Algorithm Ants

( P R I M A RY F O C U S : S T E A M * )
For students from approximately 4 to 8 years old.

S U M M A RY
Did you know that ants use algorithms to locate and collect food? Algorithms are detailed step-by-step instructions
for completing a task or solving a problem. Do you use algorithms to complete daily activities? In this activity
students will create a map for KUBO to move on that includes an ant colony, food, and other elements you would
find outside. They create an algorithm using the TagTiles® that gets KUBO from the colony, to the food, and back to
the colony again. Then discuss the steps they took to create this algorithm.

BEFOREHAND
Students should understand how to use KUBO and the Coding TagTiles® as well as how to make routes. Students
should work with directions beforehand: ‘turn left’ and ‘turn right’.

RESOURCES
·· 1 KUBO robot for 2-3 students, fully charged
·· 1 set of Coding TagTiles
·· 1 blank map
·· Paper and writing utensils (pen, marker, crayon, colored pencil)
·· KUBO ant costume

*STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics

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CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS
·· Art: Students turn KUBO into an ant by creating a costume that can be taped on to the robot body.
·· Math: Talk about routes and compare daily routes that students take in real life to routes on the school
activity map included in the KUBO Coding set. For example compare how KUBO goes from the school
gate to the playground, and how that differs from their own route.
·· ELA: Have students write down steps, by drawing arrows, to complete each task and explain the
similarities between their writing and algorithms (step-by-step, sequenced, explains a process, etc.).
See Worksheet 1 below.

TEACHER NOTES
As students write down three routes to complete a task (going from the ant colony to the food and back again)
make students draw the three routes with the use of arrows on the worksheet, and then explain to students that
these three routes all together make an algorithm; an event for the ant to complete a task.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
·· Students present their routes (their algorithms) to other students in the class.
·· Students think of and write about algorithms they use to complete daily activities (this can be morning
routines before going to school).

SOLUTION EXAMPLE
The coding in this activity should be fairly simple – get KUBO from one point to another and back. The main
purpose of the activity is for early years students to become familiar with routes as sequences that create an
algorithm and as such to understand algorithm as a term.

NOTES

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GROUP:
Plan your first route:
Plan your second route:
Plan your third route:
WORKSHEET 1 ž 1/1 All rights reserved © 2019 ž KUBO Robotics ApS ž kubo.education