If you’re looking for a fun way to introduce your students to coding and other STEAM skills, the STEAM robots from Makeblock are a great option! The mBot2 and Rover Robotics Kit will allow your students to develop coding skills in an easy and fun way! I had the opportunity to try these STEAM robots from Makeblock, and my daughter and I loved assembling them and programming them to do amazing things! Keep reading to find out how to use Makeblock STEAM Robots to engage your students.
How to Use Makeblock STEAM Robots in Your Classroom
*This is a sponsored post. I received the Makeblock mBot2 and Rover Robotics Kit for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.*
When the mBot2 and Rover Robotics Kit arrived in the mail, we were so excited! The pictures on the boxes clearly showed what the robots look like, and my daughter couldn’t wait to find out how they worked.
mBot2 Robot Assembly
We started by assembling the mBot2. All the pieces were neatly packaged, and the directions clearly outlined the steps. My daughter is 11 years old, and she was able to do most of the assembly by herself. She just needed a little bit of help lining up the holes to insert the screws. A small screwdriver is included, and it has two interchangeable ends to allow you to tighten both types of screws.
The full assembly of the mBot2 took us about 30 minutes. If you buy a set of mBot2 robots so your students can use them in small groups, you can have them collaborate to build the robots.
Once the robot is correctly assembled, you will be able to access some ready-to-go features. Turn on the robot, and use the menu to select “Switch Programs.” You can choose from a variety of activities, like voice recording, light displays, and even a fun math game where your students have to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. There are also a few pre-programmed actions your robot can do, like moving along a line.
These ready-to-go features are perfect for your students to explore on the day they assemble their robots. This will allow them to make sure everything is put together correctly, and they’ll have fun seeing all the things the mBot2 can already do.
Software Set-Up
After the robots are completely assembled, plug them in to charge their batteries. The battery lasts about 5 hours, so you will want to recharge them after using them for the day.
This is also the perfect time to set up the mBlock coding software. I recommend doing this yourself so you can check to make sure everything is working before teaching your students how to use the coding software.
You can dowload the coding software on a computer, tablet, or on your phone. I used the app on my phone to set everything up, and my son downloaded the software on his computer so we could see how that would work.
Robot Coding
As we started coding the mBot2, it quickly became obvious that my daughter was more experienced with this than me. She used a block coding system at school, so she was far more familiar with the drag-and-drop system.
Before I knew it, she had the robot talking, lighting up in different colors, and playing music. She was able to control everything from the app on my phone.
Even if your students don’t have any coding experience, they will be able to quickly and easily use the drag and drop blocks. My daughter explained it to me once, and I was able to program mBot2 to light up in different colors, meow, move, and say “bye.” Before long, mBot2 was rolling around our kitchen, talking, and doing light shows.
I highly recommend mBot2 for elementary students who are just getting started with coding and robotics. With some guidance, they will be able to assemble the robot and use the block coding.
Get your mBot2 robot now!
Robotics for More Advanced Students
If your students are older or more advanced in their knowledge of coding, Makeblock has some great options! First, mBot2 can grow with your students. They can start with the basic drag-and-drop coding and then graduate to Python all in the mBlock coding software.
That makes differentiation really easy. Your beginning coders can stick with the drag-and-drop system while more advanced students can move on to Python.
Another option is to get the mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit. You will get the mBot2 robot and the add-on kit to transform it into a Rover.
After our successful assembly of the mBot2, I was eager to dig into the Rover Robitics Kit. I quickly realized that I was a little bit in over my head as I paged through the assembly directions. I reminded myself that I always want my children and my students to persevere and put forth their best effort. So, I took out all of the neatly wrapped pieces and got to work. (One thing you will never have to worry about with a Makeblock robot is missing pieces. Everything is packaged so well, and they even added extras of some of the small pieces that could easily be misplaced.)
After about three and a half hours, my Rover was ready. I built this one while my daughter was at school, and I was kind of glad because I really needed to focus to figure out where all the parts went. The directions were extremely clear and walked me step-by-step through the whole process. I almost couldn’t believe it when my Rover looked like the one on the front of the box!
Using the Rover
The mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit is definitely for your more advanced students, but once they get it assembled, they’ll find that it can do some really neat things!
Here are a some of the amazing features of the Rover:
- Can Be Controlled with a Remote Control – If your students just want to use the robot without any coding at all, it comes with a remote control. Just add batteries, sync it with the robot, and you’re ready to explore.
- Perfect for Outdoor Use – The mBot2 works best on an indoor surface, like tile or carpet, but the Rover can go outside and explore different terrains and slopes up to 40 degrees.
- Customizable Expressions – You can program your robot to have the same facial expressions as you or choose from AI generated images.
- Many Different Actions – The Rover can follow lines, sense lights, dance, and even play music.
Like mBot2, the Rover allows your students to practice block-based coding and move on to Python when they are ready. The mBlock software you download for mBot2 also works for the Rover.
So Much More Exploring to Do
My daughter and I have just scratched the surface on what is possible with the Makeblock STEAM Robots. There are so many more incredible things they can do. We’re excited to keep exploring and discovering new features.
Adding mBot2 and the Rover Robotics Kit to your classroom will create a unique learning experience for your students. They will learn engineering skills as they follow the detailed directions to assemble the robots. They will move from beginning coders to experienced coders who know how to use Python. Plus, don’t forget the hours of creative exploration as they uncover all the amazing things these robots can do!
The Makeblock robots even come with free lessons and projects to get you started.
Grab the bundle that includes both mBot2 and the Rover Robotics Kit!
What Do You Think?
What are your favorite STEAM activities to use in your classroom?
Let me know in the comments below.
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