Bee - Bots Walk

Workshop Activity

Bee-Bots Walk

This activity involves the class creating an innovation of the text ‘Rosie’s Walk’ by Pat Hutchins. To begin this activity, the teacher reads ‘Rosie’s Walk’ to the class.

This text involves Rosie the Hen going for a walk through the farmyard, the whole time not realising that she is being followed by a fox. After reading the book, the class engages in a joint construction of a Bee-Bot mat that includes the different locations in the farmyard that Rosie visits. Once completed, the teacher reveals two Bee-Bots that have been dressed as Rosie the Hen and the fox. Students then collaboratively retell the story and sequence the moves the Bee-Bots will need to make to follow the same path that Rosie and the fox followed. Once programmed the students place the Bee-Bots on the mat and see if they

follow the path correctly.

·         In which areas of the curriculum could you use this activity? Consider cross-curricular links

This activity has strong links to English – involving storytelling – understanding that stories follow a sequence of events

Also children can develop – team work skills – trial and error

·         What is the purpose of the activity? (Is it to teach new ICT skills? To consolidate and practice existing skills, or is the ICT simply a tool and the focus lies in the subject being taught?)

I feel that this activity would develop ICT skills as well as literacy skills, as we’re not just using the bee-bot as a tool but it’s integral to the story.

·         What skills, knowledge and understanding does the activity support and/or extend in terms of the subject and ICT?

1. Team skills
2. Sequence
3. Storytelling
4. Direction
5. Role Play
6. Instruction to the bee-bot – using controls
7. Timing

·         What is the key vocabulary used in the activity?

Forwards

Backwards

Left

Right

Animal characters

·         How could you extend the activity for more able children and/or older year group?

This activity can be a stimulus for other similar activities. For example, students could write a text titled ‘Bee-Bots Walk’ or create mats relating to other popular children's texts that include journeys. Other recommended texts for this activity include:

1. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – M.Rosen and H.Oxenbury
2. A Nice Walk in the Jungle – Nan Bodsworth
3. Possum Magic – Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
4. Gandali the Whale – Meredith Hooper and Anita Mertzlin
5. A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle – Gwenda Smyth

·         How would you differentiate the activity for less able and/or younger age group?

I would differentiate this activity by perhaps choosing a different story where perhaps only 1 character was involved, and I would also make sure the story was much shorter.

·         What opportunities are there to assess the children’s learning?

You would be able to assess the children’s learning through questioning. Also you could get the children to perform the journey to the class once completed.

·         What are the practicalities involved in organising and managing the activity in the classroom/computer suite?

You would need this activity to take place in a large enough clear area so that all children have relevant access to the journey mats. The whole process would probably need to take place over various lessons, so needs to be well focused and structured. Furthermore the resources need to be readily and efficiently available to reduce time loss.