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The purpose of this activity is to give children a feeling for the experience of creating an artifact to complete a mission by using problem solving skills and geometry. They will be asked to design a robot to perform the stated mission aboard the International Space Station. From reading the mission statement, they will need to select the appropriate robot parts to complete the mission. They can use either a Norbot (bigger robot) or a Zotbot (smaller robot) and they need to use the smaller robot if it can complete the mission. The robot parts are color-coded and the same for both the Norbot and the Zotbot. They are in the shape of either a triangle, a parallelogram or a trapezoid. By having to fit the parts exactly into the space available with no overlap, your children will use geometry to solve their problem. The highest level learning will come if you challenge your children to create their own missions and Norbots or Zotbots to complete the mission. They can do this part on paper. To raise the stakes and take the learning to an even higher level, have them reconstruct the Squeak project to work for their mission.
This activity employs many research-based strategies. Check them out for valuable tips and downloads. You may want to try the activity yourself first so you will be better prepared to help your children. Involve other children and have them work cooperatively (follow the link for advice).
Be sure Squeak is installed successfully on your computer. It may take up to 60 seconds for the project to load for a fast connection (up to 20 minutes for a slow modem connection). Wait until you see an orange flap at the lower left labeled Navigation. Click the flap to open and close it and access some neat tools. If you click Escape Browser, you will have more space. Click Browser Reentry to get back your Browser controls.
Robot Missions: Your student's mission statement awaits them on the first page of the active book on the right of the Squeak project screen. They will need to build a Norbot or Zotbot to complete their mission. In this case, it is advisable to go through the book for more direction and background. children certainly may start by playing to learn what they can. To complete the mission, your children will have to use their problem solving skills to determine which robot parts are required from reading the mission statement. They will have to use geometry to determine how to fit the pieces into the robot to assemble their Norbot or Zotbot. To complete their mission, it may be helpful for them to work it out on paper first. Download the MSWord documents for the Norbot and Zotbot worksheets. Click the MISSION 1 or MISSION 2 button at the left to start the mission of your choice.
Challenge: Have your children create on paper a mission and Norbot or Zotbot to do their mission and submit the mission, a Norbot or Zotbort drawing and Norbot or Zotbot parts list to the NASA CONNECT web site. The mission statement should contain the design criteria and constraints in story form. You will need to have your student teams analyze their story form mission statement for the design criteria and constraints. We will post all the good entries that we receive to acknowledge your student's good work and let others try their mission.
Super Challenge: Have your children reconstruct the MISSION 1 Squeak project for the mission they designed above. First they need to watch the recording of how to use Squeak to make the objects on the page perform for them. Playing is a great way to learn. They must click Escape Browser and their resolution must be set at 800x600 to view the recording properly. Click the PLAYING button at the left to start the recording. Then return to MISSION 1 and reconstruct it so other children can try to solve their mission and get feedback. Have your children submit their Squeak project to the NASA CONNECT web site. We will post all the good entries that we receive to acknowledge your student's good work and let others learn from their efforts.
After your children are familiar with the Squeak Robot project, have them try these additional extensions. They should explore, create, and have fun learning.
Activity Objectives:
- Students will use reading comprehension skills to understand statement of the mission.
- Students will read and create design criteria and constraints in story form.
- Students will use problem solving skills to determine the correct robot parts needed to complete the mission.
- Students will apply geometry to fit the triangle, parallelogram, and trapezoid robot pieces into the robot.
- Students will use higher order thinking skills to create new missions, design robots to complete their designed mission, and reconstruct the Squeak project to fit their mission.
- Students will work cooperatively with other students and discuss and compare results during the interactive activity.
Teacher Information
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