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
>
>
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