Welcome to our first Bee-Bot lesson! Today, we're going to learn about a fun little robot called a Bee-Bot. This robot can move forward and backward, and we can tell it exactly where to go. We'll also learn about a number line, which is a line with numbers on it that the Bee-Bot can follow. Are you ready to start exploring with the Bee-Bot? Let's go!

Next play the following direction games with your students, using your IWB/projector or large screen. This engaging activity will help students start to understand how the Bee-Bots work and how we can give them different instructions. 

How to Play

1. Introduce the game:

   "Now, we're going to play a direction game. In this game, we'll take turns to give the ladybird instructions to get them to the target."

2. Demonstrate the game:

   • "At the start of the game, Digi is going to tell me which square I need to move the ladybird to."
   • "I'm going to use the blue arrows to give the ladybird instructions on how to get to the target. The up arrow will move the ladybird one step forwards, and the down arrow will move the ladybird one step backwards."
   • "Once I've given all the instructions, I will press the green Go button and the ladybird will follow my instructions."

3. Start playing:

   • Click the Reset button to start a new game.
   • Choose a student to give the instructions, they can either come up and enter the instructions themselves or they can tell you what instructions to enter.
   • Click the green Go button and watch as the ladybird follows the instructions.
   • The game will say whether they were correct or not.
   • Repeat with other students to keep everyone engaged.
     

Now try playing the game again with your students but this time with colours.

Begin by gathering your students in a circle. Show them a Bee-Bot and explain its parts. Focus particularly on the forward and backward buttons, emphasising how each button corresponds to a specific movement.

Explain that the Bee-Bot will be moving to different numbers on this line, and they will learn how to give instructions to make the Bee-Bot move correctly.

Place the Bee-Bot at the starting number, such as 0, on the number line. Demonstrate how to make the Bee-Bot move forward by pressing the forward button twice and pressing the 'Go' button, moving the Bee-Bot to the number 2.

Then, demonstrate how to make the Bee-Bot move backward by pressing the backward button once, moving the Bee-Bot to the previous number.

Invite a few students to come forward and try giving the Bee-Bot commands. Start with simple instructions, such as moving forward two steps or backward one step.

Make sure they clear the code before giving new commands.