What Makes This Type of Coding Unique?

Easy to use and manipulate, Color Code Magnets are ideal for PK-1 students who are just starting to explore the world of coding. We understand that young learners are still developing their fine motor skills, which can make using markers to draw precise tracks and Color Codes a challenge. 

With Ozobot Color Code Magnets, the magnet pieces lock into place, enabling students to create and modify their codes effortlessly. If they want to test a new idea or adjust their sequence, they can simply swap or reposition the magnets without having to start over, making the learning experience feel more effortless and achievable. As they experiment with arranging and adjusting the magnets, they continue to refine their fine motor skills in a fun, low-pressure way.

Building Foundational Skills

Color Code Magnets give students the tools to learn the basics of sequencing, pattern recognition, and logical reasoning. By arranging the magnets in different sequences, they create coded tracks that instruct Ozobot how to move, change speed, or perform actions. This simple yet powerful approach allows students to experiment with cause and effect, reinforcing key concepts that will serve as building blocks for more advanced coding in the future.

With this seamless process, students are more confident not only when experimenting with different code sequences, but also when encountering roadblocks. This flexibility encourages them to debug their work, test new ideas, and iterate on their designs without the fear of making permanent mistakes. As a result, they develop resilience and a growth mindset—essential traits for any coder!

Learning with Ozobot Color Code Magnets

The Color Code Magnets – Base Kit includes the magnetic board, a wet erase marker, and 36 magnetic track and color code pieces that pair with Evo. The Color Code Magnets –  Special Moves Kit and Speed Kit are designed to be used as add-ons to the Base Kit with 18 magnetic color code pieces in each set.

To support educators and students, Ozobot Classroom offers a lesson series designed specifically for use with Color Code Magnets. This series includes 10 Base Kit lessons, 7 Special Moves lessons, and 6 Speed lessons, providing structured activities to introduce and build upon coding concepts.

A few of our favorite compatible lessons are:

Try the Kangaroo Loops lesson to strengthen problem-solving skills while reinforcing sequencing, logical thinking, and adaptability in coding. Students are challenged to think critically as they navigate a maze using Line Switch and U-Turn Color Codes. Just like a kangaroo hopping from path to path, Ozobot must switch lines strategically to reach the Win/Exit point.

Combine coding and literacy skills with the lesson Telling a Story. Using Color Code Magnets, students develop their own unique stories by creating a basic storytelling structure and bringing it to life by coding Ozobot to navigate through their narrative. This hands-on experience reinforces the connection between storytelling and programming while fostering creativity and logical thinking.

Unleash your students’ creativity by building a Winter Wonderland out of paper and cardboard. Students have the freedom to design and construct their very own town, tapping into their engineering skills. Once their Winter Wonderland is complete, students will program a track using Color Code Magnets for Ozobot to tour through their creation.

With Ozobot Color Code Magnets, young learners can dive into the world of coding in a way that is intuitive, hands-on, and engaging. By providing a flexible, screen-free introduction to sequencing and problem-solving, these kits empower students to think critically and experiment fearlessly, all while building foundational STEM skills. Whether they’re navigating a maze, crafting a story, or designing a winter wonderland, every activity is an opportunity to spark creativity and confidence.

The post Learning to Code with Ozobot Color Code Magnets appeared first on Ozobot.

In celebration of this special event, we’ve gathered our most engaging lessons that explore key concepts related to the winter solstice, including Earth’s orbit, eclipses, and phases of the moon. Check out our lessons that bring these celestial dynamics to life!

Ozobot STEAM Lesson: Exploring Solstices and Equinoxes 

Your students will love Exploring Solstices and Equinoxes, where they get to become experts on Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumnal Equinox. They’ll be challenged to describe when each event takes place and what occurs, then code an Ozobot Blockly program for Ozobot to travel through the year.

Ozo Goes to the Sun, Earth and Moon STEAM Kit

Eclipses are another captivating celestial event that showcases the intricate movements and alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Dive deeper into the Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse using the OzoGoes to the Sun, Earth & Moon STEAM Kit. Students will explore the positions and motions of celestial bodies during eclipses while enhancing their programming skills using Ozobot Blockly.

Ozobot STEAM Lessons: The Near Side of the Moon and Phases of the Moon Levels 2 & 3 

For your aspiring astronomers, The Near Side of the Moon lesson delves into the concepts of rotation and revolution, explaining why we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth. Take your astronomy skills even further with Phases of the Moon Level 2 & 3, where students will use a model to identify and name all eight phases of the Moon. Your students will create shadows with 3D objects and a flashlight in these interactive, hands-on lessons aligned with NGSS standards.

