Red Light Green Light Activity Plan

We are going to play a game that you should be familiar with: Red Light Green Light. However, we are going to involve technology in the game so you can learn about using Sound Sensors as an Input and Colored lights as an Output Actuator

1: PREPARATION: Stuff you need checklist

The Game will use:

1 Pico Kit for every two young people

Input: Sound Sensor

Output: Colored Lights

Cricket (Test all the crickets to make sure they work)

Beamer (Test all the beamers to make sure they work)

Computer with PICO installed (Test out the program to make sure it works)

Camera to take pictures

Extra AAA Batteries and small screwdriver

Set up an example Red Light Green Light

2: OPENING CONCEPTS:

Introduction

to Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn

to people in the learning session

Review 2-4 core ideas:

What is Physical Programming?

What are inputs and outputs?

What does a cricket do?

What does a beamer do?

3: TEACHING

A. Play the Game Red Light Green Light

The game starts by having someone say “Green Light” and the players will start walking to the finish line. As soon as someone says “Red Light,” the players stop walking. If they are caught walking, they are sent to the beginning to start over.

B. Play the Game with Technology

Set up an example miniature traffic light that turns green when someone says start. They go until the traffic light turns red automatically. Play the game as usual to see if anyone is moving and needs to start over. Then to begin again, turn off the Cricket and turn it back on to start the game again. The point of the game is to have people reach the finish line.

C. Build the Game

  1. Lead the group through a process where you make a flow chart of the game (this is on the activity sheet.
  2. Split up into pairs.
  3. Take them through the process of building

Connecting the sound sensor, cricket, beamer and light output actuator

  1. Take through the process of programming and using the Beamer.

“Sound sensor will detect your voice and start the light output actuator”

“From then on, the possibility of the light turning red is random”

4: PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT FACE AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM

  • Cricket does not work: replace batteries

5: WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY FINISH

  • Play the Red Light Green Light game in small groups with their inventions
  • Take photos of youth with their inventions

6: CLEAN-UP

  • Make sure all the PICO Kits are put back together

7: CIRCLE-UP

  • Ask questions about the concepts

What’s the input?

What’s the output?

What does a cricket do?

What does a beamer do?

Explain the program