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Space Skirmish Marching Song
(Star Wars Imperial March)

By Phuong Diep 60 minutes
Level
Grades 4-6
Subjects
Art,
Science and Technology,
Mathematics
components
  • Programming
  • Computing and Networks
Tools & Languages
Block-based,
Little Robot Friends

Key Coding Concepts

  • Arrays
  • Events
  • Functions
  • Loops

Terminology

Array

Allows you to store more than just one piece of information

 

Events

One thing causing another thing to happen i.e. ‘when clicked’ block

 

Function

A type of procedure or routine that performs a distinct operation. There are often ‘canned’ functions that exist already like the ‘jump’ block


Loops

Running the same sequence multiple times i.e. repeat or forever blocks

In this activity, you'll program a Little Robot Friend to sing the chorus and verse of a Space Skirmish Marching Song.

  • Download the LRF Blocks App on each computer.
  • Review the complete LRF Blocks file of this project. (Download > Open LRF Blocks app > Select “Projects” > “Import File” > Select file from your downloads folder)
  • Print the solution sheet.
  • Print copies of the Music Sheet for each pair of learners.
  • This activity requires computers and Little Robot Friends robots

**This lesson fits well after the “How To Program Sounds” lesson.

Introduction

Music is a very important part of communities and cultures around the world with genres like jazz, rock, pop, and techno reflecting our human emotions and experiences. In many ways, music is a form of language - without the words!

The earliest form of music was clapping and chanting. Afterwards, some of the first instruments were made from things found in nature. For example, sticks were used to drum and flutes were carved from mammoth bones. Today, there are common types of instruments we categorize as wind, string, brass, percussion, and keyboard, but with the invention of new tools and applications we also have robots such as Little Robot Friends that can make music too!

Code Along

  1. Launch the LRF Blocks App and open a new project.
  2. Explain the different categories in the blocks menu.
  3. Show students how to move and connect blocks to create a "script".
  4. Give students a few minutes to experiment with the LRF Blocks App and try to control one or more of their robot's sensors.

Activity

This Space Skirmish Marching Song is divided into three parts: chorus A, chorus B, and verse. The chorus is the part of the song that will repeat - it’s the catchiest part! We’ve separated the chorus into part A and B, because only half of the chorus repeats at the end of the song. Let's get started!

Hand out the Space Skirmish Marching Song print-out sheets to each student (or pair).

Use the solution sheet to complete the following steps:

  1. Create a new project
  2. Set up Chorus A
  3. Play Chorus A
  4. Add sounds to Chorus A
  5. Add Chorus B
  6. Add the Verse
  7. All together!

Learning Outcomes

I can program songs in the LRF Blocks App
I can set sensor events to control my robot
I can make functions to organize my code
I can create arrays to hold more information
I can use loops to repeat parts of my script

Try to play the song together as a class! Divide the room into three parts (chorus A, B, and verse) and 'conduct' the song by pointing at the group when it is their turn to go.

Can students map the chorus and verse to different sensor events?

Can students program their own space-themed song?

Teach lessons that are tied to your existing curriculum! https://bit.ly/CLClessons

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