Ozobot STEAM Lesson: Seasons Changing

In our Seasons Changing lesson, students will apply their knowledge of life and earth sciences to complete sentences about the seasonal changes from fall to winter. This engaging activity features a challenging Color Code track that encourages students to hone their problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

Ozobot STEAM Lesson: Light Up the Sky with Auroras Levels 1 & 2

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a stunning light display most commonly visible during the winter months, when the nights are the longest and the skies are darkest. In the lessons Light Up the Sky with Auroras (Level 1) and Level 2 students will learn about the Northern Lights and program Ozobot to recreate the stunning display of auroras lighting up the night sky.

The post STEAM Activities to Celebrate the Winter Solstice appeared first on Ozobot.

In this blog post, we’ve rounded up the best Ozobot Blockly activities to inspire creativity, encourage problem-solving, and ignite a passion for STEM in K-8 students. These lessons are designed to be hands-on, interactive, and adaptable for different age groups and coding abilities. Try one tomorrow in your classroom to captivate your students and spark their imaginations.

1. Get ready to level up your coding in the classroom with Challenge Mats! Perfect for grades 4–8, these immersive mats bring themed adventures to life—dive into the deep ocean, score big in basketball or soccer, or blast off to explore Mars. Through block-based programming, students will tackle advanced coding concepts like conditional logic, variables, functions, and even infrared communication. With Challenge Mats, coding is not just a skill—it’s an adventure!
2. For beginner coders in grades K-3, the Healthy Habits lesson is packed with learning opportunities. While exploring important topics like spending time in nature and helping with family chores, students will reflect on the healthy habits they want to bring into their lives and which ones they have already mastered. Students will assemble robotic arms and program with sequencing and precise movement control, building both their computational thinking and fine motor skills. This interactive lesson combines health education with problem-solving and creativity, making it an engaging and memorable experience for young learners.
3. LeapBot’s Adventure is the ideal Blockly activity for grades 3-5, blending key coding concepts with an engaging, game-like experience that sparks students’ creativity. This lesson serves as an entry point to more advanced coding concepts such as conditional logic. Students will guide LeapBot across a pond by leveraging Ozobot’s color sensor and line-following sensors to ensure LeapBot stays on course. They will then practice iterating their code, a crucial coding skill to ensure the program runs smoothly. Turn your students into Ozobot experts, by teaching them how the hardware and software work together to seamlessly perform a desired task.
4. The Infrared Secrets lesson series is a challenging Blockly activity designed for 6-8th grade students ready to take their coding skills to the next level. In this activity, students explore infrared communication by programming multiple Ozobots to transmit and receive secret messages using its IR emitters. They’ll dive deeper by modifying their code to include a randomized variable, simulating how messages can be altered or passed incorrectly—just like real-life secrets!

Ready to get your class coding with Ozobot Blockly? If you don’t already have bots, we recommend the Evo Classroom Kit and heading over to Ozobot Blockly to start practicing with your own programs!

The post The Best Ozobot Blockly Activities for K-8 Students appeared first on Ozobot.

Ozobot Pacing Guides have been a big hit with educators since their initial release in 2021, and for good reason–they provide educators of all grade levels with a roadmap for guiding students as they begin their Ozobot journey.

But we also know that, like most tools in education, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution when planning instruction. Our new Pacing Guides are tailored to STEM educators who see students across grade levels over several years so that instruction can be both paced out and scaffolded. We know your time is precious–no more browsing through the 800+ lessons in our library wondering where to start. Ozobot pacing guides include the best lessons so you don’t get lost in the search bar.

Most lessons found in our Pacing Guides also feature student-facing instructional videos, and all lessons are standards-aligned to CSTA, ISTE, NGSS, CCSS Math/ELA.

Ozobot Elementary STEM Vertical Pacing Guide

We created a comprehensive vertical scope-and-sequence for Ozobot in Elementary School that builds a strong foundation starting in Kindergarten with Ozobot Color Codes, going all the way through 5th-grade robotics programming. We heard loud and clear that many of our Elementary STEM programs use our bots in every grade and wanted a recommended Ozobot curriculum map. With these guides, coding skills build on one another each year to expose students to new content at increasing levels of complexity. We have included Color Codes as the focus for Kinder, 1st and 2nd grade and Blockly as the focus for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to pace over several years of instruction with Ozobot. The introductory lessons have been laid out for each coding type while ensuring students get multiple at-bats with both color coding and block-based coding.

