|
Sphero Indi
Even though the Spherical versions of Sphero's have been around since 2011, the Sphero Indi was released in 2021. They market them as being suitable for ages 4 and up, but I have found that kids that get the most out of them are aged 7-12. They offer screenless learning (but an optional app is available) In a nutshell, they are colour sensing cars that react differently when they run over and sense different coloured tiles. |
|
|
What I like about them...
I purchased the charging case, which allows me to charge 8 at a time. Charge time is about 1.5 hours and for that you get just over an hour of continuous play. Having said that...kids spend more time actually making paths with their coloured tiles than testing their creations, so I believe you can easily get a 90 minute lesson out of one charge. |
|
|
There are two options when buying them; a home version with cardboard tiles and a Student kit with silicon tiles. I definitely recommend the STUDENT/SILICON version. More info on purchasing them here.
You do get a lot of paraphernalia. Heaps of stickers and accessories. Personally... I avoided the stickers apart from using them to number my sphero cars and kits. I can see how they would be fun, but I like to plan activities that I can do over and over again, and there are only so many stickers! The challenge cards are OK... but I made my own which I think are better! 
At-Home kit (Not as good as Student Kit)
|
Student Kit (Recommended)
|
|
Lots of teachers would just let the kids plant tiles all over the floor, but I found a better solution. I use core-flute (which I purchased from a hardware store)
The pieces I got were 900mm x 1200mm This a good size to make a grid of 6 x 8 squares. I stuck some electrical tape around the edges, then measured and marked every 150mm around the edge to make 48, 150mm x 150mm squares. (6 rows of 8) The tiles sit nicely on top.
The advantages are:
"Coreflute" (any thickness works)
|
If you don't have the ability to buy coreflute, you could always create a grid on the floor with masking tape.
|
My puzzles
I created some puzzles which have a pattern of tiles with one or two tiles missing, (replaced with a question mark) so the students need to work out which tiles to use fot the car to travel on every colour. On the back of each card is the solution. So kids can either try and solve it, or simply try to copy the solution. They still have to work out the exact position of each tile, and work out which way to face their Indi when it starts.
Of course I also let them make their own patterns, but the kids actually really like the booklets. I made the cards A5 in size so two can fit side-by-side on an A4 page. Then, after printing, I just folded the A4 page so the puzzle was on one side, and the solution was on the other. I then laminated each folded page.
Of course I also let them make their own patterns, but the kids actually really like the booklets. I made the cards A5 in size so two can fit side-by-side on an A4 page. Then, after printing, I just folded the A4 page so the puzzle was on one side, and the solution was on the other. I then laminated each folded page.
Puzzle card- Which colours are missing?
|
Puzzle card solution. Can you copy this? Where do you start? Which way do you face?
|
Downloadable files for you to purchase:
40 pages of puzzles and solutions (like example above) VISIT MY MERCH STORE!
|
|
I added some instructions to my cases to remind students about how many tiles there are of each colour, and what they do. Printed, laminated and stuck inside cases...
|
| ||
|
I also made an A4 laminated sheet to remind students of the angles.
You could even just use this file to display on a TV as a reference for kids while they use their Indi's.
|
| ||
Back-to-back printable arrows
|
These handy double-sided printouts allow students to place an image of their car on their "track" to see which way the indi will turn when it detects the four main colours for right-angles and diagonal turns.
If you print double-sided page, they line up perfectly. (Made for A4 page setting)
| ||||||
Robot Man Videos
|
|
|
The Sphero Indi App: "Edu Jr"
|
Although Indi's can be used as a "screenless" robot, you have the option of downloading and using the "EDU JNR" app.
Two cool things you can do with the app, are: 1) Change the way the Indi car responds to any colour. 2) Remote control your Indi! I made a NEW awesome puzzle booklet to challenge anyone who uses the Sphero Indi with the Edu Jr App. Each puzzle, at first glance, seems impossible... but then with a little thought, it can be solved by changing how some of the coloured tiles affect the Indi Car's behaviour. For example, instead of stopping... make the Indi Car turn right, when it sees red. There's even puzzles that involve music such as making an endless loop that plays a song! There's a challenge on every page. And a solution that you can print on the back, or keep separate! I sell the booklet in my merch store. For a one-of price you can download the PDF and intantly print as many challenge cards as you like! This booklet can be purchased here: https://robot-man-shop.fourthwall.com See my store for other Indi resources: https://robot-man-shop.fourthwall.com |