Magazine 2019

48 The Foundation Phase Robotics lab has been abuzz with excitement this year. It is always wonderful walking around the campus and having learners run up to you to tell you they are counting their sleeps till the next Robotics lesson. Robotics in the Foundation Phase is all about the freedom to explore and learn to problem solve. Learners are encouraged to make mistakes and learn from them while developing vital 21st century skills such as working collaboratively and thinking critically. The Grade 1 classes were enthralled to experience the WeDo Robotics while building with Lego and learning the basis of block coding. We looked at how variables such as tire size, different pulleys and the size of a model can influence the speed of a car. The learners used both the motion and tilt sensors to explore how a robot receives information from the sensors and how it can start responding to that data. In Grade 2 the learners delved into Scratch coding with great enthusiasm and learnt to create animated stories using code to make characters move and talk. Watching them work through problems and create the most amazing projects was an extraordinary experience. The Grade 3 learners developed their coding skills using the Tynker app and looked at how code can assist them in the classroom as well as to make interactive games to learn with. They created birthday cards with moving items and sounds, coded interactive presentations which can be used with their orals as well as an interactive story about Tintin whom they had learnt about during the Library lessons with Mrs Crouse. In Senior Preparatory the coding becomes more advanced and the learners build on the technical skills they have acquired in the Junior Preparatory. Using the sensors is still a challenge for many, but all of them realise how this allows the robot to ‘think’ for itself. Throughout the year they also solve real world problems using the EV3 robot and because the problem is open-ended, there are hardly two solutions which are alike presented by the learners. This year all of the grades coded different types of maze games using Scratch. The Grade 4 learners learned about different habitats by coding an explorer to move through a maze and to find ‘collectables’ like berries in a jungle or to avoid ‘baddies’ like a viper in the desert or a snow leopard in the Arctic. INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Pre-Primary Preparatory There is visible excitement when our little people play with our irresistible “LEGO Soft Bricks”. Not only do these bricks provide hours of fun for our budding builders, engineers and inventors, they also stimulate little minds and are fundamental in developing foundational skills. Our Pre-Primary children are introduced to Robotics in Grade R and enjoy a wonderful learning experience when exploring the Early Simple Machines sets. Creativity and fun abound in these classes as the children are involved in free building as well as directed activities. Directed activities involve teamwork, follow- ing instructions and lots of exploring.The children discover ways in which the world around them works by using these simple machines to explore concepts such as sinking and floating, wind power, force and speed.This year the children’s most popular ac- tivities were creating sailboats and wind turbines as well as cars, spinners, and stamping machines. Computational Thinking skills are encouraged and the children learn the fundamentals of coding using fun games, Sphero balls, and Code-a-Pillars. Robotics is a fun lesson that the little ones eagerly look forward to each week: "I love robotics because we get to play with LEGO." - Lucus Liu "I like making different things." - Kiara Beharee "I love that we can make our own Robotics stuff." - GiaWilliams-Brown "I love Robotics because you make fans and stuff and it's so much fun." - Jayden Mayers "I love robotics because we create." - Keziah Matyila "We build stuff and then it can come to life." - Mihlali Mdudu