Introducing random number to children

The LEGO Wedo software has a neat random number generator to input random numbers into selected programming blocks. This gives parents or teachers a wonderful chance to introduce the concept of random numbers to children. (skip explanations to view demo video)

If your kids have played the Snake and Ladder board game, they would be familiar with the 6 sided dice, but if not, then watch this video and watch how a roll of the dice can generate random number from 1 to 6.

Random number demonstration with numeric screen

The Wedo random number input can reinforce the understanding of random numbers. Setup the following programs (see screenshot below):

LEGO Wedo motor power block and distance sensor experiment

Let's do 2 experiment today, one to show how motor speed changes as input to motor power (speed) block changes. Click or scroll down to view:

Another, experiment repeat the above but this time using a distance sensor as input to the motor power block. The programs for the 2 experiment screenshot below:
Photo of the experiment setup
Explanation of the programs
Video
Motion sensor application in modified robotic goalkeeper game (open in new window)

Photo of the experiment setup

Photo of the Wedo motor speed block and distance sensor experiment setup

LEGO Wedo tilt sensor experiment

For this tilt sensor experiment, we need to add a START block followed by a DISPLAY BLOCK (alphanumeric) with a TILT SENSOR INPUT. Then add a REPEAT block to make the DISPLAY BLOCK to keep checking for input from the TILT SENSOR INPUT block (see screenshot below):

Wedo Tilt Sensor Experiment

LEGO Wedo Tilt Sensor Experiment program

Observe the ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY window as you tilt the sensor from horizontal to tilt left, then tilt right, from horizontal to tilt upward then tilt downward. You will see the display window changes from zero to zero to 4 then 8 as we tilt the sensor from tilt left then tilt right. We will also observe the display window changes from zero to 2 then 10 as we tilt from horizontal to upward then downward.

Experiment: LEGO WeDo distance sensor (motion sensor)

The LEGO WeDo robotic set (Produce Number 9580) has 2 sensors, a tilt sensor and a distance sensor (often described as a motion sensor).

Let's do some experiment with the distance sensor. Connect distance sensor to the hub, connect hub to computer USB port, Open Wedo software to add program, add a START button, add a "Numeric screen output", add a motion sensor as input to the "Numeric screen output", add a loop to repeat (see photo).

See photo of the experiment setup. The experiment showed that the output value of the distance sensor changes from 0 when it is far away to 10 when it is nearest to the sensor. See video.

Photo distance sensor

LEGO Wedo distance sensor (motion sensor)

WeDo program to experiment with distance sensor

LEGO Wedo program steps to experiment with distance sensor

Experiment setup

Lego WeDo distance sensor experiment setup

Video showing experiment to show value output of distance sensor

WeDo experiment with motor start, stop, sound, dice

Here is a little experiment with the Lego WeDo robotic set using the Start block, Motor this way block, Sound block, Motor stop block with the number block controlling the sound.

Try changing the number and observing what happens. You will notice that the motor turns for as long as the sound is playing, then stop. Try replacing the number block with the dice (random) block.

Also try clicking on the Motor this way block. Notice that the block then change to Motor that way block, the direction changed. Here is a motor of a simple setup just to show how the motor is turning. Motor connected to hub, hub plugged into computer USB port: