KIBO prek

Activity 1: Introduce KIBO

Whole Group

Introduce to students that over the next couple months, they will have an opportunity to play with a fun robot called KIBO (pronounced like “key-bow”). Write the word “KIBO” on the board and have students identify each letter. Explain to students how they are going to learn how to make the KIBO robot do different things such as move, light up, and make sounds. The way students are going to do this is by coding or programming the robot.

Activity 2: K-W-L Chart

Whole Group

Ask students: What do you already know about robots? Have students share out things they have heard or seen about robots. Discuss what students already know and think about robots and record their ideas in the leftmost column of the K-W-L chart under the column title: “What I Know”.

Then ask students: What do you want to know about KIBO? What do you want to know about robots? Write down questions students ask in the middle column of the K-W-L chart under the column title “What I Want to Know”. By documenting students’ questions, you can reference them as students move through the lessons and learn more about robots and KIBO.

Activity 3: Read a Robot Book

Whole Group

Read aloud the book Robots, Robots, Everywhere written by Sue Fleiss and illustrated by Bob Staake. A digital read-aloud of the book can be found using this URL:

Pause at various points during the book to gather student input. What prior experiences or knowledge do students have about robots?

After reading the book, have students share out anything new they learned about robots. Add these ideas to the rightmost column of the K-W-L chart under the column title: “What I Learned”. Explain to students how they will continue to learn more and more things about robots and KIBO and they will keep revisiting this chart to add all the things they have been learning!

Activity 2: Choose a different book about robotics/engineering to read to students. Some options include: Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman or R is for Robot by Adam F. Watkins.

There are also many extension activities and printables related to these books. Feel free to incorporate these activities during choice time. See example here.

Activity 1: Being Kind and Safe with KIBO and People

Whole Group

Remind students that they are going to be using a robot called KIBO. Explain to students: Last time we talked about what we know and wanted to know about robots. Today, we are going to continue talking about what robots are and what robots can do.

Explain to students that before they get to play with KIBO, there are some class norms to follow about being kind and safe to each other and to KIBO. Take time to review your standard classroom procedures here.

Show students the KIBO Kind and Safe Anchor Chart. Guide students through each letter and explain what it stands for:

• The first letter of KIBO is K. K is for “Kind words to”. We say this when we want to tell someone we like what they are doing. For example, you can say “I’m sending kind words to my students for listening carefully to instructions!” Ask students to practice sending kind words to a classmate.
• The second letter of KIBO is I. I is for “I respect you. You respect me.” When we are working with KIBO, we have to show respect to each other. This can look like taking turns or listening to what someone is saying. Ask students what else respect means and looks like.
• The third letter of KIBO is B. B is for “Bodies are safe.” When we work with KIBO, we have to keep our bodies safe. That means our physical bodies, but also the KIBO bodies. Ask students to demonstrate what safe bodies look like and how they should hold objects like KIBO carefully with both hands. Another part of being safe with KIBO’s body is not spinning KIBO’s motors with our fingers because that can break the motors.
• The fourth letter of KIBO is O. O is for “Oops, let’s try again!” Sometimes, we might make a mistake when we’re working with KIBO, but that’s okay. When that happens, we just say oops and try again. Ask students to think of a time when they made a mistake or did not know how to do something correctly the first time but were able to after spending more time and effort.

Activity 2: Is/Is Not a Robot 

Small Group

Designate and label three buckets or baskets: one for “Robots”, one for “Maybe Robots”, and one for “Not Robots.” One at a time, show a variety of different pictures and videos of robots and non-robots (e.g., computers, plants, cars, animals, foods, famous robots such as Wall-E and R2D2). Ensure that pictures and videos include a variety of real-world robots, such as home robots, space robots, factory robots, hospital robots, and child-made robots. Supplement each video with a picture to use for the activity.

One by one, ask students to put the picture in the bucket that they think represents the picture. Then explore why they think that picture does, does not, or maybe represents a robot. Ask students: What features make it or don’t make it a robot? Is this something that was made by a human or by nature?

Activity 3: Defining a Robot

Small Group

Based on students’ ideas from the previous activity, brainstorm a list of characteristics that students think a robot should have. For instance, students might say “robots must be told what to do, sometimes they have eyes and ears, robots can move, etc.” Then provide students with the following definition of a robot. 

A robot is a machine that does things without the help of a person. Many people think of robots as machines that look and act like people. Most robots, though, do not look like people. Robots do only what a person has built them to do. (Britannica Kids)

Build upon this definition by explaining to students what a robot is and is not and correcting any misconceptions from the previous activity. Discuss with students the following key points about robots (KinderLab Robotics):

• Robots are machines.
• Robots are not alive (unlike animals, which are alive)
• People tell robots how to behave with a list of instructions called a program.
• Robot parts let robots do different things, just like animal parts. For example, some robots have motors and wheels that help them move, just like cars.
• Not all robots look alike.
• Some robots can tell what is going on around them (and take in information) through the use of sensors. For example, some robots can sense light, temperature, sound, or touch.

Explain to students that KIBO is a kind of robot that was made especially for children. KIBO can do some of the same things that people can do, but KIBO can also do things that people cannot do. We will be having a lot of fun learning and playing with KIBO!

Activity 1: Reinforce classroom procedures that you already use with students. For instance, you may want to review procedures for large-group discussions, small group and independent work, gathering and putting away materials, calling for students’ attention, and any other procedures for using KIBO.

Activity 2: As a movement activity, replace the baskets or buckets with three corners of the classroom. Label each corner with the three labels: “Robots”, “Maybe Robots”, and “Not Robots”. Have students walk to each corner when you hold up a picture or show a video of a robot/non-robot.

Activity 1: Teacher’s Project

Whole Group

Remind students that during robotics time, we are going to be using a robot called KIBO. Ask students: Last time we talked about robots. Who can tell me what a robot is? (Probe for answers) Today, we are going to learn more about the KIBO robot and see what it can do.

Tell students that you (the teacher) have spent time learning about the KIBO robot and making projects. Show students a video of your KIBO project from the KIBO Professional Development training. Ask students what they notice about the project: What do you see the robot doing? What do you notice about what KIBO looks like?

Activity 2: Robot Parts Song

Whole Group

Teach the “Robot Parts Song” and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students how they will be learning all about the KIBO robot and its parts later.

Robot Parts Song

(To the tune of “Dry Bones”)

The wheels are connected to the motors,

The motors are connected to the body,

The engineers give it a program,

So move, robot, move!

Activity 3: Introduce KIBO Parts

Small Group

Explain to students that today they will be learning about the different parts of the KIBO robot. Show students a KIBO robot body. Ask students: What parts do you see through the clear backside of KIBO? What do you think those parts do? Have you seen these parts in other objects?

Point out the following parts inside of the KIBO body, using the provided questions to guide student-centered discussions:

• Batteries (How many batteries do you see? Why do you think KIBO needs batteries? What else has batteries?)
• Wires (How many wires do you see? What colors are the wires? What do you think the wires are used for?)
• Main board (What color is the main board? Why does KIBO need this part? What part of the body is like the main board?)

Using the KIBO parts guide below, introduce each part of the KIBO robotics kit.

When introducing the motor, tell students that they should not spin the motors with their fingers because that can break the motors. Just like we do not push our friends to make them walk, we should not spin KIBO’s motors. KIBO will spin its motors on its own.

The goal of this activity is not to fully explain to students how each KIBO part works and functions, but rather to continue activating and extending students’ prior knowledge. Each KIBO part will be introduced in greater detail at various points throughout the curriculum. Explain to students that each time we play with KIBO, we will learn something new!

Activity 1: If a video from the Professional Development training is not available or a presentation option is not available, create and scan a multi-block KIBO program to show students.

Activity 3: Make the connection between KIBO parts and human body parts. For example, what part of the human body does the sound sensor look like (ear)? What about the main board (brain)?

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

In order for students to learn the steps of the Design Process, sing the following “Design Process Song” as a class!

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create,

Test and Improve and Share what we make.

(Repeat)

Activity 2: What is the Design Process

Whole Group

Explain to students: Last time, we looked at KIBO and talked about all the different parts of the KIBO kit. Do you know how KIBO was made? KIBO was made by a team of engineers!

Engineers are people who make objects or inventions. Making something new takes a long time and a lot of hard work. Engineers use a Design Process to think about their ideas and make a plan for how they will make something. Show students the Design Process Anchor Chart.

Discuss with students what each step means:

• Ask: Ask a question
• Imagine: Imagine different solutions that can answer the question
• Plan: Make a plan for your project
• Create: Create your project
• Test and improve: Test your project and change any problems you find
• Share: Share your project with others

Activity 3: Solve a Problem

Small Group

Explain to students that engineers can make many kinds of objects, not just robots. For example, engineers made roads, cars, and water bottles!

Students will now “put on their engineering hats.” and design a project to answer a question: how tall can we build a block tower?

Discuss as a whole class: What is the question? How can we imagine answering this question? How can we plan our project?

Working alone or as a small group, students should build their towers as tall as possible.

As students work, comment on features that make towers sturdy (e.g., using a wide base, alternating stacking bricks instead of directly stacking).

Activity 3: Choose a man-made object in the classroom. Then, discuss with the class how the object was made by humans! Use the Design Process anchor chart for students to visualize the steps taken in creating the chosen object. For example, if the chosen object was a binder, ask students: What kind of problem does this binder solve? How do you think it was designed? What questions would you ask the engineer? 

Activity 3: Provide students with multiple options of building materials (wooden blocks, Legos, magna-tiles. Ask the question: How can we build the tallest tower? If students worked individually to create projects using different materials, the projects or place projects of different materials next to each other to see what materials can build the tallest tower.

Activity 3: After students build their towers, reflect or discuss within the small groups. Students can comment on what was similar about tall towers, or what made some tall towers different from other towers.

Activity 1: Robot Parts Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Robot Parts Song” and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song helps us understand how to put the KIBO robot together.

Robot Parts Song

(To the tune of “Dry Bones”)

The wheels are connected to the motors,

The motors are connected to the body,

The engineers give it a program,

So move, robot, move!

Activity 2: Wheels & Motors

Whole Group

Demonstrate how to attach the wheels and motors to the KIBO body. Point out that when attaching the motors to the KIBO body, both “green dots” should be visible from the outside. Also call attention to how the motors can be attached to the motors in different ways:

1. Black o-ring in the center of the wheel
2. Orange half circle in the center of the wheel

Ask students to guess how to attach the wheels to the motors. Which way of attaching the motors will make KIBO move straight and not wobble? (Answer: #1 will make KIBO move straight because the center axle of the motor is aligned with the center of the wheel! Both wheels need to be attached the same way, or KIBO will spin)

Activity 3: How to Play with KIBO

Small Group

Pass out KIBO bodies, wheels, and motors (or have students take them out of their kits). For this activity, students can work either individually or in small groups.

Have students practice assembling and disassembling the KIBO wheels and motors. If students are working in groups, each group member should take a turn.

Take this time to introduce classroom procedures related to KIBO usage. Use a classroom organizational system that best works for you and your classroom. Your system should cover procedures such as:

• Taking KIBO kits out from storage/central area
• Putting KIBO parts and blocks back into each bin
• Checking for any missing parts
• Calling for students’ attention during a KIBO activity
• Listening to others during whole class discussions and technology circles
• Putting KIBOs back into storage/central area

To make cleaning up more fun, here’s a “KIBO Clean Up Song” you can introduce to students!

KIBO Clean Up Song

(To the tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

We’re turning off our KIBOs and putting them away

We had so much fun but we’re finished for the day

We’re using both our hands and we walk instead of run

We put away our KIBOs and now the song is done!

Activity 3: If students are working in small groups, introduce job cards to split up cleaning responsibilities. Explain to groups that each student in every KIBO group will be given a different job during clean-up time. One student will collect all of the KIBO parts and blocks, one student will check to make sure all the parts are placed inside the storage bin, and one student will place the storage bin in its appropriate spot in the classroom. Have students review procedures and practice taking turns with each role.

Activity 1: Read Communication Book

Whole Group

Read a book centered around communication, such as Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

A digital read-aloud of the Click, Clack, Moo can be found here:

Activity 2: Discuss Different Languages

Whole Group

Ask students: Do you know any other languages? How do you say hello in that language? If students do not speak other languages, play the Sesame Street No Matter Your Language Video for the class.

Discuss how different languages allow us to say the same thing, but in different ways. Explain to students that language is a way for people to communicate what they are thinking. We can communicate by talking, writing things down, drawing a picture, or by using body and hand gestures. Show students the English alphabet and ask them to point out different letters. Show students an example of another alphabet such as Spanish or Mandarin. Examples are available in the Alphabets in Different Languages Slide Deck. Explain to students that alphabets are a set of letters and symbols that represent the basic sounds of a language. Just like how we have letters in the English language, there are letters in other languages too!

Explain that robots and computers also have different languages, and their languages are called computer programming languages. Ask students: Have you heard of any computer languages? What are they? Explain that we are going to learn KIBO’s language so that we can tell KIBO what to do.

Activity 3: KIBO’s Language

Small Group

Show students KIBO programming blocks of varying colors. Draw the parallel that each KIBO block is like a different letter of KIBO’s language. Have students point out what they see on each block (letters, pictures, colors, barcodes, etc.) Ask students: What does each block look like? What do you see on the block? What is the same about these blocks? What are some things that are different about these blocks?

Once students have identified that each block has a picture, word, and barcode, ask students: What part of the blocks do you think are part of human language and what part are KIBO’s language? Is it the words, or the pictures, or something else? Once students identify the barcode as the answer, discuss other objects or places where they have encountered barcodes (e.g., grocery store, mall, etc.).

Then ask students: Do you think KIBO can think on its own? Can KIBO make its own program? Lead student-centered discussion on how robots are programmed by humans and cannot think for themselves. Everything that KIBO says and does is determined by how the programmer chooses the program, or set of instructions, for KIBO.

Activity 1: Choose a different communication book, such as Subway Sparrow written and illustrated by Leyla Torres. A digital read-aloud of Subway Sparrow can be found here:

Activity 1: Robot Parts Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Robot Parts Song” and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song helps us understand how to put the KIBO robot together.

Robot Parts Song

(To the tune of “Dry Bones”)

The wheels are connected to the motors,

The motors are connected to the body,

The engineers give it a program,

So move, robot, move!

Activity 2: Begin and End Blocks

Whole Group

In order to program the KIBO robot, students first need to learn KIBO’s language: the programming blocks! The first blocks we are going to learn are the Begin and End blocks. These blocks tell KIBO when to go and when to stop.

Show students the Begin and End block. Ask students: What do you notice about these blocks? What do you see in the picture? What does the color look like? What else is green and red and means “go” and “stop”?

Every time we program KIBO to do something, we have to tell KIBO when to start and stop. The green Begin block tells KIBO to start, just like a green traffic light does for cars. The red End block tells KIBO to stop, just like a red traffic light does for cars.

Another way to introduce the Begin and End block is through a book connection. For example: KIBO needs a “Begin” and “End” block, just like a book starts with a cover page and ends with a back page. The middle blocks tell KIBO what to do, just like the pages in the middle of the book tell the story.

Activity 3: Red Light, Green Light

Small Group

This activity is played like the traditional “Red Light, Green Light” game. When teachers hold up the green Begin block and say “Begin”, students should dance, move, or shake. When teachers hold up the red End block and say “End”, students should freeze in place. Ensure that by the end of this activity, students understand the purpose of each block.

Activity 2: Show pictures of a stop sign and a traffic light and have students point out the colors they see in each picture. What does each color mean? Make the connection that the color red is often used to mean “stop” or “end”, and the color green is often used to mean “go”.

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the block that students are learning how to use: Forward.

What Should KIBO Do Today?

(To the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)

What should KIBO do today 

Do today, do today 

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will go straight today 

Straight today, straight today 

KIBO will go straight today if we scan this block

(Teacher holds up FORWARD block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go 

But how to we make KIBO go 

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle

triangle, triangle 

Programmers press the triangle Now let’s all move straight!”

(Students move forward like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Forward

Whole Group

Show students the Forward block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do?

Tell students that today’s block of the day is “Forward”. This block tells KIBO to move forward.

Talk about how the block says “Forward” in many different ways: the arrow pointing upwards, the word “FORWARD” in all capital letters, and the barcode. Discuss how KIBO reads the barcode, but the barcode cannot be read by people. The arrow and the word “FORWARD” can be read by people, but these symbols cannot be read by KIBO.

Activity 3: Moving Forward

Small Group

Ask students: What are some different ways people can move forward? List their ideas on an anchor chart or whiteboard. Examples of student responses include walking, crawling, skipping, and hopping.

Remind students that for KIBO to read the program, the program needs the Begin and End blocks. Build the program with the blocks. You can build the program as one group, or each student can build their own program.

Have the students act out the program with their bodies using the different methods of moving forward discussed above. Have the students say each block out loud as they move through the program: “Begin, Forward (start moving here), End.”

Ask the students: What do you think KIBO will do to move forward? Scan the program and show students how to push the green button. Ask students: What did KIBO do? Discuss how KIBO only has one way of moving forward, rolling, while people can move forward in many different ways. Discuss how KIBO was programmed to move on its own when we push the green button because the robot has batteries (unlike a mechanical toy car that must be pushed in order to move).

Activity 3: After asking students what KIBO will do to move forward, scan and run the program on KIBO without the wheels and motors. Ask students: Did KIBO do anything? Have students guess and realize that KIBO is missing its wheels and motors, so it cannot move! Attach the wheels and motors and rerun the program (no need to rescan the blocks).

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the blocks that students are learning how to use: Forward and Shake.

What Should KIBO Do Today?

(To the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)

What did KIBO do last time

Do last time, do last time 

What did KIBO do last time when we scanned this block? 

(teacher holds up FORWARD block) 

KIBO went straight before

Straight before, straight before 

KIBO went straight before when we scanned this block

What should KIBO do today

Do today, do today 

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will shake today 

Shake today, shake today 

KIBO will shake today when scan this block

(teacher holds up SHAKE block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go 

But how to we make KIBO go 

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle 

Triangle, triangle 

Programmers press the triangle now let’s all do a shake!

(Students shake like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Shake

Whole Group

Show students the Shake block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do?

Tell students that today’s block of the day is “Shake”. This block tells KIBO to shake.

Ask the students: What do you think KIBO will do to shake? Remind the students that to read the block, KIBO needs a Begin and End block. Scan the program “Begin, Shake, End” on KIBO and run the program. Ask the students: What did KIBO do? 

Talk about how both this block and the forward block are blue. That is because both blocks tell KIBO how to move. KIBO does not know the color of the blocks, because that is part of the human language of the blocks.

Activity 3: Programmer Says

Small Group

This activity is played like the traditional “Simon Says” game, in which students repeat an action if Simon says to do something. Before playing the game, hold up each large Programmer Says card and review what the block does (use only the blocks you have learned for now).

Have the class stand up. Hold up one big KIBO icon at a time and say, “Programmer says to _________”. Go through each individual instruction a few times until the class seems to get it. 

Just like in the real “Simon Says” game, the Programmer can try to be tricky! Just like Simon Says, if the Programmer forgets to say, “Programmer says to ___________”, then students should not perform the action!

Activity 3: For older students, once they are familiar with the motion blocks, you can give them programs including the Begin and End blocks. If the program does not have the Begin or End block, the program cannot run, even if you say Programmer Says.

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the blocks that students are learning how to use: Shake and spin.

What Should KIBO Do Today?

(To the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)

What did KIBO do last time 

Do last time, do last time 

what did KIBO do last time when we scanned this block 

(teacher holds up SHAKE block) 

KIBO did a shake before 

shake before, shake before 

KIBO did a shake before when we scanned this block

What should KIBO do today

Do today, do today 

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will spin today

Spin today, spin today

KIBO will spin today if we scan this block

(teacher holds up SPIN block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go

But how to we make KIBO go

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle 

Triangle, triangle

Programmers press the triangle now let’s all spin around!

(Students spin like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Spin

Whole Group

Show students the Spin block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do?

Tell students that today’s block of the day is Spin. This block tells KIBO to spin in a circle.

Ask the students: What do you think KIBO will do to spin? Remind the students that to read the block, KIBO needs a start and end block. Scan the program “Start, Spin, End” on KIBO and run the program. Ask the students: What did KIBO do?

Activity 3: Programmer Says

Small Group

This activity is played like the traditional “Simon Says” game, in which students repeat an action if Simon says to do something. Before playing the game, hold up each large Programmer Says card and review what the block does (use only the blocks you have learned for now).

Have the class stand up. Hold up one big KIBO icon at a time and say, “Programmer says to _________”. Go through each individual instruction a few times until the class seems to get it.

