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Weeks 2-3: Exploring Movement with Sphero

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Kindergarten
Duration 2 sessions × 25 minutes
Lesson Type Multi-Week Unit
STREAM Focus T (Technology), S (Science), M (Math), R (Religion)

Weeks 2-3: Exploring Movement with Sphero

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Use Sphero in drive mode to move the robot forward, backward, left, and right 2. Predict where Sphero will go before moving it 3. Use directional vocabulary (forward, backward, left, right) 4. Understand that robots follow instructions from people

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Recognize that movement is a gift from God 2. Connect the idea that God gave us the ability to create tools (like robots) to help us

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Stewardship of Creation — God gave humans the special ability to create and invent things. When we program a robot, we are using the creative minds God gave us. We use technology responsibly to help others and care for creation.

Scripture Connection

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." — Psalm 139:14

Catholic Scientist Connection

Father Roberto Busa — A Catholic priest who helped create one of the first computer databases. He showed that faith and technology can work together!

Wonder Question

"Have you ever wondered how robots know what to do? They can't think like we can — someone has to tell them!"

📚 Materials and Preparation

Materials Needed

Item Quantity Source
Sphero robots (SPRK+ or Mini) 1 per 2-3 students School inventory
iPads with Sphero Edu app 1 per group School inventory
Masking tape 1 roll Classroom
Direction cards (arrows) 1 set Teacher-made
Simple maze outline (tape on floor) 1 Teacher-made

Technology Requirements

  • iPads charged and Sphero Edu app installed

  • Spheros charged and paired to iPads

  • Clear floor space for driving

Teacher Preparation

  • Charge all Spheros overnight before each session

  • Pre-pair Spheros to iPads (test connections)

  • Create tape pathway on floor (simple L-shape)

  • Create direction cards with arrows

  • Set up boundary area for driving

📝 Week 2 Procedure: Meet Sphero

⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)

Section Time Activity
Opening Prayer & Wonder 3 min Prayer and introduction
Meet Sphero 7 min Demonstration and observation
Explore Drive Mode 10 min Hands-on exploration
Closing & Reflection 5 min Discussion and prayer

1. Opening Prayer & Wonder Moment (3 minutes)

Prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for giving us the ability to make amazing things like robots. Help us to use technology wisely and to learn something new today. Amen."

Wonder Question:

"What do you think this ball can do?" (Hold up Sphero without turning it on)

2. Meet Sphero (7 minutes)

Introduction:

"This is Sphero! Sphero is a special kind of robot. It can roll, change colors, and do tricks. But here's the important thing — Sphero can't think for itself. WE have to tell it what to do!"

Demonstration: 1. Turn on Sphero (show students the light) 2. Connect to iPad using Sphero Edu app 3. Show "Drive" mode 4. Demonstrate moving forward, backward, left, right 5. Let students predict: "Where will it go if I swipe this way?"

Discussion:

"How is Sphero different from us? Can it decide where to go by itself?" (No! We have to tell it.) "God gave us brains that can think and make choices. Robots can only do what people tell them."

3. Explore Drive Mode (10 minutes)

Setup:

  • Divide into groups of 2-3 students

  • Each group gets one Sphero and iPad

  • Establish boundaries with tape

Guided Exploration:

Step Teacher Says Students Do
1 "Try to make Sphero go forward" Experiment with swiping
2 "Now make it go backward" Reverse direction
3 "Can you make it turn left?" Practice turning
4 "Try to drive it in a circle" Combine movements

Rotate groups so everyone gets to control Sphero for at least 2 minutes.

Teacher circulates asking:

  • "Where do you think Sphero will go?"

  • "What happens when you swipe fast vs. slow?"

  • "Is it going where you want it to go?"

4. Closing & Reflection (5 minutes)

Gather on rug. Park Spheros in "charging station."

Discussion:

  • "What was hard about driving Sphero?"

  • "What was easy?"

  • "How did you make Sphero go where you wanted?"

Connection to Faith:

"God gave people the ability to make robots and computers. We use our brains — the brains God gave us — to create things that can help others. That's pretty amazing!"

