Summary

Materials Needed

The following is a list of all the materials and teaching resources that are needed to complete the VEX 123 Lab. First listed are the materials needed for the entire Lab, including the 123 Robot. In certain Labs, links to teaching resources in a slideshow format have been included. Not all Labs will include a slideshow. These slides can help provide context and inspiration for your students. All slides are editable, and can be projected for students or used as a teacher resource.

Materials	Purpose	Recommendation
123 Robot	For teachers and students to create and run projects and observe 123 Robot behaviors.	1 per group
123 Field	For students to use when testing projects.	1 per teacher for demonstration, and 1 per group (4 tiles and 8 walls per Field)
123 Coder	For teachers and students to use to build projects.	1 per group
Coder cards	For teachers and students to insert into the Coder to build a project.	1 set of 4 Coder cards Per Group (See Environment Setup for Details)
Lab 1 Image Slideshow Google Doc / .pptx / .pdf	For visual aids while facilitating the Lab.	1 for class to view
Zoo Animal Printable Google Doc / .docx/ .pdf	For teachers and students to use to set up a zoo environment on their Field	1 per group
Side by Side Planning Printable	For students to use when transitioning a project from touch to Coder.	1 per group

Environment Setup

Gather the materials each group needs before class. For this Lab, each group of two students will need a 123 Robot, a Coder and the following Coder cards:
- One 'When start 123'
- Two 'Drive 1'
- One 'Turn right'

4 Coder cards are shown. A When start 123 Coder Card, 2 Drive 1 Coder cards, and a Turn right Coder card. — Coder cards Needed

Each group will also need a 123 Field with squares labeled to represent the lions, tigers and bears at the zoo. You can prepare them ahead of time, using the Zoo Animals Printable. Students can color the animals on the printable prior to the Lab if desired. You may also choose to label the field with a dry erase marker instead.

Top down view of the Zoo Field Setup for Lab 1, which consists of a 2 by 2 square of 123 Field Tiles. A zoo entrance sign and three animals are marked on the field: a lion, a tiger, and a bear. The zoo entrance sign is 2 to the right and 1 up from the bottom left corner. The lion is 4 to the right and 2 up from the bottom left corner. The tiger is 6 to the right and 2 up from the bottom left corner. Finally, the bear is 1 to the right and 4 up from the bottom left corner. — Zoo Field Setup

For demonstration purposes, ensure that all students can easily see the teacher's Coder, Coder cards, 123 Robot, and Field during the Engage and Play Part 1 sections. You may want to project the Side-by-Side planning Printable found in the Lab 1 Image Slideshow for students to see throughout the Lab.
To keep your classroom organized, and your students focused on only the necessary Coder cards, only give them access to the cards listed above.
To help students take turns and stay engaged in Lab activities, give them direction for how to share responsibilities. For groups larger than the recommended two students, provide students with more granular roles. Examples of responsibilities for students in this Lab:
- Placing the 123 Robot on the Field in the correct location.
- Pressing the touch buttons on the 123 Robot
- Recording information on the Side by Side Planning Printable
- Inserting the Coder cards and pressing the Start button

Engage

Begin the lab by engaging with the students.

Hook
Our 123 Robot is going on a field trip to the zoo! How can we code our robot to drive to the animals it wants to visit?
Demonstrate
As a whole class, create a project for the robot to drive from the zoo entrance to the lions using the touch buttons on the 123 Robot.
Leading Question
Did you know there is another way we can code the 123 Robot?

Play

Allow students to explore the concepts introduced.

Part 1

Students will learn a step-by-step procedure for getting started using the Coder, and begin to remake the project for the robot to drive from the zoo entrance to the lions, this time using the Coder along with the 'When start 123' and the 'Drive 1' Coder cards.

Mid-Play Break

Students will continue to add to their project, using the Side by Side Planning Worksheet to facilitate the connection of each touch button press to its corresponding Coder card.

Part 2

Students will work in the groups to finish the project for the 123 Robot to drive all the way to the lions using the Coder and coder cards.

Allow students to discuss and display their learning.

Active Share

Students will share their projects, explaining how they knew which Coder cards to select and sequence in order for their projects to be successful.

Discussion Prompts

How did you decide what Coder cards you needed to finish the project?
What Coder card could you use to have the robot do the same thing as pressing the drive forward touch button on the robot?
Did you robot behave as you expected? Why or why not?

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