Just like in the real “Simon Says” game, the Programmer can try to be tricky! Just like Simon Says, if the Programmer forgets to say, “Programmer says to ___________”, then students should not perform the action!

Activity 3: For older kids, once they are familiar with the motion blocks, you can give them programs including the Begin and End blocks. If the program does not have the Begin or End block, the program cannot run, even if you say Programmer Says.

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Design Process Song” as a class to review the steps of the Design Process!

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create,

Test and Improve and Share what we make.

(Repeat)

Introduce vocabulary author and engineer. Ask students: What does an author do? What does an author make? What does an engineer do? What does an engineer make?

Discuss how both authors and engineers make creations that they share with the world. Computer engineers write programs, which are step-by-step instructions that tell a computer or machine (like a robot) what to do. Authors write the words of a story, thinking carefully about what happens first, next, and so on.

Activity 2: Sequencing a Story

Whole Group

Read aloud a book that has a clear beginning, middle and end, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar written and illustrated by Eric Carle. While reading the book, call attention to the various details so that students can better remember the scenes for the following ordering activity.

A digital read-aloud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar can be found using this URL:

Activity 3: Order Matters

Small Group

Show students printed pages of three scenes from the book or Order Matters Slides, and discuss what is happening in each scene. Ask students: Which of these scenes is at the beginning of the story? What happens in the middle? What happens at the end?

After arranging the scenes, ask students: What happens if we put the End scene at the beginning? Is it the same story? Engage in a student-centered discussion about why the order of the story matters.

Activity 2: Another book with clear sequencing is Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eril Litman and illustrated by James Dean. A digital read-aloud of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes can be found using this URL:

Activity 1: Robot Parts Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Robot Parts Song” and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song helps us understand how to put the KIBO robot together.

Robot Parts Song

(To the tune of “Dry Bones”)

The wheels are connected to the motors,

The motors are connected to the body,

The engineers give it a program,

So move, robot, move!

Activity 2: What is a Program?

Whole Group

Refer back to the definition of a robot. A robot is a machine that does tasks without the help of a person. How does a robot know what tasks to do? It needs to be given instructions!

A program is a set of instructions (or code) that tells a computer (or robot) what to do. The act of giving a set of instructions is called programming or coding. Explain to students that they will be using the programming blocks that were introduced in earlier lessons to program the KIBO robots. Before getting to that, students will first learn how to plan and write a full program!

Activity 3: Plan a Dance

Small Group

Tell the children that now, the class is going to plan a program for a class dance. Today, we are going to plan and write our program, and tomorrow, we are going to make our robot dance. Making a plan before we get started with programming is very important! A plan helps us figure out what we are trying to do and how we will go about doing it.

The first phase of planning involves knowing which KIBO blocks we will be using: Begin, End, Forward, Shake, and Spin. Show students large printouts of these KIBO blocks. Have the children stand up and suggest ideas for dance movements that are also KIBO motion blocks (children can also suggest other dance movements). Then ask students: Which KIBO block should we use to represent that move? Make a new printout with this added block. Have students act out the motion with their bodies.

Arrange the paper printouts to form a sequence of motions, ensuring that the program starts with Begin and ends with End. Once the program has been written with paper printouts, have the class dance the entire program! Discuss how order in the program matters. Then model for students how you would write out the program with the physical KIBO blocks. Document the program by taking a photograph of the class’s dance for the next lesson.

Activity 1: Robot Parts Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Robot Parts Song” and have students sing and dance along!

Robot Parts Song

(To the tune of “Dry Bones”)

The wheels are connected to the motors,

The motors are connected to the body,

The engineers give it a program,

So move, robot, move!

Activity 2: How to Scan

Whole Group

Demonstrate scanning the barcodes on the blocks using the KIBO body’s embedded barcode scanner. Ask the students: What do you see during scanning? What do you hear during scanning?

Tell the children you are going to scan the class dance. Ask the students to say what they see or hear when each block is scanned, and how they know if it has worked. Remind the students of some skills that can be used when scanning does not work and they get frustrated (e.g. taking deep breaths, asking for help).

Scan the class dance with the students watching, and as you scan, ask the students if each block has scanned.

Once the dance is scanned, run the KIBO program so KIBO dances. Then, run the KIBO program while the students dance the program alongside KIBO.

Activity 3: Scanning Circle 

Small Group

As a class, go around a circle scanning a single block or simple program (Start, Motion, End) in a circle. 

Have children practice scanning a simple program (Start, Motion, End). Encourage children to use different strategies to scan. Strategies can include disconnecting and separating the blocks to ensure each block is individually scanned, lifting KIBO between scanning each block, or working collaboratively with a partner (one person holds the robot to scan, and the other person checks to make sure each block is scanned properly). 

Students can work with their own robots or with a single robot. As each student scans, ask the students: What do you see and hear when scanning works? What do you see and hear when scanning does not work?

Activity 2: Scan a block or two of the dance incorrectly. See if the students know that the sound is incorrect and can identify that the block has not scanned.

Activity 3: Expectations of scanning abilities are different for children of different ages. Children 36-48 months should be able to identify when the KIBO has correctly or incorrectly scanned the block (using the green light and beep sound) and should be able to read KIBO’s program on the blocks as KIBO runs the program. Children 48-60 months should be able to scan blocks with support (i.e. the teacher or a peer holding the block at an assisted height), and by the end of the curriculum will be scanning blocks or cards with minimal support.

Activity 3: Introduce the “Scanner” job card. Students holding this job card have the responsibility of scanning each of the KIBO blocks. When working in pairs or small groups, students can take turns holding the job card and scanning the program.

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the blocks that students are learning how to use: Spin and backwards.

What did KIBO do last time 

Do last time, do last time 

What did KIBO do last time when we scanned this block? 

(teacher holds up SPIN block) 

KIBO spun around before

Around before, around before 

KIBO spun around before when we scanned this block.

What should KIBO do today

Do today, do today

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will move back today

back today, back today

KIBO will move back today when scan this block

(teacher holds up BACKWARDS block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go

But how to we make KIBO go 

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle, triangle, triangle 

Programmers press the triangle now let’s all go back!

(Students go backwards like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Backward

Whole Group

Show students the Backward block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do? Tell students that today’s block of the day is Backward. This block tells KIBO to go backwards.

Ask students: What does it mean to go backward? Why do we usually go forward instead? How can we go backwards safely? For example, we can look over our shoulders. Some trucks beep so people know they are coming backwards.

Ask students: What do you think KIBO will look like when it goes backwards? Remind the students that in order to read the block, KIBO needs a Begin and End block. Scan the program “Begin, Backward, End” on KIBO and run the program. Ask students: What did KIBO do?

Activity 3: Creative Exploration

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks and have students engage in free play using Backward and Forward blocks. Free play can be individual or in small groups. During this time, make sure students can identify the beginning, middle, and end blocks in their KIBO programs. When running the programs with KIBO, students should follow along by pointing to each block as KIBO acts it out.

