Coding with Python

 Learning Intention

To see and understand the connection between the written code, the block code and the flow chart.

This is the comparison between the Python coding, the blocks and the flowchart for making the Microbit act like a dice.

Flow Charts and Radio Chat

 Learning Intentions

To understand how flowcharts relate to coding blocks.

To understand how to get the microbit to talk to another microbit using radio signals.

Here is my flowchart practice document.

Link to DLO

The next activity today was coding the microbit to send a radio signal to another microbit. We had to make sure that both microbits were on the same group number so we didn't accidentally get a message from another group.

Robotics in the Stars

 Learning Intention

To try and get the mBot to draw a star shape for Matariki.

Coding in Python

 Learning Intention

To learn how to code the Microbit in Python.

This first one shows the Python coding for a flashing heart. It flashes between a small heart icon and a large heart icon. The main thing to notice between the Python coding and the blocks is that the forever loop is at the top and bottom of the content in both.

For this example for coding the buttons, the main thing to notice is the "def" which is defining what the on_button_pressed will make the microbit do. Again this has a top and bottom so the content has to go inside it.

Rock Paper Scissors

 Learning Intention

To learn how to code the microbit to play rock paper scissors and understand how the flowchart matches the code.

Link to DLO

1. When I shake the microbit, it will choose a random number between 1 and 3
2. I have to make a variable called hand and set this to the random number
3. If the number is 1 - the microbit will show the symbol for paper
4. If the number is 2 - the microbit will show the symbol for rock 
5. If the number is 3 - the microbit will show the symbol for scissors

Flowcharts and Dice

 Learning Intention - To learn how to use flowcharts to plan coding.

Link Google Drawing

Building an mBot

 Learning Intention - To understand how the mBot is put together so that I can fix it when something goes wrong.

Today, we took an mBot apart and then reassembled it. We then tested it with some code to make sure that it worked correctly.

Here are the parts of the mBot that I took apart.

Here is the reassembled mBot

Here is the code that I used to test that it worked.

Being a Jedi in Coding

 

Learning Intention

To code the robot to move backwards without touching it - to be a Jedi

My robot will wait until I have pressed the onboard button before it does anything.

We used an "IF - THEN - ELSE" block, as this gives the robot two choices of things to do.

We are using the ULTRASONIC SENSOR on the front of the robot and we need to sense if something is 10cm in front of it..

IF something is 10cm or LESS in front of the robot, it will move backwards.

IF something is NOT less than 10 cm in front of the robot, it will move forwards (ELSE).

This is all put into a forever block so that the robot constantly senses what is in front of it.

Mac n Cheese

Today we made Mac n Cheese

The recipe was ....

Ingredients

Macaroni pasta - 250 g
Butter, salted - 50 g
Plain flour - 1/4 cup
Milk - 2 cups
dry mustard - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Grated tasty cheese - 2 cups

Method

• Cook the macaroni according to packet directions.
• While the macaroni is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and mix in the flour until smooth.
• Return to the heat and cook stirring until the mixture is frothy. Mix in the mustard.
• Remove from the heat and mix in a little milk at a time, stirring after each addition until smooth.
• Return to the heat and cook until the sauce boils and thickens. Mix in the salt and cheese.
• Drain pasta well, shaking the macaroni to remove as much water as possible Spoon into a serving dish and grill until lightly golden.

Describe a Skill

The skills that I learnt in this lesson include cooking pasta and making a white sauce
During today’s lesson I boiled the pasta in a pan then I made a white cheese sauce to go with it.
One of the skills we learned today was making the white sauce.
First of all you have melt the butter and mix in the flour. This needs to be cooked in the pan so the flour is cooked. It was ready when it bubbled. 

We then had to add the milk. This had to be done in really small amounts at a time and mixed really well in between so that the sauce did not become lumpy.

The sauce then had to be cooked on the stove top until it had thickened and was bubbling a little. If it was too thick we had to add a little more milk.

The cheese was then added which melted into the sauce.

Reflection

What went well was the sauce. It was nice and smooth but I had to add quite a lot more milk as it went quite thick. 

What did not go quite as well was that it took a long time to go brown in the oven. This was because it was at the bottom. The food at the top browned quicker.

I think this food would be great when you need something quick and yummy to fill you up. Making a lot all together would be good and you can put some in the freezer for later.