Skip to main content
Teacher Portal

Engage

Launch the Engage Section

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

ACTS ASKS
  1. Engage students and connect to their experiences.
  2. Give students a second opportunity to observe how they move together with their partner to turn.
  3. Show the students the Driver Test Course.
  4. Push an object slightly from the back, such as a book on a desk or a chair on the floor.
  5. Model pushing an object with two forces in order to turn it.
  6. Show the students that their kit only has one motor.
  1. Ask students to stand up and link arms with one person. Have each group turn to the right and ask them to think about how they moved. Did both of you move? Why or why not? If both of you moved, which direction did your feet move?
  2. Have the students try again and pay attention to how they navigated to move to the right or left.
  3. Based on what you see, can your one Motorized Super Car navigate the course?
  4. Note that when pushed with one force, the object only moves in one direction. What would we need in order to turn?
  5. Why do we need more than one force to turn? Where does this force come from on our cars?
  6. Our kits only have one motor, thus, we must partner with another group to combine our cars.

Getting the Students Ready to Build

In order to navigate the Driver Test Course, we need another motor on our cars. You will pair up with another group in order to combine your cars into one larger car to pass the course!

Facilitate the Build

  1. InstructInstruct students that they are going to pair up with another group to join their Motorized Super Cars together to build a Steering Super Car.

     

    Front view of a completed VEX GO Steering Super Car build.
    Steering Super Car Build
    • Ensure each group has their own Motorized Super Car built before combining with another group.
    • If students do not already have a pre-built Motorized Super Car, have each group build one first (before combining groups.) This will add approximately 10 minutes to the Lab.
  2. DistributeDistribute build instructions and a Robotics Roles & Routines sheet to each group. Use the Suggested Role Responsibilities slide in the Lab Image Slideshow as a guide for students to complete this sheet.

    Let students know that they will be attaching their Motorized Super Cars together to make the Steering Super Car.

    Diagram that shows how the Steering Super Car is made out of two combined Motorized Super Cars by attaching them with a horizontal plate on the front and back. This new build now was two motors and two switches.
    Two Motorized Super Cars Together

     

  3. FacilitateFacilitate the building process.
    • Pair up groups. Let students know that they will need very few additional pieces to complete the build. They should keep their Kits separate so as not mix pieces between Kits.
    • Have Group A use their Kit for the additional pieces needed. Have Group B share their Switch and Battery only, and leave the rest of their Kit in a separate area. This will help with materials management.
    • Have students use the Robotics Roles & Routines sheet to assign Roles to help students share the responsibilities. Encourage students to evenly distribute the central and support roles between groups.

     

  4. OfferOffer suggestions and note positive team-building and problem-solving strategies as teams build together.

Teacher Troubleshooting

Facilitation Strategies

  • Have a Plan for Combining Groups - In some cases, it can be helpful to think ahead and have a plan for which groups will work together before the Lab begins. Then, when instructing students to combine groups, the teacher can assign groups to be partners quickly, to minimize student debate or distraction.
  • Build the Driver Test course - Before class, ensure that the course is built and ready for students. If students finish building their Steering Super Car early, have them help build the course. Ensure the course is built on a flat surface, otherwise, the car may not turn as expected.
<  Back Return to Labs Next  >