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Unit Challenge

You’ve learned how to plan a path, code button sequences, and move barrels with precision—now it’s time to bring it all together! In this unit challenge, you’ll code your VEX AIM Coding Robot to deliver barrels to the AprilTags as quickly as possible. You will work collaboratively with your group to create a strategy, test your code, and fine-tune your plan to complete the challenge!

In this challenge, you will code your robot to: 

  • Pick up and place two barrels at AprilTag ID 0
  • Pick up and place two barrels at AprilTag ID 1

Watch the video to see one way the robot could complete the challenge.

Unit 2 Challenge Animation

Now that you have watched the video, capture your thoughts in your journal. Answer these questions to guide your thinking and help you prepare for a whole-class discussion:

  • What are your initial strategy ideas for completing this challenge? List at least two ideas in your journal.
  • What have you learned throughout the course so far that will help you to make the best possible strategy for completing this challenge?
  • What questions do you have about completing this challenge? 
  • Why do you think your strategy will be effective? Support your ideas with reasoning based on what you have learned throughout the unit.

Complete the Challenge

Now that you have seen one way to code the robot to complete the challenge, it is time to try it!

Step 1:  Set up the field as shown below.

Field setup for the unit challenge is shown. AprilTag 0 is against the wall in the center of the left wall of the field, and AprilTag 1 is directly opposite on the right side. Two orange and two blue barrels are located in the squares across the center of the field, and the robot is facing the far left barrel, one square behind.

Step 2: Start the challenge! Your task is to:

  • Plan a path with your group for the robot to solve the challenge. 
  • Create a Button Coding project to place two blue barrels near AprilTag ID 0 and two orange barrels near AprilTag ID 1.
  • Use this task card (Google/ .docx / .pdf) to guide you as you complete the challenge. 
    • Pro Tip: Use the strategies you learned in previous lessons to choose a path collaboratively in your group. Take time to document your ideas and decisions both before and during the coding process. This will help your group get on the same page about your approach to solving the challenge, so you can work together to build and test your project.

Share Your Strategy

Once everyone has completed the challenge, you will share your strategy with the class. To prepare for this sharing session, answer the following questions in your journal:

  • What strategy did your group use to complete the challenge? Why was it successful? 
  • How did your group choose that strategy together? 
  • How did you apply what you learned in the unit to complete the challenge? Be specific in your answers. 
  • Do you think your strategy was the best way to complete the challenge? Why or why not?

Reflect and Share

At the start of this unit, you co-created learning targets with your teacher. Once you have completed the challenge, it is time to reflect on your progress toward those learning targets. 

For each of your learning targets, complete the following sentences in your journal: 

  • At first, I thought ____________ because ____________.
  • Now that we've completed the unit challenge, I understand ____________.
  • My evidence for this new understanding is ____________, which shows ____________.

Check in with your teacher when you have completed the sentences for each learning target. This reflection will help you to share your learning.


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