Yeah, the kids must use metric when finding the Circumference, and one of my kids noticed it was printed on the side of the wheels one day :) Accuracy counts in this one! Regards, Brandy On Sun, Oct 9, 2011 at 10:19 PM, Desh Deshmukh <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > While you are exploring the Algebra, introduce team the Parts Catalog and > accurate dimension of the Wheels. > > http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?pg=2&catString=532&catType=P > > All dimensions are listed in the Metric (mm, cm, Meters) units. For > example teams assume the large wheel (motorcycle) to be 3 inches diameter > but it is 3.22 inches (81.6 mm). Hopefully you will have better accuracy > in the performance. Remember Wheel diameter can shrink by 1 mm based on the > overuse or the load conditions. > > The wheel dimensions are engraved, but rounded to and not easy to find. > Happy hunting or just visit the Bricklink website. > > Desh Deshmukh > *From:* Betsy Wilco <[log in to unmask]> > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Sent:* Sunday, October 9, 2011 1:51 PM > *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] measured distance > > I had my kids figure it out. This might seem too simplistic to those of you > used to using calc to order your breakfast, but it works, too! The first > time they tried programming,and once they realized that they needed to tell > it how far to go, I asked them how they were going to figure out how to make > it go the right distance. They quickly figured out that they needed to know > how far it went on one rotation, which would be the distance around the > wheel. Then they tried marking one spot on the wheel with white out and > seeing how far it went on paper. That gave them a pretty good idea. I also > had, just waiting in my desk for the day they asked for it, a very thin > cloth measuring tape with metric markings on it. Once they realized they > needed it I said, "Hey, try this!" Now they know the wheel diameters by > heart and figure the number of rotations automatically using the > calculators. > It might appear that I am "dumbing it down," but as long as they have done > the work to figure it out, I think it is fair to use a simpler method. > > >>> Brandy bergenstock <[log in to unmask]> 10/8/2011 11:45 PM >>> > I know most 4th graders have had zero pre-algebra, so filling in equations > is a bit over their mathematical paygrade, but I found introducing the > concept of measured distance took very well for nearly all of them. We > worked the Circumference (C=3.14 x diameter) together and just always kept > that out for them to fill into the formula of : > > distance over circumference= rotations (d/c=r) > The kids measure their distance, convert to centimeters {if they didn't > measure in it (inches x 2.54= {X}cm)}, add that to the calculator, I'm the > LEGO coach not the math teacher so they can use calculators in my work ( I > care more that they understand how & what they're doing, not that they have > all their multiplication down pat) than they divide by the C- which we > worked together. I find I sometimes have to do C more than once with them > because they forget where it is on their paper, or they just want to know > how to do it themselves. This 3 step process equals the number of rotations > (*not degrees) they need to move to go that far. > Measured turns are a bit trickier and didn't stick well, making most > of the kids feel completely lost and a bit frustrated in the end, so I don't > advocate teaching that 4th graders, but 95% of my kids got how to figure out > the distance, and it was immensely helpful, not to mention a huge time > saver. > > Alternatively, you can use the "VIEW" on your robot's menu to find the > distance in rotations or degrees. Most of my kids use that to calculate > their turns. I only have 1 child who goes through the math of working out > turns. Like all programming on the NXT, you have to do it several times. > Most of the kids just guess at a number somewhere between the lowest and the > highest number they got, but you can also teach/review averages with them if > you want :) > Now that I read over your last post, you didn't necessary say the kids > didn't know how to do this, just that the programs were trial and error, so > if this wasn't your post comment, maybe, just maybe it might help another > coach. I didn't find out about this equation until after last season was > over, so I'm happy to shared now! > Regards, > > Brandy > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Sonya Shaver <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Saturday, October 8, 2011 11:01 PM > Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Software Rule question > > > The software that we use to program our brick is called LEGO MINDSTORMS. > It's what came with our NXT brick when we bought our FLL Education NXT kit > four years ago, and it's what we still use. They write the programs, > download to the robot, and then trial and error until it works. I didn't > know you could program on the brick itself. That seems like it would be > more cumbersome, but maybe it depends on what you are trying to do. So many > possibilities! > > > Sonya > Harrisonburg, VA > > > ________________________________ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave > the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave > the list". > > -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via > VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to > subscribe. > > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave > the list". > > -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via > VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to > subscribe. > > > ------------------------------ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit > https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave > the list". > VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. > Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to > subscribe. > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.