Coding - Beebot
This was the first step I took into developing my skills in coding. It is a very good starting point for children in Key Stage 1. It is a very visual tool to use and the puzzles are fun to solve. Pupils must program in the steps that need to be taken by Beebot in order to reach the goal in the fewest amount of moves. The levels get progressively harder and must use their problem solving skills effectively.
It develops pupils planning as they must visual where Beebot will before they come up with a series of commands. The game can be effectively differentiated as you can ask pupils to solve the puzzle in one go (higher ability) or give them a number of attempts (middle or lower ability).
After pupils are confident with the app I would move them onto using the actual physical Beebot to get to a certain point in the room. This would be move challenging as there won't be convenient 1 move squares in place. Pupils will have to think a lot more carefully and spend longer planning what moves to program.
It develops pupils planning as they must visual where Beebot will before they come up with a series of commands. The game can be effectively differentiated as you can ask pupils to solve the puzzle in one go (higher ability) or give them a number of attempts (middle or lower ability).
After pupils are confident with the app I would move them onto using the actual physical Beebot to get to a certain point in the room. This would be move challenging as there won't be convenient 1 move squares in place. Pupils will have to think a lot more carefully and spend longer planning what moves to program.