Modular Robotics Cubelets Robot Blocks - Code & Construct Educator Pack - STEM Education & Coding Robot, Free Lesson Plans, Ages 4+
What Is It? Cubelets robot blocks come pre-programmed and ready to go right out of the box. Just snap them together, and different robotic behavior will emerge depending on the combination of Cubelets that you use. Create thousands of different kinds of tiny robots just by switching up your Cubelets robot blocks. With the Cubelets Blockly app, you can program each robot block and see how it changes the behavior of your whole creation. Ages: 4+ Where Is It? Teaching Tools collection on the second floor of Andersen Library: Check Research@UWW for current availability. Learning Objectives or Skills (sample): logical thinking, sequencing, problem solving, understanding of programming, self-evaluation Required Apps or Computer Programs: Optional Getting Started Guides: Start here for a tutorial using Cubelets Lesson Plans and Challenges: Visit Cubelets Education for PreK-12 lessons including scope and sequences and activity cards. Explore the world of robotics and coding with these easy-to-use robot blocks that snap together to make an endless variety of robots with no coding or wires. Use the brick adapters to expand your robots to include your own LEGO pieces. Cubelets are little blocks of software inside little blocks of hardware. Each Cubelet has a special function, and belongs to one of three categories: SENSE Cubelets take in information from the robot's environment; THINK Cubelets compute and change that information; and ACT Cubelets turn that information into a physical action. Cubelets' magnetic faces make them simple to snap together and pull apart. Connect at least one SENSE, THINK, and ACT Cubelet to create a robot construction. How you assemble your robot changes its behavior. Every combination of pieces is a new creation. The yellow Brick Adapters connect to LEGO® and other brick building- block toys. The Bluetooth® Hat pairs robot constructions with mobile devices. Simple, proximity-based pairing makes connecting easy. Cap your creations with the Bluetooth® Hat to add new abilities using the free Cubelets app. The Cubelets app is your portal to the software blocks inside each Cubelet. Remote Control manipulates individual Cubelets to change the behavior of an entire robot construction. Recommended for ages 4+ Discovery Kits can be reserved in the catalog for pickup at any PPLD location. They check out for seven days but can be renewed as long as there are no holds. Due to the size of the kits, all Discovery Kits must be returned to library staff at the main desk during regular business hours. Please do not return this item to a book drop. Playing and experimenting with the Cubelets Discovery set will encourage users to do the following: The Discovery Guide is a great place to start! You can download a free copy of the Parent's Play Guide (see resources below) as well as the Cubelets App (not required, but adds extra fun by enabling new ways to build and play with the robots). You can read about the three categories of Cublets, each of which has a special function: You need one of each to make a robot construction. The Discovery Guide leads users through making several different robot constructions, showing what pieces are needed and describing what they can do. The guide also explains how o use the Bluetooth Hat and pair with the app, which allows you to use your device as a remote control. Extra challenges are appended for building robots that accomplish specific tasks. Once you understand the basics of how the Cubelets work together, you can experiment and have fun. Use the Brick adapters to connect robots to brick-based construction toys like LEGOs, and let your imagination soar! Those ready to take their skills even further can experiment with Cubelets Blockly by down loading an app. See the Resources section for more ideas! Welcome To The ALL New She Scribes! Image by This_is_Engineering from Pixabay Our world is constantly changing. I find that many of today’s kids are a lot more knowledgeable than people give them credit for. I still remember when our son was about 9 or 10 years old (he’s an adult now). I was having an issue with my computer. He literally walked over to my desk, did something and BOOM! My computer was fixed. Even my husband – who is an IT person – had no clue what he did the fix the issue. I find that even the kids I work with, including the kindergarteners, are pretty well versed in a lot of things, including technology. I’d like to think that I’m pretty knowledgeable about things, but these kids blow me out of the water, so to speak. I’m not a huge fan of video games, or smartphone gaming apps. Some are okay, but I think many of them just encourage children to mindlessly sit there for hours on end playing games. There isn’t much involved when it comes to critical thinking skills, education or interacting with other people. It’s like they turn their brains off and end up as brainless zombies playing games. I recently had the opportunity