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Session 14: Robot Olympics 🏅

Overview

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 14 of 17

Students compete in Olympic-style Sphero challenges, demonstrating mastery through varied events and celebrating excellence.

Session 14: Robot Olympics

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Apply advanced robotics programming

  • Compete in varied challenge events

  • Demonstrate sportsmanship and teamwork

  • Celebrate growth and achievement

Session 14: Robot Olympics

Materials Needed

  • 🤖 Sphero BOLT robots (from CSCOE library)

  • 📱 Tablets with Sphero Edu

  • 🏁 Olympic course materials

  • 🏅 Award certificates/medals

  • 📓 Engineering journals

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

Olympic Athletes as Witnesses — Many Olympic athletes witness to faith! Using gifts with excellence honors God.

Scripture

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." — 1 Corinthians 9:24

Opening Prayer

Dear God, help us give our best effort in today's competition. May we honor you through excellence, celebrate others' success, and show good sportsmanship. Win or lose, may we glorify you. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Olympic Spirit:
  2. Excellence, friendship, respect
  3. Giving your best honors God
  4. Celebrating others' achievements
  5. Competition Rules:
  6. Good sportsmanship required
  7. Learn from losses
  8. Celebrate all achievements
  9. Events Preview:
  10. Multiple events
  11. Different skills tested
  12. Everyone can excel somewhere!

Main Activity: Robot Olympics (32 minutes)

Part 1: Opening Ceremony & Setup (4 minutes)

  • Quick Sphero connection

  • Team/individual assignments

  • Rules review

Part 2: Olympic Events (24 minutes)

Event 1: Sprint Race (4 min)

  • Straight-line speed

  • First to finish line wins

  • Programming for maximum controlled speed

  • Scoring: Gold, Silver, Bronze + participation

Event 2: Slalom Course (5 min)

  • Navigate through obstacles

  • Accuracy matters

  • Timed runs

  • Programming precision required

Event 3: Light Show (4 min)

  • Creative LED programming

  • Music/rhythm coordination (optional)

  • Judged on creativity and complexity

  • All participate, voted favorites

Event 4: Sumo (Team Event) (4 min)

  • Stay in ring while pushing opponents out

  • Teams program strategy

  • Sensor usage allowed

  • Tournament bracket

Event 5: Obstacle Course (4 min)

  • Complex course with multiple challenges:
  • Speed section
  • Precision section

  • Problem-solving section

  • Fastest time wins

Event 6: Innovation Freestyle (3 min)

  • Show off your best skill!

  • Any program you've created

  • Demonstrate growth since Session 2

  • Celebration of learning!

Part 3: Awards Ceremony (4 minutes)

  • Medal/certificate for each event

  • Special recognitions:

  • Best Sportsmanship
  • Most Creative
  • Most Improved
  • Team Spirit

  • Perseverance Award

  • Everyone recognized for something!

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Events participated in: ___
  2. Best event: ___ Why: ___
  3. Programming skills demonstrated: ___
  4. Write: "I've grown as a programmer by..."
  5. Write: "Good competition means..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Celebration — Applause for all competitors!
  2. Sportsmanship Reflection — "What made this fun?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for the joy of competition and achievement. Help us always give our best and celebrate others' success. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Demonstrated programming skills

  • Participated in multiple events

  • Showed good sportsmanship

  • Celebrated growth

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Partner for events

  • Modified challenges

  • Extra practice time

For Advanced Students

  • Event design for others

  • Complex programming challenges

  • Mentor struggling peers

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Share your Olympic achievements! Watch videos of real robotics competitions. Discuss: What makes a good competitor? How does giving your best honor God? Plan family robot Olympics with household items!

Teacher Notes

  • Reserve Sphero BOLTs from CSCOE

  • Prepare courses before class

  • Have backup activities ready

  • Emphasize fun and sportsmanship over winning

  • Document for portfolios

Previous: Session 13 — New Life Tech
Next: Session 15 — Energy Science