Closing Prayer:

"Thank you, God, for the gift of creativity. Help us to use technology to do good things. Amen."

📝 Week 3 Procedure: Sphero Challenge

⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)

Section Time Activity
Opening Prayer & Review 3 min Prayer and direction review
Direction Practice 5 min Direction vocabulary
Maze Challenge 12 min Navigate Sphero through course
Closing & Reflection 5 min Discussion and prayer

1. Opening Prayer & Review (3 minutes)

Prayer:

"Dear God, help us to work together and try our best today. When things get hard, help us to keep trying. Amen."

Review:

"Last week we met Sphero. Who remembers how to make it move forward? Backward? Turn?"

2. Direction Practice (5 minutes)

Stand up and practice directions with bodies:

  • "Everyone take one step FORWARD"

  • "Take one step BACKWARD"

  • "Turn LEFT"

  • "Turn RIGHT"

Show direction cards and have students call out the direction.

Connect to Sphero:

"These are the same directions we'll give Sphero today!"

3. Maze Challenge (12 minutes)

Setup:

  • Simple tape maze on floor (start → straight → turn → end)

  • Groups of 2-3 students

  • One Sphero per group

Challenge Instructions:

"Your challenge is to drive Sphero from START to FINISH without going outside the lines. You'll have to work together!"

Rules: 1. Take turns being the driver 2. Help each other with directions 3. If Sphero goes outside, start over (that's okay!) 4. Cheer for each other

Teacher support:

  • Prompt: "What direction should you go next?"

  • Encourage: "That's okay, try again!"

  • Celebrate: "You worked together!"

If time allows: Let groups try to beat their own time or create a new challenge.

4. Closing & Reflection (5 minutes)

Gather together.

Discussion:

  • "What was the hardest part of the maze?"

  • "How did your group help each other?"

  • "What did you learn about controlling Sphero?"

Faith Connection:

"God gave us the ability to solve problems and work together. When we help each other, we show God's love. You were great teammates today!"

Closing Prayer:

"Thank you, God, for friends who help us learn. Thank you for the gift of movement and for our creative minds. Amen."

✅ Assessment

Observation Checklist

Skill Week 2 Week 3
Can make Sphero move forward ☐ ☐
Can make Sphero turn ☐ ☐
Uses direction vocabulary ☐ ☐
Works cooperatively with partner ☐ ☐
Makes predictions about movement ☐ ☐

Success Criteria

  • Student can move Sphero in an intended direction

  • Student uses at least 2 direction words (forward, backward, left, right)

  • Student participates in group work

🔄 Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pair with a patient, helpful partner

  • Use larger maze boundaries

  • Hand-over-hand guidance for iPad swiping

  • Focus on one direction at a time

For Advanced Learners

  • Create more complex maze with multiple turns

  • Challenge: Make Sphero stop at a specific spot

  • Ask: "What would happen if you made it go faster/slower?"

🆘 Substitute Teacher Notes

If technology isn't working: 1. Do "Robot Game" — One student is the "robot," another gives directions 2. Practice directions with bean bag toss 3. Use toy cars to practice maze navigation

Sphero troubleshooting:

  • If not connecting: Turn Sphero off and on, close and reopen app

  • If moving wrong direction: Tap "Aim" and point arrow toward front

📖 Vocabulary

Word Definition Visual Cue
Robot A machine that follows instructions Picture of robot
Forward Moving ahead, in front Arrow pointing up
Backward Moving behind, going back Arrow pointing down
Left The side where your heart is L hand shape
Right The other side from left Point right
Program Instructions that tell a robot what to do List of steps

📎 Home Connection

Family Note:

"This week we explored robots in STREAM class! We learned that robots can't think — people have to give them instructions. Ask your child to give YOU directions like a robot. Say 'I'm a robot. Tell me how to walk to the door!' Follow their directions exactly — they'll learn that directions need to be clear and specific!"

Lesson Version: 1.2
Last Updated: 2025-12-05