LEGO WEDO · 2021. 3. 10. · LEGO WeDo Smart Hub: This houses the batteries for the WeDo and is the part that will connect via Bluetooth to your device. When the light is flashing,

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What is the LEGO WeDo 2.0?

The LEGO WeDo 2.0 combines LEGO building elements with block-based coding to make STEAM learning fun and accessible. Here are the key parts of the WeDo kit:

LEGO WeDo Smart Hub: This houses the batteries for the WeDo and is the part that will connect via Bluetooth to your device. When the light is flashing, it is turned on and searching for a device to pair with. When the light is solid, it has connected.

LEGO WeDo Medium Motor: This is the motor that will power your robot. This motor can only turn clockwise and counter clockwise, so the range of motion of a WeDo kit is limited by the actions of this motor.

Tilt Sensor: This sensor can detect 6 different positions as it is turned, like a joystick! (it can sense this way, that way, up, down, no tilt, any tilt)

Motion Sensor: The motion sensor can detect objects, very roughly, up to 15 cm away, depending on the shape of the object and other properties (reflection, colour, etc.). It is sometimes called a distance sensor.

LEGO Bricks: A variety of LEGO building elements and an organization chart for ease of finding the piece(s) that you need.

Before using the WeDo 2.0, make sure you install the free app on a device with Bluetooth capabilities. https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/wedo-2/software

Below you will also find instructions for connecting your tablet to your LEGO WeDo:

1) Open the LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 Programming App and start a new project.

2) In the top right corner of the WeDo coding screen there is a blue button with a picture of the Smart Hub on it. If you can’t see this image, close any open menus (such as the light bulb, or camera) by tapping on their icon.

3) Press the blue Smart Hub button to open the Smart Hub menu.

4) With the menu open on your tablet, you will now press the green button on your WeDo Smart Hub, as indicated in the picture. When the Smart Hub is on, the light on it will flash and it will beep. If the Smart Hub won’t turn on, it probably needs new batteries! Each Smart Hub takes 2 AA batteries. 5) Once the Smart Hub is flashing, return to the iPad. On the right side menu, the name of your Smart Hub should appear. If it does not, use the refresh button at the bottom of the screen.

6) When a Smart Hub appears on the list, tap on it to connect. When you have connected to a Smart Hub, the light on the Smart Hub will remain on as a solid colour and the beeping will stop.

7) When you’re done playing, turn off the Smart Hub by pressing and holding the green button.

Activity 1: Dancing Robot This activity introduces building and coding with the LEGO WeDo 2.0. It will inspire participants to think in new and creative ways, boosts fine motor development, and encourages risk taking and experimentation. For this activity, you will need:

x 1 x WeDo 2.0 kit x 1 x Dancing Robot building instructions x 1 x Device with WeDo 2.0 app installed x 1 x Head template for your robot x Crayons or pencil crayons x Tape

Start by building your dancing robot following the step by step instructional handout included in the kit. Pay close attention to the size of bricks and axles you are to use. The axle will include a blue number in a circle to let you know the length in LEGO measurements. For example, the axle in this image will be the same length as a size 10 LEGO brick.

When you are finished your build, it is time to choose and decorate a head for your robot! Attach with tape to the upright axle.

Ready to make your robot move, dance, and sing? Click on the LEGO WeDo 2.0 app on your device to open the block based coding program.

On the home page, click on the + sign under “My projects” to open a new project.

This will bring you to a whitespace with coding blocks along the bottom. Take a moment to explore the coding blocks. What do the different colours mean? What do you think each of the blocks will do? To add a block to your code, click and drag the block onto the whitespace. If you are using a touch-screen device, touch and drag the block. For the code to work, it must be attached to the starting play button. Here are some examples of coding blocks that you can add to your code. Which ones would you choose to make your robot dance?

Here is an example of a code that will make your robot dance, and what each block means.

1. “Go” 2. “Motor Turn Counter Clockwise”. Tap it to change to “Motor Turn Clockwise” 3. “Motor Run For _15__ seconds” 4. “Motor stop” 5. a. “Pause” (or “wait for”)

b. “Microphone” The robot will listen for a sound and when it hears the sound, it will continue with the next block of code.

6. “Change Colour”. Change the number to change the colour. 7. “Play Sound”. Sound is played through the iPad. Change the number to change the

sound.

How is the following code similar, and how is it different? What sound did it play and what colour did it change? Remember to connect the LEGO WeDo 2.0 to your device before playing the code by clicking on the picture of the Smarthub and the Bluetooth symbol.

