Sphero RVR+ Coding

Overview

This 120-minute lesson is Lesson 5 in the “Secret Agent STEM Mission” unit designed for Grades 6-8 students. Learners will deepen their understanding of coding and robotics by programming the Sphero RVR+ robot to navigate an obstacle course. Students will develop computational thinking, problem-solving, and engineering design skills to successfully complete a secret agent mission simulation. The lesson aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and integrates STEM disciplines.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Develop and debug codes to control the movement of Sphero RVR+ robots through a complex environment.
Use computational thinking practices to design algorithms that respond to environmental inputs.
Apply understanding of forces, motion, and energy to predict and adjust robot navigation paths.
Collaborate with team members to optimize programming and solve unexpected challenges.
Communicate solutions and reasoning clearly using appropriate STEM terminology.

NGSS Performance Expectations

MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect: Students analyze how coding commands cause specific robotic movements.
Systems and System Models: Students work with the Sphero RVR+ system, iterating designs for navigation.
Energy and Matter: Explore how electrical energy translates into mechanical motion.

Science and Engineering Practices

Asking questions and defining problems
Developing and using models
Planning and carrying out investigations
Using mathematics and computational thinking
Constructing explanations and designing solutions
Engaging in argument from evidence

Materials Needed

Sphero RVR+ robot (1 per group of 2-3 students)
Tablets or laptops with Sphero Edu app installed
Pre-designed obstacle course materials (cones, tape, ramps, tunnels)
Whiteboard and markers
Stopwatch or timer
Student STEM journals for recording data and reflections

Lesson Timeline

1. Introduction & Review (15 minutes)

Objective: Connect prior coding knowledge to upcoming robot navigation task.
Review last lesson's concepts on basic Sphero RVR+ commands (e.g., move forward/backward, turn).
Introduce the day’s secret agent mission: programming the robot to navigate through a “laser maze” obstacle course without collision.
Discuss NGSS focus: how forces and programming decisions affect robot motion.

2. Challenge Setup & Initial Planning (20 minutes)

Present the obstacle course layout, highlighting specific challenges (e.g., narrow turns, ramps).
In groups, students analyze obstacles and brainstorm initial coding strategies.
Students sketch their initial algorithm flowcharts in journals, planning command sequences and contingencies for sensor input (e.g., collision avoidance, speed adjustment).
Teacher circulates to guide conceptual understanding about forces, motion, and feedback loops.

3. Guided Coding & Testing Session (40 minutes)

Students use the Sphero Edu app to code their initial programs focusing on:
- Exact movement commands for navigating specific obstacles.
- Use of sensor data (e.g., proximity, accelerometer) for dynamic adjustments.
Encourage iterative development: run program → observe → debug/refine.
Each group tests their code on the obstacle course, timing their runs.
Teacher prompts analytical discussions: What caused success or failure? How do forces and robot inertia influence movement?

4. Mission Optimization & Peer Review (25 minutes)

Groups refine code based on test results, focusing on improving mission completion time and reducing errors.
Conduct peer feedback rounds: groups present their strategies and receive constructive suggestions grounded in engineering principles and coding logic.
Emphasize collaboration and scientific argumentation to evaluate competing design solutions per NGSS MS-ETS1-2.

5. Final Run & Reflection (15 minutes)

Groups complete one final timed run on the obstacle course.
Students record data in their STEM journals including: final run time, challenges faced, and key code adjustments.
Facilitated reflection: How do coding and physical forces interact to influence robot behavior? What improvements could future missions incorporate?

Assessment

Formative: Observation of group collaboration, coding progress, and problem-solving strategies during activities.
Summative:
- Completed coding program that successfully navigates the obstacle course.
- STEM journal reflection demonstrating understanding of robot movement, coding logic, and forces acting on the Sphero RVR+.
- Peer feedback participation and presentation clarity.

Differentiation and Extensions

For advanced learners: Introduce more complex sensor-based coding (e.g., conditional responses to light or sound sensors).
For learners needing support: Provide simplified pre-coded templates; scaffold challenges and encourage verbal reasoning through peer collaboration.
Extension: Challenge students to design their own obstacle courses and create custom missions promoting creativity and engineering design.

Teacher Notes

Set clear safety rules for robot handling and obstacle course navigation.
Ensure tablets or laptops are fully charged and pre-loaded with the Sphero Edu app.
Model and rehearse pairing and communication strategies to encourage effective teamwork.
Use questioning strategies aligned with NGSS practices to deepen scientific reasoning.

This lesson supports integrating cutting-edge educational technology with core STEM practices, creating an immersive experience where students think and act like young engineers and coders on a secret mission.

Teaching Instructions