Make collaboration, kindness, and coding the heart of your Valentine’s Day celebration!
Downloadable Dash Valentines
Print out a special set of Dash-themed valentines for students to share with their classmates. You could even turn valentine delivery into a coding challenge. Suit up Dash with a DIY Gripper or Bulldozer attachment, and have students code Dash to deliver their notes of friendship to others in the class.
Code Dash to Draw a Heart
To help Dash draw a heart, you can use the Sketch Kit accessory or create your own attachment (see the activity packet for creating a DIY solution).
This Challenge Card can be found in the Sketch Kit accessory box. It references programs and program keys that can be accessed from inside the relevant apps.
For Blockly, the way to access the program that is designated with a heart, first go to “My projects.” Then click on Create New. Scroll down, and you’ll see a heart. Tap on that and a pre-written program will load on the screen. BUT THERE IS A CATCH! Read on to find out what it is.
The pre-written program is not exactly perfect. If you test it as-is, you will see Dash attempt to draw a heart, but have trouble completing the shape just so.
Our team went to work, adjusting the parameters (wheel speed on left and right and the angle of Dash’s big turn), and we discovered the best configuration to do the job. Keep reading to find out more!
Suggested Solutions for Coding Dash to Draw a Heart
This Blockly code is slightly different than the code that the heart-based, pre-written program presents. Can you spot the differences? Look at how the variables have been defined in these blocks and see if these changes to to the original program are also needed when you have your Dash draw a heart.
Here’s how it looks in the Wonder app. To access this pre-written program, enter the program key zahb. Post a photo of the Heart your Dash draws using the Wonder app and tag us on social media @wonderworkshop!
If you have a Cue robot, you can access the Wonder section of the Cue app and program Cue to draw a heart this way!
Using Blockly Pro at code.makewonder.com, you can program Dash using these Blocks to draw a heart. It’s likely that you will need to troubleshoot the angles and wheel speeds to get it just right.
In Blockly Pro at code.makewonder.com, when you toggle from Blocks to JavaScript, this is what the program looks like.
Curious About Sketch Kit?
Sketch Kit turns Dash into a drawing machine. The special harness holds custom markers designed to work seamlessly with Dash. Using it on a whiteboard mat is ideal! Sketch Kit also includes a set of activity cards designed to spark STEM exploration. Learn more in our online store.
February Activity Packet
Inspire more wonder throughout the month with hands-on and heartwarming coding activities that help students build a stronger understanding of Dash as robot companion while also fostering collaboration with one another.
Inside the downloadable activity packet you’ll learn how to turn Dash into a delivery bot, explore the inner workings of our lovable Dash, use attachments to write messages of friendship, and learn how Dash uses spatial and voice recognition to be a great listener.
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Polish 
Dutch 
Portuguese 
Catalan