Activity 3: During creative exploration, scanning should be emphasized for older students. The students can practice scanning using different strategies and should be comfortable scanning by the end of the session.

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the blocks that students are learning how to use: backwards and turn left.

What did KIBO do last time

Do last time, do last time

What did KIBO do last time when we scanned this block 

(teacher holds up BACKWARDS block) 

KIBO moved back before

Back before, back before 

KIBO moved back before when we scanned this block

What should KIBO do today

Do today, do today

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will go left today

Left today, left today

KIBO will go left today when scan this block

(teacher holds up LEFT block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go

But how to we make KIBO go 

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle, 

Triangle, triangle 

Programmers press the triangle now let’s all move left

(Students move left like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Left

Whole Group

Show students the Left block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do? Tell students that today’s block of the day is Turn Left. This block tells KIBO to go left.

Ask students: What do you think KIBO will do when it goes left? Remind students that in order to read the block, KIBO needs a Begin and End block. Scan the program “Begin, Turn Left, End” on KIBO and run the program. Ask the students: What did KIBO do? How was that different from spin?

Activity 3: Left and Right

Small Group

Talk about how left is one of two directions: left and right. Show students the Left and Right anchor chart. Explain that the left block does not just turn KIBO, but specifically turns KIBO to the left. We will talk about how to turn KIBO to the right tomorrow.

Ask students: What are some things that have Right and Left? Discuss how we have right and left hands, and right and left feet. Talk about how KIBO has right and left wheels.

Read the sentence on the Left and Right anchor chart out loud while pointing to each word. Then, read the sentence beneath it out loud while pointing to each word. Discuss how both KIBO programs and the English language are read from Left to Right. 

Play “Programmer Says” using instructions about Right and Left body parts (e.g., “Programmer says raise your right hand,” “Programmer says use your left hand to touch your nose,” “Touch your left knee.”

Activity 1: “What Should KIBO Do Today?” Song

Whole Group

Sing the “What Should KIBO Do Today?” song and have students sing and dance along! Explain to students that the song will teach us about programming with new KIBO blocks. Prior to singing this song, you should get out the blocks that students are learning how to use: turn left and turn right.

What did KIBO do last time

Do last time, do last time

What did KIBO do last time when we scanned this block 

(teacher holds up TURN LEFT block) 

KIBO moved left before 

Left before, left before

KIBO moved left before when we scanned this block

What should KIBO do today

Do today, do today

What should KIBO do today when we scan its blocks?

KIBO will go right today

Right today right today

KIBO will go right today when scan this block

(teacher holds up TURN RIGHT block) 

But how do we make KIBO go 

KIBO go, KIBO go

But how to we make KIBO go 

Oh I think I know…

Programmers press the triangle

triangle, triangle 

Programmers press the triangle now let’s all go right!”

(Students go right like a robot)

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Right

Whole Group

Show students the Turn Right block. Ask students: What do you notice about this block? What color is it? What is the picture on it? What do you think this block tells KIBO to do? Tell students that today’s block of the day is Turn Right. This block tells KIBO to go Right.

Show students the Left and Right Anchor Chart. Ask students: What is left and right? What makes them different?

Ask students: What about this block looks similar to left? What about this block looks different from left? What do you think KIBO will look like when it goes right? Remind students that in order to read the block, KIBO needs a Begin and End block. Scan the program “Begin, Turn Right, End” on KIBO and run the program. Ask students: What did KIBO do? How was that different from left?

Activity 3: Creative Exploration

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks and have students engage in free play using Turn Left, Turn Right, and Backward blocks. Free play can be individual or in small groups. During this time, make sure students can identify the beginning, middle, and end blocks in their KIBO programs. When running the programs on the KIBO, students should track their programs on their blocks to reinforce 1-1 correspondence.

Activity 3: Older students should also focus on scanning their programs. For younger students, the teacher can scan the program while students focus on tracking the blocks of their program alongside KIBO.

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Design Process Song” as a class to review the steps of the Design Process!

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create, 

Test and Improve and Share what we make. 

(Repeat)

After singing, ask students: Which part of the song do you think is about solving problems? (Answer: Test and Improve!)

Activity 2: Introduce Debugging

Whole Group

Have students think about their scanning experiences in the previous lessons. Ask students: What problems did they face when they were programming? Were they always able to scan the blocks properly? Did KIBO always follow their program as expected? Did they ever see a red light appear on KIBO or hear a weird ringtone when scanning? Write down these problems or draw pictures on the board to illustrate the different issues students have been facing.

Explain to students that if something goes wrong, we have to check whether we communicated our instructions properly. This is just like when someone is trying to explain steps to us, and we get confused if we don’t know all the steps or if the steps are all mixed up! 

Programmers and software engineers also have different problems when they are working. A problem with a computer program is called a bug. And when programmers and engineers come across bugs and find different solutions to solve them, they are doing something called debugging. Debugging is a method used to understand how to fix things when engineers program robots, and the robots do not do what they are supposed to do. Explain to students that just like engineers, they will debug too!

Activity 3: Program the Teacher

Small Group

Have students take turns giving step-by-step instructions to direct the teacher to get a toy or book from a specific area of the classroom.

The instructions the children give to the teacher must be specific. When students do not give specific instructions, teachers should behave in slightly incorrect ways from students’ intentions (e.g., If students say “Go Forward,” the teacher could lean forward, take only one step forward, or go forward indefinitely.) When instructions are not received as intended, children should alter their instructions or be prompted to do so (e.g., “Walk one step forward”).

Explain to students how KIBO needs very specific directions, so we sometimes have to go back and check our instructions to make sure they are clear.

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Design Process Song” as a class to review the steps of the Design Process

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create, 

Test and Improve and Share what we make. 

(Repeat)

Activity 2: Debugging Strategies

Whole Group

Introduce to students the Debugging Strategies Anchor Chart. Tell students that whenever we find a bug in our program, there are different things we can do to try to solve our problem! Some bugs can be hard to find and solve, so we might need to try more than one strategy. 

Here are some strategies we can use to solve problems and debug our programs:

• Tracing the code with your finger: Tap or point to each block one-by-one to make sure that the KIBO robot is performing each action it was supposed to do.
• Walking out the code using your body: Go through each block of the program and act out the actions with your body. Did you see KIBO doing the same actions?
• Re-scanning the program: Sometimes we might forget to scan a block or instead scan a different block multiple times. Try scanning the program again, this time spacing the blocks out or asking a peer to check for the green light and beep (which are visual and auditory indicators that each block was scanned properly). 
• Tinkering: Sometimes problem-solving means tinkering and playing around with different pieces. Try reattaching the motors and wheels, turning KIBO on/off, or any other activities that might help solve the problem. 
• Asking a friend or teacher for help: If none of the above strategies work, asking someone else to look at the problem with you can be helpful! Explain the strategies you tried and what you learned, then work together to figure out a different solution. 

Model using words and actions how to use each debugging strategy. Explain to students that they will now practice using these strategies with some sample buggy programs!