to learn about a new product line that is not a game, and not necessarily a toy in the true sense of the word, however it is fun, challenging and educational. Let me introduce you to Cubelets . Cubelets are robot blocks that help teach important problem-solving skills – like collaboration, engineering, design, and computational thinking. They are from the brand Modular Robotics . Blocks have been around for hundreds of years, if not longer. They are used to build so many things. They are also a classic toy that children have been playing with for what would seem like forever. As a kid, I would spend hours upon hours with my blocks, building so many things. Cubelets are blocks that you can build with too, but they are robotic blocks that you can make do different things to create really cool robots. There are seventeen unique kinds of Cubelets that can be combined in countless different ways to create new robot constructions. You can make robots light up, move, and so many other interesting actions. All you need to start creating are at least three basic Cubelets – a thinking cube, a sense cube and an action cube. The Cubelets have magnets to help them stick together quickly and easily. They also can be pulled apart easily too. I like that they have magnets so that your designs will not fall apart. Cubelets are made for ages 4+. Don’t let the low age think these are only for little ones. I am an ADULT and I think these are really cool too. These are designed for people of ALL AGES, from Pre-K to PH.D. There is more to Cubelets than just connecting blocks together. You can actually change the cube’s behaviors to make them do new and exciting things. There is a Cubelets app that you can use to help you change the cube’s behaviors by using coding. You DO NOT need to know coding! As I said, these are great for ages four and up. I don’t know too many four year olds who know coding. Thankfully the app makes it pretty easy to learn. For “newbies” (or little ones) you can start to learn how to code quickly enough. For older children, teens or those with coding experience, you can do more advanced things with the Cubelets. Admittedly I’m still learning. I think I have a “mental block” to some things. I won’t tell you how long it took me to finally learn how to make spreadsheets in Excel. You can also use the Cubelets console on your computer to play around with the coding too. I shouldn’t keep saying “coding.” There is more than just that. It’s pretty amazing all the things you can do with what look like simple blocks. There are different kits available. There is a Cubelets Discovery Kit, and a Cubelets Curiosity Kit. The Discovery Kit allows you to create over 50 unique robot constructions and comes with five robot blocks. The Curiosity Kit allows you to create over 300 unique robotic constructions and comes with ten robot blocks. Each kit also comes with a Bluetooth hat, free shipping and allows you to connect to the app. I received to review the Discovery Kit. In the above photo you can see the light cube on. You can also see the wheels on the clear cube (that makes your creations move). I’m still trying to figure out the coding stuff. Like I said, I have a “mental block” sometimes. BUT… I’m still determined to learn. I bet if I ask my “work kids” they could figure it out in a heartbeat. I did have a video of my creation moving across the table, but for the life of me I don’t know where that video is (unless I accidently deleted it). I forgot to mention that you do need to charge the power cube first and foremost. It comes with the power plug, you just need one of those cubes to plug it into an outlet. You can also charge it off your computer. Cubelets are not only for home use – schools use them too. You can purchase lesson plan bundles for Pre-K/K, Grads 1-3, Grades 4-6 and Grades 7-12. I could go on and on about how awesome these simple little cubes are. But don’t take my word for it. Check out some of the videos of Cubelets in action by visiting the brand’s YouTube channel. There you can learn how to make racing robots, a robot that can sense the edge of a table, a room projector and more. You can also see how the console works as far as coding and changing behaviors of the cubes. Needless to say, Cubelets would make an amazing gift this holiday season, and beyond. They are a bit pricey as an initial investment, but what you’re child will learn from them will be worth the cost over and over again in the years to come. If you are interested in learning more, visit the brand online at ModRobotics.com . You can also check them out on social media. PHOTO SOURCE: ModRobotics Facebook Page Kimberly *I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. Kimberly Vetrano resides in the suburbs of New York City with her family and "mini zoo" consisting of five cats, a dog and a Goldfish. Kimberly is a teacher's assistant for a Kindergarten class. When she is not working or blogging, Kimberly enjoys taking photos of nature and hanging out with family and friends. Don't Miss A Minute! Get All Our Posts In Your Inbox