Sphero Voyagers
Sphero Swim Series + Land of Voyagers
Platform
Digital Technologies Progress Outcomes
Cross-Curricular Links
Year Levels
Y3-4 (Guided)
Y5-6+
Duration
1+ lessons
Resources
Differentiation
To add complexity to the challenge, set conditions on what materials to use, types of attachments to construct and more.
Extension
Explore other of the awesome resources available on the Land of Voyagers project homepage to expand your understanding of Pacific navigation, migration and the history of Aotearoa NZ.
Guide your learners to try another activity in the Sphero Drive Series:
About Activity
This play-based activity is designed to help learners gain skills and experience with prototyping and programming through an iterative process to modify Sphero into hydrodynamic water-bots that can manoeuvre deftly through the water.
This activity explores the history of travel across the Pacific Ocean and the technological innovations of the waka hourua, using resources from the Land of Voyagers project to support our learning.
Learners will design and build a waka hourua that is driven by Sphero, considering the history and traditions before doing their best to prototype original designs that float and fit around their bots. They will then test their constructions by guiding their bot around a pool using Drive in real time or by coding for direction, speed and timing. Learners will have fun while working to refine and improve their construction, driving and programs after each attempt, or iteration.
Tip: Dive deeper into history and stories by pairing this activity with the Digital Pīkau Land of Voyagers investigation topic guide.
Learning Support: Find link buttons below for the Land of Voyagers educational video clips listed in the Sphero Voyagers activity guide.
Activity Guide
Learning Support: Video Clips – Land of Voyagers
Here are links from the Land of Voyagers project for the videos listed in the activity guide above to support the learning journey:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Swim Series – Digital Play with Sphero . . . in Water!
In addition to aligning with Land of Voyagers, this activity is also one of a series of digital play-based resources that put Sphero in the water, designed to guide your learners to practise skills and explore concepts in digital technologies through creativity, ingenuity and kinaesthetic fun! Check out these other activities in the collection:
