Summary
Materials Needed
The following is a list of all the materials that are needed to complete the VEX GO Lab. These materials include student facing materials as well as teacher facilitation materials. It is recommended that you assign two students to each VEX GO Kit.
In some Labs, links to teaching resources in a slideshow format have been included. These slides can help provide context and inspiration for your students. Teachers will be guided in how to implement the slides with suggestions throughout the lab. All slides are editable, and can be projected for students or used as a teacher resource. To edit the Google Slides, make a copy into your personal Drive and edit as needed.
Other editable documents have been included to assist in implementing the Labs in a small group format. Print the worksheets as is or copy and edit those documents to suit the needs of your classroom. Example Data Collection sheet setups have been included for certain experiments as well as the original blank copy. While they offer suggestions for setup, these documents are all editable to best suit your classroom and the needs of your students.
| Materials | Purpose | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
|
VEX GO Kits |
For building the Code Super Car. |
* 2 Kits per build |
|
To program the Code Super Car at different velocities. |
1 per group | |
|
For student to use with VEXcode GO to program the Code Super Car. |
1 per group | |
|
Lab 5 Image Slideshow
|
For visual aids and teacher reference. |
1 for teacher facilitation |
|
Code Super Car Build Instructions *2 Kits required for this build |
For students to build the Code Super Car. |
1 per group |
|
Editable Google Doc for organizing group work and best practices for using the VEX GO Kit. |
1 per group | |
|
Data Collection Sheet (Google / .docx / .pdf ) or Lab 5 Data Collection Example (Google / .docx / .pdf ) |
Editable Google Doc for documenting data collected in trials in Play Part 1. |
1 per group |
|
Pencils |
For students to record data, document design ideas and fill out the Robotics Roles & Routines worksheets. |
1 per student |
|
Ruler |
To measure how far the Code Super Car travels. |
1 per group |
|
Masking tape |
To mark where the Code Super Car starts and stops. |
1 roll per group |
|
To remove pins or pry beams apart. |
1 per group |
Engage
Begin the lab by engaging with the students.
-
Hook
Ask the students if they like to run or walk up a hill. What if they have a heavy book bag?
-
Leading Question
Why do you choose to move faster or slower with your book bag? How does your speed affect the force you have running up the hill?
-
Build
Code Super Car
Groups will build the Motorized Super Car (if they have not already), then combine their Motorized Super Car with another group to create a Code Super Car.
*This build requires 2 VEX GO Kits.
Play
Allow students to explore the concepts introduced.
Part 1
Students will connect their Code Super Car’s Brain to VEXcode GO, configure VEXcode GO for ‘Super Car’, and will name and save a project. They will add a [Drive for] block, and test to make sure that their Code Super Car can drive forward using their VEXcode GO project.
Mid-Play Break
Students will discuss velocity and how it can be set to travel the same distances in different amounts of time. Students will also discuss how balanced and unbalanced forces affect velocity.
Part 2
Students will program the car to drive for three seconds at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% velocity. Each test run will be recorded on the Data Collection Sheet. After each of the four test runs, the students will measure the distance traveled.
Share
Allow students to discuss and display their learning.
Discussion Prompts
- What did you investigate and how did you collect data?
- How did the car’s driving change when the velocity was higher? How do you explain that in terms of force?
- What predictions can you make about the movement of the Code Super Car if you know its velocity? What predictions can you make about velocity if you know about the force that is acting on the car?