Cubelets Kits at the Library

Thanks to a state library grant, my library offered a special program using a number of Cubelets Robot Blocks kits.  If you are not familiar with this fun robotic toy, each kit comes with blocks that connect and can do things.  These kits combine technology, engineering, and, to a certain extent, coding.    

I started my hour long library event by talking about what makes a robot.  

• Robots are devices that can sense, think, and act

Then I pointed out what was in each Cubelet kit that the groups were about to use.  

• Black blocks sense things (like our eyes and ears)
• Clear blocks have action parts (they do things)
• Colored blocks think or do logic
• Every kit comes with a list of blocks and what they do
• Each kit also comes with some Lego adapters (there are two types of adapters, male and female)
• Each kit comes with two power/battery cubes (notice where the on/off switch is located and the green indicator light)
• At the end of the hour each group is to return everything to the box according to the picture inside the box  

Now I had the students gather around me so I could demonstrate how to make a simple robot using the Cubelet blocks.  I used:

• The battery cube.
• The brightness cube.
• The flashlight cube.

I showed how this very easy to make robot can dim and brighten the light on the flashlight block.  What is the robot sensing?

Then I switched out the brightness cube for the distance cube.  Once again, I showed how this robot brightens or dims the light.  Now what is this robot sensing?

Next is the fun part.  Now they could explore the blocks in the kits.  But before they started I wanted them to think logically about how the pieces go together, because sometimes the order of the blocks can make a difference.  So I made each group try a challenge.  After the challenge was completed they could play with the cubes anyway they wanted.  

Challenge (written on the board at the front of the room): 

I loved the exploratory nature of the Cubelets kits.  I also like how there is no right or wrong way to use the blocks if you are not trying to make a robot do something particular.  This one hour  library program was a great way for children to play with an expensive robotics toy.