Third graders at Franklin used their knowledge of forces and motion to try their hand at "snow" removal. They were challenged with the idea of starting their own business and planning the most efficient way to clear a parking lot of snow.
First, they worked collaboratively in teams to design and build a blade for their Botley robot. Then they tested their snow plow to see if it worked effectively. Many revisions were made in order to build a strong blade that pushed a load of snow. Students even took time to research images of snowplows in order to redesign their plow.
Once students had an effective working plow, they were challenged to code Botley to clear as much of the parking lot as possible with 10 coding cards. This would help their business to be efficient with time and fuel. They also discussed the possibility of using robotic devices to plow snow in the future.
At the end of the challenge, students were able to compare devices and algorithms, reflecting on the most effective and efficient plan for their business. They enjoyed this real-world connection to their experience with coding.
