Pi Day Challenge:
March 14, or 3/14, is “Pi Day,” and is a celebration of the mathematical concept π, which represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is approximately 3.14, hence the March 14 Pi Day festivities!
Here is the Challenge: Can you figure out how to code instructions in Blockly for Dash to complete all of the different kinds of circles demonstrated in the video?
First, watch the video, then see if you can recreate Blockly programs that train Dash to drive in different circles! Challenge yourself to see how many different circles you can program Dash to create!
Setup:
Watch the Pi Day Challenge video where Dash shows you four different circles Dash can make!
Mark a spot on the floor where Dash will start creating circles. We recommend using a small piece of tape placed directly beneath Dash’s left wheel. This will be the starting point of each circle so that you can reference it to the same spot in the video.
Now it’s time to program Circle A, B, C, & D using Blockly! What similarities and differences do you find between the circles?
Hint: Try using the Set Wheel Speed block in Blockly! What kind of a program makes Dash spin in place vs. make a bigger circle with a larger radius, and what does the Wheel Speed have to do with it?
How many circles can you create using Blockly and Dash? We’d love to see what you come up with! Post your videos to Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube and tag #piday #makewonder!
Educational Insights
Algorithm design
An algorithm is a list of steps that you can follow to finish a task. When planning and executing their robot’s routes, kids can learn to think algorithmically as they break down sequences of robot movements and program them.
Command sequence and control flow
Command sequences are a basic logic structure in programming. Each action in a sequence leads to the next in a predetermined order, or control flow. When programming robot movements, children learn how to program command sequences and execute them in order.
Loops and iteration
A loop in computer programming is a statement that allows for a sequence of instructions to be repeated over and over again. Iteration is the act of repeating a process, and is typically performed until a certain goal is reached.
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