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Activity

Finch Bowling

Use your Finch as a bowling ball to try and knock down as many “pins” as you can!

BEGINNER: Movement Only

Required Lessons: Moving & Turning, Controlling Wheels

  • Set up a “bowling alley” in your classroom. You can create one lane for each team, or have teams take turns sharing the same lane
  • Use masking tape or dry erase marker to mark a consistent starting point
  • Use masking tape or dry erase marker to mark the area where the pins will go
  • Gather your pins: you can use cups, bottles, toilet paper rolls… anything that you have onhand
  • Design your pin setup: will you have your pins flat on the floor arranged in a triangle like traditional bowling? Will you stack your pins in a pyramid, or some other formation?
  • Start bowling! If you are working in groups, have students take turns as bowlers and pin collectors.
  • Take a break to discuss challenges and wins. You can also consider variables like the surface of the floor and obstacles. How would these change the game?

INTERMEDIATE: Multiple Outputs

Required lessons: LEDs, LED screen

  • Add to your program so that your Finch changes color as it moves, stops, and knocks down pins.
  • Program your Finch to do a victory dance after it finishes its turn. Include lights for extra fun!
  • Can you make your Finch bowl, do a victory dance, and then return to the starting position so it is ready for the next bowler?
  • Can you add an engineering design attachment to knock down more pins?

ADVANCED: Going Further

Required lessons: Sensor overview, Conditional statements, Control Structures and Line Tracking

  • Incorporate sensors into your program!
  • Can you make your Finch change color as it approaches the pins?
  • Can you use light to make your Finch move faster or slower down the lane?
  • Can you create a path on the floor for your Finch to follow, and then program your Finch’s line encoders to follow it while bowling? What impact does this have on your bowling score?

MATERIALS

  • Programming device
  • Finch Robot
  • Masking tape or dry erase markers to define lanes, starting location, and pin location
  • Bowling pins (we love using recycled materials like cups, prescription bottles, recycled plastic bottles, or toilet paper rolls)