Edison Robots and the Spiraling Spider Trap Part 2

Building on the programming concepts explored in part 1, this section asks students
to re-imagine the ‘spiral-out’ program to be a spiral-in program instead. Designed to
be a stepping-stone activity to help students explore using variables and
computations in self-created programs, this activity challenges students to think
through the logic of the ‘spiral-out’ program in order to modify and reapply its main
components.
The extra ‘bonus challenge’ attached to this activity offers students an opportunity to
mix computer programming and physical engineering to turn their robots into traplaying, spiralling spiders.

Materials Needed:
Edison robots (1 for each pair), AAA batteries, Edcomm cables
Chromebooks
Pencil
Edison Spider Trap Students Sheet
Optional: various ‘maker-space’ craft materials [such as string, sticky tape, Blu Tack, paper, recycled materials, and other similar materials] for the ‘sticky spider thread’ bonus challenge

Agenda: 60 Minutes
Introduction:
* Review what was done in part 1
Program Edison to drive in an inward-spiral:
* Students will use what they learned about variables and the outward-spiral to figure out the value of a variable at different points in a program they will write to create an inward-spiral.
* Share and discuss