Sphero Robotics

We’ve kick-started off our Sphero robotic and coding activities for Primary 5 – 7 pupils. We borrowed IPads and Sphero Block devices from Portpatrick Primary.

What is a Sphero, you ask? Well, Sphero robots have many different internal parts that make them work such as motors, LEDs, encoders, processors, a CPU and Bluetooth communication module for connecting to phones, and a gyroscope that keeps it oriented. A small, wheeled robot inside the shell climbs up the walls and pushes them forward, causing the ball to roll.

Sphero programmable robots help kids learn fundamental STEM concepts through play-based learning and educational STEAM activities. You can use Sphero robots to play games, create programs, or complete challenges.

Our first session focussed on using Bluetooth to pair our devices, orientating our Spheros and using direction and speed to control the travel of our devices.  The children quickly mastered the balance between speed and control and were then able to navigate obstacles with increasing accuracy.  There was some fun racing the Spheros in figures of eight round cones in  pairs.  We even had a play with adapting the colours of the led array.

Our next activity will bring in the skills of selecting and using a range of coding blocks to ‘draw’ 2D shapes.  This will incorporate thinking about angles, delays and loops.

Collaborating in coding activities develops those all important meta-skills for learning, life and work.

UNCRC Rights of the Child: Article 29 – Aims of Education

Meta-Skills