5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Teacher Guide Stage 5 Part 1
Attainment Target


Exemplification of
Strand
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

Control an external device by giving instructions in single steps, e.g.
floor turtle/ robot arm
Use more complex simulation/adventure games requiring a higher
level of decision making.
Understand and use
- right 90, left 90
Use a mobile robot and control it to follow a precise path on the
floor (e.g. maze).
Draw any basic design (square, rectangle, etc ) using a control
software application (e.g. LOGO).
Resources Needed



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
Outline of Activities
1 – Walking
2a, 2b & 2c –
Roamer
Level C introduces the use of degrees to turn the Roamer on the floor or
screen. (Link with maths work on shape / pos & move if possible.)
RM Windowbox PC
Roamer World Software
Roamer Floor turtle
Optional - Roamer ‘Floor Mats’
Downloaded backgrounds to use with Roamer World
Activity 1: Keep On Turning The first page introduces turning 90º or a
Right Angle. Pupils are introduced to the idea that turning four right
angles makes one revolution or 360º. A blank sheet is provided so that
more examples can be produced.
Activity 2a Roamer Turns A Roamer Grid (3 by 3) is required to carry
out this activity. Alternatively you could write the letters on pieces of
paper and place them round Roamer. (Each piece should be 30cm
x30cm.) The pupils input the instructions and write down the letter
Roamer faces when he stops. He should be left where he finishes and
the next question starts from there. A blank sheet is provided so that
more examples can be produced.
Activity 2b Shape Up With Roamer. Qu 1 -3 The children enter
instructions and draw what Roamer does. Qu 4-6 The children are
given a shape and write a set of instructions for Roamer to follow.
Activity 2c: Roamer Repeats
The first page shows how Roamer repeats instructions to draw shapes.
Some new buttons are introduced: R – Repeat [ ] Brackets W Wait
♪ Musical Note A pattern is followed when using repeat commands.
CM CM R 4 [ FD 3 RT 90 ] GO: R 4 Repeats 4 times what is
inside the brackets; [
] Everything inside these will be repeated that
number of times; FD 3 RT 90 Roamer should go Forward 3 and turn
Right 90º; GO This tells Roamer to carry out the instructions.
On the second page the children finish writing instructions to make
Roamer follow repeat instructions and test them. They are set the
challenge of writing repeat instructions to make a rectangle.
Rectangle: CM CM R 2 [ FD 2 RT 90 FD 3 RT 90 ] GO
(The secret is to repeat drawing half of the rectangle twice.)
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
1
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
In this activity you will learn to:
 understand and use right 90º and left 90º.
Activity 1: Keep on Turning!
When we use Roamer we need to tell him to turn round to the left or to the right so
he can go in another direction.
Roamer has to turn round in degrees. (The symbol for this is ‘ º ’ )
To make Roamer turn in a RIGHT ANGLE he must turn round 90º.
How many times would he have to turn 90º to get back to where he started?
Forward
A RIGHT angle
or 90º
Right
Left
Back
Facing
Forward
Right 90º
Right 90º
Right 90º
Right 90º
Facing Forward
If you stand and turn four right angles then you will end up facing the way you were
when you started. You have turned round 360º.
4 x 90º = 360º (One complete revolution)
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
2
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Activity 1: Keep On Turning
Place a piece of paper on the ground. The paper should be
marked in the same way as the example shown here.
Look at the examples below and write down which letter you
would be facing if you turned the number of Right Angles (RA).
1
B
A
2
D
B
3
A
C
C
B
C
D
A
D
Turn 1 RA Right
Turn 2 RA Right
Turn 3 RA Left
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
D
B
4
5
C
A
A
6
D
A
B
C
C
B
D
Turn 2 RA Left
Turn 4 RA Right
Turn 2 RA Right
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
7
8
A
D
B
C
9
A
D
B
C
C
B
D
A
Turn 4 RA Right
Turn 3 RA Left
Turn 3 RA Left
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
3
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Activity 1: Keep On Turning Blank
Place a piece of paper on the ground. The paper should be
marked in the same way as the example shown here.
Look at the examples below and write down which letter you
would be facing if you turned the number of Right Angles
1
B
A
2
D
B
3
A
C
C
B
C
D
A
D
Turn… RA Right
Turn… RA Right
Turn … RA Left
