ROBOTICS WEEKEND AT STEPPING STONES IS HARDWIRED FOR FUN!
-KIDS ARE IN COMMAND OF HOVERCRAFTS, ROBOTS AND BEE-BOTS® WITH CREATIVE CODING -
Hey kids! Do you wanna build a robot? WeDo 2! Turn your curiosity about all things robotic into a reality when Stepping Stones geeks out with a full weekend of high tech gadgets and gizmos. The two days of cool coding kicks off on July 15th and 16th and leads into an entire week of electronic excitement.
Children as young as preschoolers will build robots using LEGO® WeDo 2.0 and navigate a cute Bee-Bot® through a maze as an engaging introduction to engineering. In partnership with Gemini Robotics, youngsters will learn all about design, code development, problem-solving, construction and more each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The star of the show is NAO, a three foot humanoid robot. Kids can interact with this sophisticated, fully articulated robot primarily used to teach robotic engineering at the college level. NAO can see, react to touch, and speak. The bot is fitted with ultra-sound sensors to navigate obstacles. His eyes can detect faces and shapes, which enable NAO to recognize the person talking to him, find a ball, and complete more complex tasks.
LEGO® WeDo 2.0 introduces elementary students to robotics using LEGO® bricks and a corresponding app. Part of the LEGO® Mindstorms series of kits, WeDo 2.0 includes software and hardware to create customizable, programmable robots. An intelligent brick computer controls the system, while a set of modular sensors, motors and LEGO® parts from the Technic line creates the mechanical systems.
Bee-Bot® is a new small bug-shaped robot designed for use by young children. This colorful, easy-to-operate, and friendly little robot is a perfect tool for teaching sequencing, estimation, and is just plain fun!
Highlighted activities during Robotics Week from July 17-23 include:
- · DIY Hovercrafts on Mon, July 17 from 11:15am – 12:15pm. Make and test your own hovercraft! For children ages 4 and older. Tickets available 30 minutes prior to program. 10 spots available.
- · Make your own robot every day Mon- Sun, July 17 – 23 from 10am – 4:30pm.
- · Tech Time on Sat, July 22 from noon – 1pm. Master LEGO® WeDo 2.0 using LEGO® bricks, engineering and programming to build a robot. Limited space. For children ages 5 and older.
- · Articulated Hands on Sun, July 23 from 1:00 – 1:45pm. Come learn about simple robotics and make your own “robot” hand. For children ages 4 and older. Tickets available 30 minutes prior to program.12 spaces available.
- · Simple Circuits on Sunday, July 23 from 2:00 – 2:45pm. Learn about circuitry and how it works in our everyday electronics.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are: Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday—Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 am-5pm; and Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm.
Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free. For more information about Stepping Stones, to book a field trip or schedule a class, workshop or facility rental call 203-899-0606 or visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org.
PHOTO: Robotics weekend July 15-16 at Stepping Stones introduces young children to the high-tech world of robots and coding. Navigating Bee-Bot®, a colorful little robot, through a maze, is just one of many hands-on activities.