The Dash & Dot robots provide an entertaining introduction to the world of programming for younger children. Having bought a set of five Wonder Pack kits for my school, I’ve been impressed with what these robots can do. Created by Wonder Workshop, the robots are already fully assembled on purchase but require one of five different possible iPad apps in order to play. By interacting with the world around them via sensors, Dash & Dot can hear sounds, detect objects, and know if you are moving them. The iPads apps then enable you to program these robots to do virtually anything you want, including the delivery of messages, playing musical instruments and navigating obstacle courses.
The Go app is the best place to start.
The Path app introduces the basics of programming.
The Xylo app enables children to compose and create music.
The Blockly app builds on children’s programming knowledge by introducing conditionals and loops.
The Wonder app is the latest addition to this series of apps for Dash & Dot. The video below shows a group of children using the Wonder app to program Dash.
Possible Introductory Lesson Activities for children 5 to 7 years
Activity 1: Control Dash using the iPad app, Go
Introduction
Explain that in this lesson children will learn how to control the robot, Dash using the iPad app, Go. Model opening up Go on the iPad, and then show students how to use the interface to control Dash: make his head move around, move him around, get him to make different sounds and light up. Ask for a volunteer to come forward to see if they can use the controls on the iPad to make Dash blink.
Activity
Students experiment with using the Go app on the iPad to control Dash & Dot.
Plenary
Ask: has anyone worked out how to record their voice on Dash & Dot? Bring forward volunteers to demonstrate using Dash & Dot.
Activity 2: Create paths for Dash to follow
Introduction
Sitting the children down in a circle, tell them that in this lesson they will learn some basic programming using Dash and Dot. Using the iPad app, Path, children will need to design a path for Dash to follow. Model this on the iPad. Dash will move along the path as it has been drawn out on the iPad. Explain how we can also add different sounds along this path, which Dash will make in the same sequence as he moves along the path.
Activity
Students use the Path app to draw different paths for Dash to take. As the students advance, they can unlock new themes and special animations.
Plenary
Making sure that children are sat in a circle, ask for a volunteer to program Dash to move along a path within the circle that the children have made.
Activity 3: Create music on the xylophone using Dash
Introduction
Explain that in this lesson, the children will be composing music for Dash to play. They will be using the Xylo app on the iPad and the xylophone accessory.
First, model how to attach the xylophone accessory to Dash’s body. Then, ask: what do we need to connect next? Elicit that the next thing we need to attach is the mallet, which should connect to the left side of Dash’s head. Once these two parts are attached, open up the Xylo app.
Show the children how, by tapping on the different colours, we can create a sequence of different sounds, as each colour represents a different note. You can demonstrate this by playing one of the readymade tunes, e.g. My Mary Had A Little Lamb.
Activity
The children experiment with composing their own music using the Xylo app and Dash.
Plenary
Ask for volunteers to play the music that they have composed using the Xylo app.