Now it’s time to show off your dancing robot! Congratulations! Variations:

x Make your robot change colours as it dances (a second line of code just for colours) x Move faster and slower depending on the song you hear x Adjust your dancer’s appearance (add different blocks to the dancer’s body) x Create a face using the remaining LEGO x Add in the motion sensor and try coding your robot so it moves when your hand is in

front of it

Activity 2: Mars Rover Your Mission: NASA scientists have sent you and your crew to space with parts to build a Mars Rover. It is not safe to leave the base to explore, but the Rover can! Scientists are waiting back on Earth to hear about the discoveries you make. The Rover must complete the tasks listed below in order to complete the mission. Remember, NASA is counting on you and we know we put our best team on the job! But be careful, if the mission is not completed in the required time limit you will fail the mission and strand your whole crew on Mars! Better get to work!

Let’s get started! First, click on the LEGO WeDo 2.0 app on your device to open the block based coding program.

On the home page, click on the + sign under “My projects” to open a new project.

Navigate to the model library by selecting the lightbulb icon.

Next, scroll to the bottom of the list of build options, and select “16. Turn”.

Follow the prompts on your screen to start building.

Once you have completed the base model, return to the Model Library and select build “16a. Luna Rover.” This time you won’t get step-by-step instructions, but instead you’ll use the pictures to help you turn your robot into the rover Now create a rectangle out of tape on the floor for your Mars Rover to follow. The rectangle should have two sides that are a meter each and the shorter sides should measure half a meter. You can use extra LEGO pieces as your ‘Martian samples’ by placing them along the first and last length of

the path for your Rover to collect. Code your Rover to drive up the path and collect the ‘samples’. You just made a huge scientific breakthrough! Now drive to the end of the first path and code the Luna Rover to turn and drive straight down the next path. Remember to connect the LEGO WeDo 2.0 to your device before playing the code by clicking on the picture of the Smarthub and the Bluetooth symbol.

Here is an example code you can use to get your Rover to make a 90 degree turn.

*Getting the Rover to turn exactly 90 degrees and to stay on the path is difficult! Remember that coding involves lots of experimenting and problem solving. The robot will also just keep spinning in circles unless the code includes turning the wheels back the other way to let it drive.

Now, it is time to launch a satellite from the exact required coordinates! You must get to the top left corner of the set path without going past it. Think about the speed required to get you that far, but not too far. Once you have reached the right spot the Rover should light up red to initiate launch!

Once the satellite is launched you must turn left and drive down the path to the final corner. A second rocket with fresh supplies landed too far from base! You must collect the supplies here so you and your crew can get home safely. Drive to the corner of the path to collect the supplies and make a sound to let the other astronauts know you are on your way back to base. Once they have been contacted, turn towards base and head on home! Congratulations! You completed all the assigned tasks with your Luna Mars Rover. NASA is thrilled with your performance and will name the first settlement on Mars after you! Way to go!

Activity 3: Pollinators and Plants For this activity, we will be building a Plant and Pollinator robot using the LEGO WeDo kits featuring gears and a motion sensor. Let’s get started on the build! Navigate to the model library and build the Spin robot (number 5 on the list). The Spin Robot is the base for the Flower build.

Follow the step-by-step instructions, and don’t forget to pay close attention to the size of brick or axle you are to use! Once you have completed the base model, return to the Model Library and select build 5a. – Flower. This time you won’t get step-by-step instructions, but instead you’ll use the pictures to help you turn the Spin Robot into the Flower!

This project model uses gears. These gears move on an axle to which the bee is attached. The flower uses a Motion Sensor to detect when the bee is on top of it.

Now it’s time to program your bee to stop at the flower to get some pollen! Review the coding blocks available in the LEGO WeDo 2.0 app. What code would you use to get the bee to stop above the flower and buzz? Take time to explore and experiment with the code. Here are some examples of coding blocks that you can add to your code. Which ones would to choose to make your robot dance?

Here is an example of code you could use. This program will turn the motor on in one direction until the bee is detected on top of the flower. When this happens, the motor will stop and the bee sound will be played.

Here’s an overview of the blocks you’ll need and what they mean:

1. “Go” 2. “Motor Speed”. 3. “Motor Turn Clockwise. Tap it and it’s “Motor Turn Counter-clockwise” 4. a. “Pause” (or “wait for”)

b. “Tilt Sensor” When the sensor in the flower detects the bee’s movement, the bee will stop above the flower and buzz.

5. “Motor stop” 6. “Play Sound” – played through the iPad! Change the number to change the sound.

Variations:

x Change the speed of your bee. Does this affect the motion sensor? x Change the colour on the Smart Hub and have the bee fly around the other direction. x Build another pollinator that would likely be attracted by another flower. Attach the new

pollinator to the axle, does it match the new flower? x Consider one of the following: x Tubular flowers are best suited for birds. x Butterflies are attracted to specific colors of flowers x Pollination can happen between two different flowers.

For more activities, explore the LEGO Education website at https://education.LEGO.com/