Indi Sphero

Session 1: Introduction to Sphero Indi

Objective: Familiarize students with Sphero Indi, its color-coded tiles, and how it operates.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, printed activity sheets.

1. Warm-Up (10 min)
   • Explain what Sphero Indi is and how it moves based on color tiles (e.g., green = go, red = stop, etc.).
   • Demonstrate basic movement using color tiles.
2. Activity 1: Meet Indi (20 min)
   • Students create a simple path using 3–5 tiles (e.g., green → yellow → red).
   • Place Indi on the path and observe its movement.
3. Discussion/Reflection (15 min)
   • Ask students: What did Indi do when it saw each color?
   • Discuss how different colors "program" Indi to perform actions.

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Session 2: Building Simple Paths

Objective: Practice creating paths that guide Indi to a specific destination.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, printed grid mat (or flat play area).

1. Warm-Up (10 min)
   • Review what each color tile does (e.g., green = go, purple = turn left).
   • Introduce the concept of planning a path before building.
2. Activity 2: Design a Path (25 min)
   • Challenge: Use color tiles to make Indi move from point A to point B on a grid.
   • Students work in pairs to build their paths and test them.
3. Discussion/Reflection (10 min)
   • Ask: Did Indi follow your path as expected? What changes did you make?

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Session 3: Debugging Basics

Objective: Learn how to identify and fix mistakes in a path.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, printed grid mat.

1. Warm-Up (5 min)
   • Review what debugging means (finding and fixing problems).
2. Activity 3: Debug the Path (30 min)
   • Pre-build paths with intentional errors (e.g., wrong turn tiles).
   • Students test the paths, identify the errors, and fix them.
3. Discussion/Reflection (10 min)
   • Focus on the importance of testing and debugging in programming.

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Session 4: Using Loops

Objective: Introduce the concept of loops by creating repetitive patterns.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, printed grid mat.

1. Warm-Up (10 min)
   • Discuss how some actions repeat (e.g., walking in a square).
   • Introduce the idea of loops and how to simulate them with Indi.
2. Activity 4: Loops with Indi (25 min)
   • Challenge: Design a path where Indi follows a repeated pattern (e.g., a square).
   • Students test and refine their paths.
3. Discussion/Reflection (10 min)
   • Ask: How do loops make programming easier?

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Session 5: Problem-Solving Challenges

Objective: Apply knowledge to solve real-world navigation challenges.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, obstacle props (e.g., small blocks).

1. Warm-Up (5 min)
   • Brief review of color tiles and programming concepts learned so far.
2. Activity 5: Navigate the Maze (35 min)
   • Build simple mazes with obstacles.
   • Students guide Indi through the maze using color tiles.
3. Discussion/Reflection (10 min)
   • Focus on how problem-solving and planning helped them succeed.

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Session 6: Team Collaboration

Objective: Work together to design and implement a complex path.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, larger grid mats.

1. Warm-Up (5 min)
   • Discuss the value of teamwork in solving problems.
2. Activity 6: Team Path Design (35 min)
   • Split students into small groups.
   • Each group creates a path that accomplishes a specific goal (e.g., Indi must visit 3 specific locations).
3. Discussion/Reflection (10 min)
   • Teams present their paths and explain their design process.

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Session 7: Creative Exploration

Objective: Encourage creativity by designing unique paths and challenges.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, additional props (e.g., paper tunnels, ramps).

1. Warm-Up (5 min)
   • Inspire students by showing creative examples of Indi paths.
2. Activity 7: Build Your Own Challenge (30 min)
   • Students design their own creative paths or challenges for Indi.
   • Optionally, students can trade challenges with peers to solve.
3. Showcase and Reflection (15 min)
   • Share and celebrate creative designs as a class.

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Session 8: Showcase and Celebration

Objective: Reflect on learning and demonstrate mastery.
Materials: Sphero Indi robots, color tiles, challenge cards, certificates of completion.

1. Warm-Up (5 min)
   • Recap key concepts from the previous sessions.
2. Activity 8: Final Challenge (30 min)
   • Students choose a challenge card or design their own task to complete.
   • Encourage independence and problem-solving.
3. Reflection and Celebration (15 min)
   • Discuss: What did you learn about programming and problem-solving?
   • Distribute certificates and celebrate student achievements.