Robot Mouse is a simple programmable robot to start young students on coding. I have been looking for something tangible and easy to use for students in kindergarten and first grade. The kit comes with maze boards that can be customized. Initially, it would be easier to create a 2x3 grid for students to get comfortable before piecing the 3x5 or 4x4 maze together. Students can discuss and plan the algorithm using the coding cards (forward, backward, turn left, and turn right) to determine how the mouse will get to the cheese. Then they enter the commands directly on the mouse using the different color arrows and then press the center green circle.
Students have a great time programming and re-configuring the grids, and even putting up "walls" to challenge their mouse to get to his cheese. Another way to use robot mouse is to create math grids with numbers or words to practice math fluency or sight words while coding! With the number grids, students can roll the dice, place the cheese on the sum, and code the mouse to the cheese.
Printable and editable resources:
Plan your Algorithm
Blank Grid for Robot Mouse
Number Grids for Robot Mouse
Word Grids for Robot Mouse
Eric Carle Brown Bear Sequence for Robot Mouse
