Prairie STEM had a fantastic time working with the intermediate students at Bergan Catholic Elementary School in Fremont as they explored robotics and computer programming using Sphero BOLT robots. This engaging lesson challenged students to think like programmers while guiding their robots through a fun “trick-or-treat” coding adventure.
Students began by learning how block-based coding can control the movements, sounds, and actions of their robots. Using tablets and the Sphero Edu programming platform, they created step-by-step instructions to guide their BOLT robots from a starting point to different “houses” on a mat.
At each house on the course, students programmed their robot to perform a sequence of actions—just like a real trick-or-treater! First, the robot would drive to the house and play a doorbell “ring” sound to signal its arrival. Next, students recorded their own voices into the program so the robot would say “Trick-or-treat!” After receiving its imaginary candy, the robot would politely say “Thank you!” before moving on to the next house. Each step required students to carefully plan and program movement, timing, and sound in the correct order.
This activity introduced students to important computer science and engineering concepts. They practiced sequencing, which is arranging commands in the correct order so the robot completes tasks successfully. They also learned about distance, speed, and direction as they adjusted their code to help the robot stop at the correct location for each house. When things didn’t go exactly as planned—and they often didn’t at first—students used debugging, the process programmers use to find and fix problems in their code.
The lesson also incorporated elements of design thinking and problem solving. Students tested their programs, observed how their robots behaved, and then refined their code to improve accuracy and timing. This trial-and-error process is a key part of both engineering and computer science.
Beyond the technical learning, students practiced communication and creativity by recording their own voices and personalizing the trick-or-treat interactions. The room was filled with laughter as robots arrived at houses and cheerful student voices rang out with “Trick-or-treat!” and “Thank you!”
Lessons like this show students that coding is not just about computers—it’s about logic, creativity, persistence, and problem solving. By programming their Sphero BOLTs to complete a multi-step challenge, Bergan students experienced firsthand how engineers and programmers design instructions that bring technology to life.
Prairie STEM is grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful students and staff at Bergan Catholic School. Their curiosity, teamwork, and excitement for learning made this robotics adventure a real treat!
