At SchoolSphero Team
A girl in a mask lies on the floor of her classroom measuring distanced with a yard stick while programming her Sphero BOLT on a laptop.

Are you teaching in a socially-distanced environment? If so, look no further than this roundup blog for six new activities for Sphero robots and littleBits STEM kits in a socially-distant classroom. 

Teach STEM and learn best practices for classroom social distancing with these new activities using Sphero robots and littleBits kits.

How to use Sphero and littleBits in a socially-distanced classroom.

1. The Masked Sphero

Learn how cloth face coverings can protect against germs! Use BOLT’s light sensor and a handmade mask to demonstrate how filtering inputs can help slow the spread of germ transmission.

2. Keep Your Distance! 

Two Feet? Four Feet? No, Six Feet! Chances are you’ve heard about the guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that individuals from different households should stay at least six feet away from each other to help prevent the spread of germs while coronavirus continues to spread. In this activity, yo will turn BOLT into your own yardstick to help make social distancing easier.

3. Safe Supply Transporter 

Taking care of others is a powerful way to build compassion and support your community, especially in times of stress. Program RVR using the color sensor to transport supplies to other groups!

4. Hand Washing Timer 

Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses- from the common to cold to, more recently, COVId-19. But do you really need to scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds for hand washing to be effective? Yes, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

This lesson challenges students to create a circuit containing a power source, inputs, and outputs to create an invention that will count up to twenty and let you know when time is up!

5. Non-Contact Handshake

The history of the handshake dates back thousands of years to Greece where it is suggested that it formed as a mode to convey peaceful intentions. Today, the gesture is used as an everyday greeting and has expanded to include “secret handshakes”, or, distinct forms of handshakes between friends or groups.

In this activity, create and code a unique handshake using available Bits.

6. Face-Touching Deflector!

Throughout the day, you touch many surfaces like doorknobs and desktops, where viruses can linger for days. From there, germs can latch on to your fingertips! It’s important to avoid touching your face because your nose, mouth, and eyes can act like doors into your body for the viruses and germs to travel through.

While it may be hard to avoid touching your face, there are some things you can do to help, such as keeping your hands occupied with a small object instead.

In this activity, students will create an invention to help avoid face touching. They will brainstorm ideas and then use the littleBits Invention Cycle to bring their idea to life!

Teach and Learn Safely with Sphero

Regardless of your district’s social distancing guidelines, we have brand new tips and tricks to keep STEM learning safe and support you and your students during this challenging time. 

Need additional support for your socially-distanced classroom? Download our full socially-distanced learning guide for more information or contact us today! 

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