Engage

Launch the Engage Section

ACTS is what the teacher will do and ASKS is how the teacher will facilitate.

ACTS	ASKS
Write the word “Mars” on the board, and note students' answers as they offer information. Invite students to share ideas about how scientists work. Guide students to the idea of the Mars rovers. Show images from the Background Information, or other classroom resources to help. Note students’ responses on the board, as they pertain to what the students will be doing in the Lab (driving, collecting things, etc). Guide students to thinking about the way that they control their 123 Robots, and suggest things like coding and computers if students need help to make the connection. Show students the demonstration area where they will see VEXcode 123 and the 123 Robot in action, during the Play section.	What are some things that we know about Mars? How do you think scientists figured those things out, so that we could learn about them? Guess what? Scientists are learning about Mars right now, from here, on Earth. How do you think they’re doing that? What kinds of things do you think the Mars rovers do to help scientists? How do you think the rovers are able to drive around Mars to do those things? There aren’t any astronauts on Mars to drive them, so how do you think that happens? We are going to pretend our 123 Robots are rovers on Mars! How do you think we could code them to pretend to collect samples like the real rovers do?

ACTS

ASKS

Write the word “Mars” on the board, and note students' answers as they offer information.
Invite students to share ideas about how scientists work.
Guide students to the idea of the Mars rovers. Show images from the Background Information, or other classroom resources to help.
Note students’ responses on the board, as they pertain to what the students will be doing in the Lab (driving, collecting things, etc).
Guide students to thinking about the way that they control their 123 Robots, and suggest things like coding and computers if students need help to make the connection.
Show students the demonstration area where they will see VEXcode 123 and the 123 Robot in action, during the Play section.

What are some things that we know about Mars?
How do you think scientists figured those things out, so that we could learn about them?
Guess what? Scientists are learning about Mars right now, from here, on Earth. How do you think they’re doing that?
What kinds of things do you think the Mars rovers do to help scientists?
How do you think the rovers are able to drive around Mars to do those things? There aren’t any astronauts on Mars to drive them, so how do you think that happens?
We are going to pretend our 123 Robots are rovers on Mars! How do you think we could code them to pretend to collect samples like the real rovers do?

InstructInstruct students that they are now going to use classroom art supplies and the 123 Art Ring to turn their 123 Robots into 123 Robot rovers!
DistributeDistribute 123 Robots and 123 Art Rings to each group, and give groups access to the classroom art supplies.
- To facilitate this decoration process, you may want to give students preprinted or cut out images or shapes of rovers that they can color and attach to the 123 Art Ring using tape or pipe cleaners.
- To give students ideas of how to customize their 123 Robots, show them images of real rovers, using the images in the Background Information, or your own classroom resources.
FacilitateFacilitate students working together to add decoration to their 123 Robots. When students add their 123 Art Ring to the 123 Robot, ensure that the white arrows line up so that it can be oriented correctly during test trials on the 123 Field.

How to add the Art Ring to the 123 Robot

For more information on using the Art Ring and to see examples of how it can be used to customize your robot, see the Using the 123 Art Ring VEX Library article.
OfferOffer positive reinforcement to groups that are working well together, and following directions.

Teacher Troubleshooting

If students are having trouble connecting their 123 Robot to their computer or tablet, view the Connecting articles in the VEXcode 123 VEX Library, for support to connect the 123 Robot to the device being used.
If groups are having trouble starting their project in VEXcode 123, refer to the Starting Project in VEXcode 123, to see the steps necessary to successfully start a project with the 123 Robot.
Make sure the 123 Robot can move easily. Throughout this Unit, students will be adding “sample” items to the top of their 123 Robots and may add “rover” elements with the Art Ring. To ensure that these additions do not interfere with the movement of the 123 Robot, make sure the additions are lightweight and do not touch the ground when the robot is placed on a surface.

Take Turns - Throughout the Lab, students should take turns in their groups. Suggestions for facilitating this include:
- During Engage, one student can create the rover decoration, and the other can attach it to the Art Ring.
- During Play, alternate who builds the project in VEXcode 123, and who places the 123 Robot on the Field and starts the project. One student can use the tablet or computer in Play Part 1, and the other in Play Part 2.
Try another project - If students successfully reach the sample location right away, encourage them to try navigating to a different sample location. Use a whiteboard marker to mark a sample location that is closer or further from the base, and have students adjust the parameters of their project to reach this new sample location.
Try a Turn - For groups who finish early, and need additional challenges, have them add a [Turn for] block to the end of their project in Play Part 1, and test it to see what the 123 Robot will do. Ask them to experiment, and think of ways that this block could be useful in collecting samples on the 123 Field.

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