information about how to implement a STEM Lab in your classroom, see the Implementing VEX 123 STEM Labs article.

Goals and Standards

Goals

Students will apply

Using Drivetrain blocks with [Repeat] or [Forever] blocks correctly to create a VEXcode 123 project to solve a challenge.

Students will make meaning of

How to code the 123 Robot to solve a challenge.

Students will be skilled at

Waking the 123 Robot.
Connecting the 123 Robot to VEXcode 123.
Adding VEXcode 123 blocks to a project.
Sequencing blocks in a project.
Using the [Forever] or [Repeat] block in a project.
Changing parameters in VEXcode blocks.
Starting a project in VEXcode 123.
Saving a VEXcode 123 project.

Students will know

How to use the [Forever] or [Repeat] block in a project to have the 123 Robot repeat a behavior, or group of behaviors.

Objective(s)

Objective

Students will identify that the [Forever] block repeats the behaviors inside the block forever.
Students will develop a project in VEXcode 123 using a loop to solve a challenge.
Students will communicate behaviors, through words and gestures, that the 123 Robot will need to complete in order to solve a challenge.

Activity

Students will discuss the [Forever] block in the Engage section. They will watch a demonstration of how the 123 Robot moves when a [Forever] block is used in a VEXcode 123 project. In the Mid-Play Break, students will identify that the [Forever] block can be used in their projects to have the 123 Robot detect all the objects in the Mars landing area.
In Play Part 1, students will iterate on the project from Lab 1, adding blocks and changing parameters to have the 123 Robot detect multiple obstacles on the Mars Landing area (123 Field). In the Mid-Play Break they will identify that a loop can be used to repeat sequences in their projects to have the 123 Robot continuously check for obstacles in order to solve the challenge.
In the Play sections, students will describe how they want the 123 Robot to move as they create their projects.

Assessment

In the Mid-Play Break and Share sections, students will be able to communicate how the blocks inside the [Forever] block are repeated in a forever loop until the 123 Robot is instructed to stop.
In Play Part 2, students will continue to work on their VEXcode 123 project using Drivetrain blocks and the [Repeat] or [Forever] block so the 123 Robot can locate all of the obstacles on the Mars landing area, even if the location of the obstacles change.
During Share, students will explain the projects they created, and describe how the 123 Robot moves after their projects are started. They will use these descriptions to discuss how projects varied between groups.

Connections to Standards

Showcase Standards

Computer Science Teaching Association (CSTA)

CSTA 1A-AP-10: Develop programs with sequences and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem.

How Standard is Achieved: In the Play section, students will build a VEXcode 123 project that has the 123 Robot examine the entire landing area to make sure it is clear of obstacles so that the next Mars rover can land. Students will create a project that uses Eye Sensor with a [Forever] or [Repeat] block to have the 123 Robot drive to and detect all objects on the landing area. In Play Part 2, students will edit their projects to make have the 123 Robot drive to and detect all obstacles on the Field, even if the location of the obstacles change.

Showcase Standards

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.1: Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

How Standard is Achieved: During the Play section, students will create a VEXcode 123 project where the 123 Robot drives until it detects multiple obstacles on the Mars landing area. As they build their project, students will use words and gestures to describe how they want the 123 Robot to move and turn on the Field in relation to the obstacles. After building and testing their projects, students will reflect in the Mid-Play Break and Share sections on how the [Forever] block, [Repeat] block, and changing the parameters of other blocks affected the movement of the 123 Robot. They will use words and gestures to describe how the movement changed.

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