Activity 3: Debug KIBO Programs

Small Group

Present each buggy program and its prompt to the class (e.g., KIBO should be moving forward, but it is spinning instead). Present the prompt, the KIBO block program, and the KIBO in action.

Ask students to identify what is wrong and how they might try fixing the problem. Invite students to turn and talk about different solutions, then share their solutions aloud with the class. Guide students using prompting questions and observations to the correct solution. The teacher will then fix the bug so that KIBO will do what we want.

When students find the bugs, engage in the celebration of the debugging process by saying Kind words to ___ as a class!

Activity 3: Teachers can present two KIBOs with the same bug (for example, we want KIBO to move, but KIBO is spinning). One KIBO can have a software bug (spin block instead of forward block), while another KIBO has a hardware program (one of the wheels is in the wrong direction).

Activity 1: Talk about Sounds

Whole Group

Tell the class that today we are going to talk about sound. Ask students: Where in the world do we hear sounds? What part of our body do we use to hear sounds? What in our world makes sounds? What sounds do you enjoy? What sounds do you not enjoy?

Discuss that things that make a lot of sound are noisy, and things that do not make sound are quiet. Ask students: What are some things that are noisy? What are some things that are quiet?

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Beep

Whole Group

Introduce students to the orange Beep block! Ask students: What do you notice about this block? How is this block different from the other blocks we have used? How is it the same? Scan the program “Begin, Beep, End” using KIBO to demonstrate what this block does. Ensure that students are listening carefully to hear the beep! 

Rescan the program, this time scanning the middle Beep block multiple times (e.g., Begin, Beep, Beep, Beep, End). Play the program and have students count out loud the number of times KIBO beeps. Explain how the number of times that KIBO beeps is the same as the number of times you scanned the Beep block.

Activity 3: Free Play

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks and have students engage in free play. Free play can be individual or in small groups. During this time, walk around and make sure students can identify the beginning, middle, and end blocks in their KIBO programs. 

By the end of this activity, students should feel comfortable assembling a complete KIBO program with at least 2-3 blocks including the Beep block. When running the programs on the KIBO, students should track their programs on their blocks to reinforce 1-1 correspondence.

Activity 3: Older students should also focus on scanning their programs. For younger students, the teacher can scan the program while students focus on tracking the blocks of their program alongside KIBO.

Activity 1: Talk about Light

Whole Group

Tell the class that today we are going to talk about light. Ask students: What part of our body do we use to see light? What objects in our classroom light up? What objects in our home light up? Are there different colors of light – what are they?

Discuss that when things light up, they are bright, but when things do not light up, they are dark. Ask students: What are some things that are very bright? What are some things that are dark?

Activity 2: Blocks of the Day: Light

Whole Group

Introduce students to a new KIBO part: the lightbulb! Demonstrate to students how to attach the lightbulb module to the KIBO body. Explain that the lightbulb can go on any of the four ports on the KIBO body. 

Explain to students that the lightbulb needs its own special blocks. Have students guess which blocks KIBO would need to make the lightbulb turn white, blue, or red! Ask students: What do you notice about these blocks? What do you see that is the same between them? What is different? How are they different from the other blocks we have used? How are they the same?

Point out that all the light blocks are yellow, just like all the movement blocks are blue. Also point out that KIBO does not need 3 different bulbs to make 3 different colors. Although KIBO does not know the difference between the block colors, we know that the KIBO block colors are important. This is another example of the difference between robots and humans!

Scan a program with the Light blocks (e.g., Begin, Blue Light On, White Light On, Red Light On) without the lightbulb attached to the KIBO body. Play the program and ask students why the KIBO does not turn different colors. Have students guess and realize that the lightbulb is not attached! Attach the lightbulb and replay the program (no need to rescan the blocks). Explain the KIBO will not be able to light up on its own without the light blocks or the lightbulb module.

Activity 3: Free Play

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks and have students engage in free play. Free play can be individual or in small groups. During this time, make sure students can identify the beginning, middle, and end blocks in their KIBO programs. When running the programs on the KIBO, students should track their programs on their blocks to reinforce 1-1 correspondence.

By the end of this activity, students should feel comfortable adding the lightbulb to their KIBO and assembling a complete KIBO program with at least 2-3 blocks including a light block and scanning a complete program with KIBO.

Activity 3: During free play, students of varying age and ability levels might work on different tasks. For example, with 3 year olds, focus on only one light block and assemble 3-block programs: Begin, Light, End. Older students may be able to use multiple light blocks.

Activity 1: Freeze Dance

Whole Group

Freeze Dance is a great game to get students moving and engage their creativity. When music plays, students dance and when the music pauses, they must freeze immediately. As the teacher, control the music and press pause periodically to make students freeze. Remember to reinforce class norms around safety and being cautious with their bodies.

Explain to students that today they will learn a new block that will keep KIBO “freeze” until it hears a loud sound like a clap.

Activity 2: Block of the Day: Wait For Clap

Whole Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks. Show the Wait for Clap block and the Sound sensor and create an example program together. Ask students: What does the Sound sensor look like? What do you think it does? Explain to students that a sensor allows KIBO to take in information from its surroundings. A Sound sensor allows KIBO to sense loud sounds like a clap.  

Run a sample program with the Wait for Clap block and Sound sensor, and have students discuss what the robot is doing. When KIBO gets to the instruction “Wait for Clap”, KIBO listens for a sound (using its Sound Sensor!) before it goes to the next block instruction. Remind students that KIBO will not be able to continue its program after the Wait for Clap block if it does not have the Sound sensor attached. 

Remember, KIBO follows its instructions in order, so pay close attention to where the Wait for Clap block is placed in the program. As you demonstrate using the Sound sensor, ask students to follow along with the blocks so they know when to clap! 

What is the Sound Sensor?

Activity 3: Free Play

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and blocks and have students engage in free play. Free play can be individual or in small groups. By the end of this activity, students should feel comfortable adding the Sound sensor to their KIBO and the Wait for Clap block to their programs.

Activity 3: For students who are comfortable adding the Sound sensor and Wait for Clap block to their KIBO and programs, ask: What happens when the Wait for Clap block is right after the Begin block? What happens when the Wait for Clap block is in the middle of the program? What happens when the Wait for Clap block is at the end of the program? Encourage students to test out different programs and use the Debugging Strategies anchor chart to help them solve any issues they come across.

If the Wait for Clap block is at the beginning of the program, KIBO will not do any actions until it hears a clap.

If the Wait for Clap block is in the middle of the program, KIBO will pause at that point in the program and wait for the clap to continue.

If the Wait for Clap block is at the end of the program, KIBO will not appear to do anything because the only instruction for KIBO to follow after the block is END.

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Design Process Song” as a class to review the steps of the Design Process!

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create, 

Test and Improve and Share what we make. 

(Repeat)

Activity 2: Programming Freeze Dance 

Small Group

Discuss the rules and elements of Freeze Dance (e.g., dancing while the music plays, freezing when music stops, dance again when music starts). Ask students: How could we program KIBO to dance, freeze, and dance again? 