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
D
B
4
5
C
C
A
A
6
D
A
B
C
C
B
D
Turn….. RA Left
Turn… RA Right
Turn…. RA Right
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
7
8
A
D
B
C
9
A
D
B
C
C
B
D
A
Turn…..RA Right
Turn ….RA Left
Turn……RA Left
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
Answer:…………
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
4
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
In this activity you will learn to:
 understand and use right 90º and left 90º.
Activity 2a: Roamer Turns
H
Use your Roamer mats or a paper grid to make
a grid the same as the one shown here.
Place Roamer in the middle of the grid and enter the
commands shown and write down which letter he faces.
Carry on from where Roamer stops on the last question.
A
C
G
F
B
E
D
1 Instructions
2 Instructions
3 Instructions
4 Instructions
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
5 Instructions
6 Instructions
7 Instructions
8 Instructions
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
5
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Activity 2a: Roamer Turns Blank
Use your Roamer mats or a paper grid to make
a grid the same as the one shown here.
Place Roamer in the middle of the grid and enter the
commands shown and write down which letter he faces.
Carry on from where Roamer stops on the last question.
H
A B
G
C
F
E
D
1 Instructions
2 Instructions
3 Instructions
4 Instructions
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
5 Instructions
6 Instructions
7 Instructions
8 Instructions
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
Facing:………..
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
6
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
In this activity you will learn to:
 Understand and use right 90º and left 90º.
 Draw any basic design (square, rectangle etc) on screen using the floor Roamer.
Activity 2b: Shape Up With Roamer
Make Roamer follow these instructions and draw the shape he travels (Q1, Q2 &
Q3) or write the instructions needed to make the shape given (Q4, Q5 & Q6). Make
Roamer face the direction of the arrow to start with.
The instructions are now written in shorthand.
CM = Clear Memory
FD = Forward BK = Back
1
CM CM
FD 2
RT 90
FD 2
LT 90
FD 2
RT 90
FD 2
2
FD 2
LT 90
FD 2
RT 90
FD 2
RT 90
FD 6
GO
RT= Right
LT= Left
3
CM CM
FD 1
RT 90
FD 1
RT 90
FD 2
LT 90
FD 1
LT 90
FD 1
LT 90
FD 2
GO
CM CM
BK 2
RT 90
FD 3
LT 90
FD 1
LT 90
FD 2
RT 90
FD 1
LT 90
FD 1
GO
RT 90
4
5
6
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
7
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Activity 2b: Shape Up with Roamer Extension
Write instructions that would make Roamer draw the shapes in example 1, 2 and 3.
Draw your own shapes for 4, 5 and 6 and then write instructions that would make
Roamer draw these.
1
2
3
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions
4
5
6
Instructions
Instructions
Instructions
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
8
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
In this activity you will learn to:
 understand and use right 90º and left 90º.
 draw any basic design (square, rectangle etc) on screen using the floor Roamer.
Activity 2c: Roamer Repeats
Sometimes you have to enter the same instructions a number of different times to
make a shape. Think about a square.
X
To make a square Roamer’ must
go FD X and turn 90º four times.
X
X
Can we make this easier?
To make a square you are
repeating the instructions four
times.
X
So how do we make Roamer repeat instructions?
REPEAT
BRACKETS
WAIT
MUSIC
Clears the
memory
Repeat 4
times what
is in the
brackets
FD 3
RT 90
Brackets
Brackets
Enter the above instructions to your Roamer and press GO.
Watch carefully what he does.
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
9
GO
5-14 ICT in Learning & Teaching
Controlling and Modelling - Roamer
NGfL
Activity 2c: Roamer Repeats
1. Finish these instructions to make Roamer go round in a square.
Q1
Q2
Q3
CM
…….
……
R …… [ ]
FD 3
RT ……..
[]
…….
4 []
…… 2
…… 90
[]
…….. …… [ ]
…… ….
…… ….
……
GO
……..
CM
CM
…….
…….
2. So, how would we get Roamer to make a rectangle?
3
When you make a rectangle you still have to
repeat some instructions.
2
2
Try to write down a set of instructions to make
Roamer make this rectangle.
3
3. Use Roamer to help you try out your ideas.
CM CM
....... ....... ...... ........
...... ..... ..... .......
...... ..... ..... .......
...... .....
..........
4. Write the instructions on the back of this sheet to make two other rectangles.
1.
3 x 4
2.
4 x 2
© Aberdeenshire Council 2005
C&M Roamer Level C Stage 5 V 1.1
10