Coding meets creativity in Year 3
Year 3 students at the Glen Waverley Campus have embraced digital technologies with curiosity and creativity, supported by Digital Learning & Practice (DLP) mentor, Lorinda Ferry. Through the lens of the IB Primary Years Program (PYP), students explored two units of inquiry in hands-on, imaginative ways using Sphero robots.
In their first unit of inquiry How We Organise Ourselves, students unpacked the central idea that ‘Needs can be met with digital systems’. The learning began with an intriguing problem: examining a broken Sphero to understand its components. From there, students learned to program and control their robots, progressing step-by-step to drive their Sphero’s with increasing accuracy. They applied this knowledge in a mapping challenge, coding their Sphero to navigate to specific points - an engaging connection to their Mathematics work in mapping and spatial awareness.
Students then shifted their focus to How We Express Ourselves, investigating the central idea that ‘Technology influences our creativity’. They were challenged to design and build chariots for their Spheros, incorporating visual and sound elements to bring their creations to life. This unit culminated in an exciting race, where creativity and coding came together in motion.
Olivia and Zara collaborated on a clever cat-themed chariot that they programmed to miaow, despite some early coding challenges. Reflecting on the experience, Olivia said, ‘At the start, coding was tricky and our Sphero kept going too fast and crashing.’ The girls worked together to figure out how to slow it down, using different commands to make it move in a square. ‘It was fun discovering new things and working together to get it right,’ said Zara. They were rewarded when their Sphero not only completed the course but finished in first place!
Ilia and Morgan built a bird-inspired chariot complete with tweeting sounds, showing great perseverance and working together to overcome issues with speed and direction. ‘At first, it was so slow, we had to push it ourselves,’ said Morgan. ‘But we kept trying and were really happy when we finished the course.’
Liz and Amber enjoyed experimenting with materials and design, learning about mechanical structure through trial and error. ‘Unfortunately, our chariot didn’t work on carpet because of the friction,’ explained Amber.
This immersive learning experience gave Year 3 students the opportunity to explore the intersections of technology, creativity and collaboration – while having fun along the way. As one student put it, ‘We just kept trying again and again… until it worked!’