Have students program a freeze dance program for KIBO using motion blocks and the Wait for Clap block. 

Point out that when KIBO gets to the Wait for Clap block in its program, KIBO’s green light is still turned on. Students often misinterpret the KIBO not moving to it being turned off. However, if KIBO’s light is still on, that means its program is still running. Clap near the Sound sensor and watch KIBO continue its program!

Activity 3: Dance with Robots

Small Group

Have students scan their KIBO programs so that the class can have a robot dance party. (Support students with scanning the blocks if needed)

Once everybody has scanned their program, explain: We are going to dance with our robots using our robot dances. Everyone will start their KIBOs at the same time and begin dancing. When your robot freezes, you freeze too, no matter what position you’re in. We are going to wait until EVERYBODY is frozen. Then, I will count to three and we will all clap. And then we will dance again!

Practice clapping as a class on the count of three. Then have the students start their KIBO programs and begin dancing. When all students and robots are frozen, count to three and have students clap. Then, students and robots continue dancing!

Activity 1: Repeating Song

Whole Group

Sing a repeating song that your class is familiar with, for example: The Wheels on the Bus.

The wheels on the bus go round and round

Round and round

Round and round

The wheels on the bus go round and round

All through the town

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish

Swish, swish, swish

Swish, swish, swish

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish

All through the town

The people on the bus go up and down

Up and down

Up and down

The people on the bus go up and down

All through the town

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep

Beep, beep, beep

Beep, beep, beep 

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep

All through the town

A YouTube video of the song is available here:

Activity 2: Repeat Loops

Whole Group

Choose an example repeating word or action from the short story/song you read aloud. Then, ask students: What would repetition look like in a KIBO program? Can we make patterns with the KIBO blocks? 

Explain to students that we can use a repeat loop to make it easier to scan a KIBO program that has a repeating pattern. Introduce the Repeat and End Repeat blocks with the number parameters: 2, 3, 4. 

Ask students to identify what looks different between the Repeat and End Repeat blocks and the Begin and End blocks. Ask what looks similar. Discuss how the circular arrows on the gray blocks indicate that the blocks mean repeat.

Activity 3: Keep Going

Small Group

Using the large Programmer Says cards or the KIBO blocks, create a program as a class to make KIBO go as far across the room as possible (use a simple repeating pattern: Begin, Forward, Forward, Forward, Forward, End). 

Ask students: What is repeating in this program? How many times does it repeat? These two questions are the most important questions we need to answer before introducing the KIBO repeat blocks. 

When the class has used the maximum limit of available blocks, scan and run the program to see if KIBO can cross the room. Ask the students: Is KIBO going as far as we wanted? What if we wanted KIBO to go further? What if we wanted to have 100 forward blocks?

Discuss with students how they might build a program like that. What issues might they come across? Is there an easier way to let KIBO know to repeat something? Recreate the program using the repeat loops.

Activity 1: Repeating Song

Whole Group

Sing a repeating song that your class is familiar with, for example: The Wheels on the Bus.

The wheels on the bus go round and round

Round and round

Round and round

The wheels on the bus go round and round

All through the town

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish

Swish, swish, swish

Swish, swish, swish

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish

All through the town

The people on the bus go up and down

Up and down

Up and down

The people on the bus go up and down

All through the town

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep

Beep, beep, beep

Beep, beep, beep 

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep

All through the town

A YouTube video of the song is available here:

Activity 2: Repeat Loops

Whole Group

Review repeat loops with numbers. Ask students to remember what looks different between the Repeat and End Repeat blocks and the Begin and End blocks. What looks similar? Discuss how the circular arrows on the gray blocks indicate that the blocks mean repeat.

Show two programs, one with a repeat loop (with one block inside), and one with a repeating AAA pattern. Ask students to guess if they will be the same or different. Then show two programs, one with the same repeat loop and one with AAB. Will these be the same or different? Why?

Review parameters. A parameter tells KIBO how many times to repeat the pattern. KIBO can repeat a pattern two, three, or four times, or it can repeat forever. Show students the fourth parameter card: forever. Ask students: What do you think will happen with this card? Tell students that it makes KIBO repeat forever. Brainstorm ways to make KIBO stop if repeating forever (e.g. take out batteries, press triangle, rescan program).

Activity 3: Free Play

Small Group

Following the lesson, allow students to free play with the repeat blocks and parameters. For more structure during free play, have students first make programs without repeat loops by creating repeating patterns using only one or two blocks. Then have students recreate these programs using repeat loops.

Activity 2: If children are not comfortable with number parameters, review number parameters further instead of introducing repeat forever parameter.

Activity 3: Children who are comfortable with repeat loops of AAAA patterns can be encouraged to explore ABAB patterns. Children who are not comfortable with repeat loops should be encouraged to create repeating patterns.

Activity 1: Read Robo-Pete Book

Whole Group

Read aloud the book Pete the Cat: Robo-Pete written by James Dean. 

A digital read-aloud of the book can be found here:

Activity 2: Introduce Final Project

Whole Group

This is the first of multiple lessons for the final curriculum project. Explain to students that they will now begin a project based on the storybook that the class has read. The project will involve many steps, so it is important to start with a plan! 

In today’s lesson, students will choose a character from the story with their KIBO group and collaborate to plan what their KIBO robot will look like and do. Then in the following lesson, students will plan and create their KIBO programs based on the ideas from their initial plan. Then students will be given time to decorate their KIBO robots to resemble their chosen characters. After creating their decorations and programs, students will test their projects and see if they want to make any changes. Finally, students will be able to showcase their decorated KIBO robots, final programs, and plans!

Activity 3: Introduce Planning 

Small Group

Introduce the planning sheet that students will use to sequence the events of their character in the story. At the top of the page, students will draw their own robot friend. At the bottom of the page, students will draw 3 things their robot friend will do while playing. By identifying specific actions or events, students will better be able to draw the connection between their character and the program they will later create. 

Model how to use the planning sheet for the class using Robo-Pete as the robot character. Ask students: What are 3 things that Pete the Cat and Robo-Pete do together? Which happens first? Which happens next? Which happens last? For example, first, Robo-Pete plays catch. Then, Robo-Pete skateboards. Last, Robo-Pete paints the fence. Draw Robo-Pete at the top of the page and the three things that Robo-Pete does in each of the three boxes at the bottom of the page.

Activity 1: Design Process Song

Whole Group

Sing the “Design Process Song” as a class to review the steps of the Design Process!

Design Process Song:

(To the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle”)

Ask and Imagine, Plan and Create, 

Test and Improve and Share what we make. 

(Repeat)

Explain to students that as we continue to work on our final projects, we will use the full design process! In today’s lesson we will be asking questions, imagining and planning our final projects, and creating our KIBO programs.

Activity 2: Programming My KIBO Robot Friend

Small Group

Review yesterday’s Pete the Cat and Robo-Pete planning pictures. Today, children are going to begin planning their adventures with KIBO, their own robot friend!

