Drawing Angles with the Hummingbird
Subjects
Math
Project Type
Real World Models
Required Tutorials
Position servo
Estimated Time
Short (1-3 hours)
Description
Use servos with the Hummingbird Kit to make acute, right, and obtuse angles.
Free Teacher Materials
Project Map
Learning Goals
Students will design an interactive way to present obtuse and acute angles using the Hummingbird Bit robotics kit.
Materials
- Hummingbird Bit Premium Kit
- Cereal box (1 per group)
- Popsicle stick
- Possible Craft supplies
Tips
- Have students work in groups of 2-3.
- Our Printables page has a variety of documents for making teaching and learning with Hummingbird easier. Visit and explore resources like the My First Robot Design Notebook now.
Steps
An understanding of angles is essential to using servo motors with the Hummingbird. Students will naturally need to measure and use angles as they construct projects using the kit. However, students can also use the Hummingbird with Scratch or Snap! to explicitly demonstrate their knowledge of acute or obtuse angles. An effective way to do this would be to challenge students to design an interactive way to present obtuse and acute angles. One of many possible solutions to this challenge is shown in the video below. This project helps the user to draw an angle and then state whether the angle is acute, right, or obtuse. The Scratch sprite draws the same angle on the computer screen.
This project uses a servo motor mounted behind a cardboard drawing surface. A popsicle stick is attached to the servo as a drawing guide. The Scratch program uses a variable angle that is set to a random number between 0 and 150. The program prompts the user to draw the first ray of the angle at 0°, and the Scratch sprite draws the first ray of the angle. The servo motor then moves the drawing guide to an angle and prompts the user to draw the second ray. The Scratch sprite draws the second ray at the same time. If statements are used to classify the angle as acute, right, or obtuse. Because the value of the angle is chosen randomly, a right angle is not very likely.
Standards Alignment
The project is aligned with Common Core math standards 4.MD.C and 4.G.A. This project would also meet the Next Generation Science Standards for engineering in grades 3-5 (3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, and 3-5-ETS1-3).