3. Olympics
We recreate the Olympic Games as the Robot Olympics and do a variety of events such as two-robot bobsledding, “ski” jumping, slalom skiing, and speed skating. Events vary in skill levels for driving and coding.
4. Egg Drop
In our “Egg” Drop challenge, kids design a capsule to hold their Sphero and a mechanism to slow the robot’s descent from a fall. Using a code and the sensors within the robot, we calculate how fast their Sphero fell and how successful their deceleration attempts were.
5. Linear equations
Using basic block coding, we program the robots to “run” linear equations. It helps kids see linear equations in a practical and real setting beyond a worksheet.
6. Pythagorean Theorem ramps
Kids use the concepts of the Pythagorean Theorem to design ramps out of cardboard or other everyday materials. Then, they use their Sphero Ollies to jump their constructed ramps and calculate both how far and high the robot jumped.
7. Mission to Mars
The Mission to Mars activity encompasses coding, communication, collaboration, and heavy problem-solving. Kids have a crew on Mars and a crew on Earth. Mars is an area that cannot be seen on Earth. The crew on Mars is tasked with getting their Sphero from point A to point B while navigating obstacles on the planet’s surface. However, they cannot code their robots because the controls are on Earth. They must relay instructions to the Earth crew, who provides the code to get the robot to point B.
8. Coding Boot Camp
During Coding Boot Camp, kids are put through a series of coding challenges. These activities range from coding their robot to move from one spot to another to creating sophisticated if/then statements based on multiple variables. The goal is for students to progress through these challenges and gain coding proficiency.
- AI is stealing students’ ability to think critically–Journalism 101 may be an antidote - October 23, 2026
- I run an edtech platform I hope you barely use - October 22, 2026
- What 500 doorsteps taught me about getting kids back to school - October 21, 2026