For the project, children can work individually or in small groups. Each child or group should get a blank Planning Sheet and art materials. In the top circle, they should draw their KIBO/robot friend. In the three boxes, they should draw three things their robot friend can do as they play together.

Activity 3: Begin Programming Final Project

Small Group

Have students work to create their KIBO program using their planning sheet. Make sure students remember to think about the connection between the blocks they choose and the three events they identified in the previous activity. For example, if students like to dance with their KIBO robot friend, they might use a blue movement block in their program!

Students’ final projects should incorporate at least 5 blocks (including Begin and End) and use both the Sound sensor/Wait for Clap and Lightbulb module. More advanced students should also use repeat loops with a number parameter. Encourage students to be as creative as possible while still being intentional about which blocks they choose. 

As children work, go around and take pictures of each program. By documenting students’ programs, you will be able to assist students if they do not remember how to re-assemble their programs in the following lessons. Make sure to leave yourself enough time to record students’ names with their programs.

Activity 1: How to Decorate Robots

Whole Group

Tell students that today they will decorate their KIBOs to look like their robot friends. Students will use a variety of arts and crafts materials to design structures that will sit on top of their KIBO robots. This means materials need to be attached carefully and cannot be all on one side. Otherwise, the decorations will fall off the robot! It is important to think carefully about the materials students will use to make and attach their KIBO decorations. Remind students about their sturdy tower challenge in Lesson 4 or about other building experiences and what they learned about making sturdy structures.

Show students the arts and crafts materials students will be able to use for their decorations. Model for students how they will be able to attach their decorations to KIBO using the art platform, either by taping or tying strings/pipe cleaners. Explain that we cannot glue anything on the KIBOs, and we cannot draw on the platforms.

Activity 2: Decorating KIBO

Small Group

Have students use crafting materials to decorate each of their KIBOs to resemble their characters. Allow students as much creativity in doing this—anything is encouraged as long as every student gets a chance to decorate!

There are different ways to decorate with KIBO! Students can decorate using construction paper, scissors, and tape and secure the decorations to the art platforms. Another option is to provide paper or plastic plates that students decorate, and then students can use masking tape to secure the plates onto the art platforms. 

As students work on their final projects, go around and take pictures of students’ KIBO programs and decorated KIBOs. By documenting students’ programs, you will be able to assist students if they do not remember how to re-assemble their program for the final showcase. Make sure to leave yourself enough time to do this step, as it can save lots of time and effort! This is also a great opportunity to share students’ work with families.

Activity 3: Star and Wish

Whole Group or Small Group

Invite students to gather around in a community circle. Going around the circle, each student shares one thing that they like about their KIBO robot friend (Star). After the last student shares their star, the class goes around the circle in the reverse order (e.g., the last student speaks first, the next-to-last student speaks second, etc.) saying one thing they are looking forward to changing or finishing with their project next time (Wish).

Activity 1: One Sentence Story

Whole Group

Invite students to gather around in a community circle. The teacher begins to tell a story with “Once upon a time, there was a robot.” 

Students take turns adding one sentence to the story (e.g., “The robot goes to the park to see its friend.”). Each student keeps adding onto the story so that ultimately, the class ends up with one long story with everyone’s contributions.

Activity 2: Testing and Debugging Programs

Small Group

Take out KIBOs and decorations. Explain to students that this is the last day to work on their projects, so students should add any final decorations or blocks to their programs. Invite students to think about the wishes they shared in the previous lesson and try to incorporate them into their projects today.

If the class did not save KIBO projects between KIBO lessons, use the documented pictures to have students recreate their final programs. If students made their decorations on paper or plastic plates, today would be the day they would attach their decorations to their KIBO robots.

To help students test their decorations or programs, add a testing station in the corner of the classroom, where students can scan their program and make sure their decorations are securely attached or sturdy. Provide additional masking tape or yarn so that students can reinforce any parts of their decorations that are not securely attached.

Activity 3: Document Projects

Small Group

As students work on their final projects, go around and take pictures of students’ KIBO programs and decorated KIBOs. By documenting students’ programs, you will be able to assist students if they do not remember how to re-assemble their program for the final showcase. Make sure to leave yourself enough time to do this step, as it can save lots of time and effort! This is also a great opportunity to share students’ work with families.

Activity 1: Dress Rehearsal

Small Group

If the class did not save KIBO projects between KIBO lessons, use the documented pictures to have students recreate their final programs. Then ask students to scan the programs using their KIBO robots. If you disassembled KIBO’s decorations from the previous lesson, reattach them before the final showcase!

Activity 2: Final Showcase

Whole Group

There are different ways students can present their final KIBO projects. Students can share their projects altogether in a community circle, during which each student presents while the other students watch and ask questions about the student’s project. Another option is a gallery walk, in which half of the students walk around the classroom to the projects while the other half of students stand next to their projects and present them. Then the two groups switch. 

Regardless of the presentation format, all students should share:

• their robots and decorations
• why they chose the features they did for their robot
• the final program and what each block and module represent
• anything that was hard/easy, surprising, interesting etc. about their design process

After each project, celebrate the work of each student by saying Kind Words to _______!

Take pictures and videos of students’ final projects and KIBO programs to share with families and school/community members!

As a whole class, gather in a community circle. Students share “Kind Words to___” the student next to them and say something they liked about their KIBO project.

Activity 1: Gratitude Web

Whole Group

Sit in a circle with a large ball of yarn. Roll the yarn (holding the end, so the ball partially unravels) to a student across the circle who has helped them in some way. As they roll, explicitly thank the student out loud for helping you in the way they did (e.g., “Thank you Joe for helping me scan my blocks today”). This student then holds the corner of yarn and rolls the ball to another student they wish to thank, building a literal “web” of yarn, gratitude, and collaboration. 

Continue rolling the yarn and thanking each person in the circle until everyone has been included in the web. Prompt students to make sure everyone is included in the web when looking for someone to roll to.

Activity 2: Thank You Notes

Small Group

Now take time to make thank you cards for students who helped with final projects. There are multiple ways we can say thank you. Saying thank you out loud is one way, and thank you cards are another way to communicate when somebody has helped us. Invite students to write and/or draw thank you cards as a way of showing their appreciation.

There are several ways to do this:

• You can create a classroom card and have students sign the card. 
• Another option if students work in groups is to have students decorate thank you cards to the other members of their KIBO group. 
• Students can also create individual cards directed to their whole class.

Activity 3: Share and Celebrate Learning

Whole Group

After students have created their thank you notes, invite everyone back to a community circle to deliver their cards. At the end, congratulate students for all they have learned with KIBO! Acknowledge students’ hard work and remind students of all the different things they learned how to do with KIBO. If time permits, take out KIBOs for free play and have a KIBO Block Party! Share students’ learning with families by sending home the Family Sharing sheet.

Activity 1: This activity can also be completed with no materials and students calling each other’s names. Students can also thank the person next to them.

Activity 2: Students with more letter familiarity can copy the word “Thank you” or attempt to write for themselves on their cards. To sign the card, students can write their name, copy their name, use the first letter of their name, or create a small drawing.