Ozobot Middle School Computer Science Pacing Guide

Our Middle School Pacing Guide is a blueprint for Middle School teachers who have students with varying degrees of skill, interest, and expertise in coding and robotics – all in one class section.

Level 1 takes students through the basics of both types of coding students can do with Ozobot: color codes and Ozobot Blockly.

Level 2 allows students to practice their color code and blockly skills in various contexts and build on their computational thinking and technical skillsets.

Level 3 is for advanced students who are ready to push their programming with more sophisticated blocks of code. Coding skills build on one another within and throughout the levels to expose students to new content at increasing levels of complexity.
If your state has recently adopted CS standards then this guide is an ideal resource and demonstrates how Ozobot can meet CS requirements for middle school.

How to Use the Pacing Guides

Our new Pacing Guides come in both PDF and Google Sheets format and include direct links to lessons. To access the lessons, log in or create an account at classroom.ozobot.com (it’s FREE for educators!)

With up to 30 lessons per grade level, Pacing Guides are designed to keep students and teachers engaged for an entire school year, but they’re also flexible and can be tailored to the needs of your school, class, or camp. Your actual lesson pacing can include a regular cadence of:

• One lesson per week for a year
• 2-3 lessons per week for a semester or unit

Each lesson runs 45-60 minutes. Featured lessons include Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction to Blockly lessons, which provide a solid, grade-level-differentiated CS foundation for your students with and without screens. Student-facing instructional videos make it easy to lead instruction, whether you’re a STEM Teacher or an English teacher with zero computer science or coding experience! These lessons are aligned with CSTA standards, meaning they can help you reach new goals if your state has adopted CSTA standards or has state-specific CS standards that can be mapped to CSTA.

What’s Included?

When it comes to teaching the lesson content, check out the Full Lesson Plan to find everything you need and the flexibility to teach as you choose. There you’ll find:

• Synchronous Lesson Plan (with Direct Instruction Steps)
• Instructional Video
• Student Activity Guide
• Student Activity Sheets
• Teacher Answer Key/Potential Solution

Almost all lessons in the Pacing Guides, including all the Introduction to Color Codes and Introduction to Blockly lessons, feature student-facing instructional videos. These are a great solution for remote and hybrid models, and even in the classroom some educators find that using the instructional videos gives them time to check in on students and provide individualized support and instruction as needed. If you prefer to lead instruction yourself, follow the Direct Instruction steps also included in each Lesson Plan.

Meet the Curriculum Development Team

Ozobot Pacing Guide lessons, scope, and sequence were all designed by the Ozobot EDU team. Meet this group of passionate, credentialed teachers with real classroom experience and specializations in instructional tech, curriculum development, and PD.

Michaela Baruch, Vice President of Education Strategy
M.Ed. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education – University of Colorado Denver
B.A. – Secondary Education and English Literature – University of Colorado Boulder
Certification – Special Education Leadership – Relay Graduate School of Education

Prior to stepping into her role as the head of Ozobot’s Education team, Michaela spent 15 years working in public education, primarily in the middle school space. Most recently, she oversaw teacher development for a district of 16 secondary schools in the city of Denver. She taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELD, Literacy, and Composition and was an instructional coach and school leader for seven years.

Jen Maher, Curriculum Developer & Professional Development Specialist
M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction – Weber State University
B.A. – Brigham Young University

Jen’s journey in education has been multifaceted, spanning roles as a teacher, tutor, artist-in-residence, and professional development specialist. She is a dedicated educator with over 12 years of classroom experience and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. For nearly five years, she has immersed herself in the world of Ozobot, bringing innovation and excitement to various learning environments.

Jordan Hanna, Curriculum Developer
Masters in Elementary Education and Teaching – University of Southern California
B.A. – California Polytechnic State University

Jordan focuses on developing Ozobot curriculum and marketing content for Ozobot. She has taught both kindergarten and 5th grade, and spent 3 years tutoring elementary and middle school students. Jordan previously worked at a marketing agency, providing social media and public relations support to technology companies.

The post Introducing Ozobot Pacing Guides appeared first on Ozobot.

What is Ozobot and How Does It Work?

Ozobot offers coding robots and STEAM-based learning solutions. With our robots, there are two primary methods for coding: Color Codes and Blockly. Here’s a quick overview of both:

1. Programming with Color Codes is a screen-free option for coding using Color Code Markers or Color Code Magnets. Color Codes are patterns of 2, 3, or 4 color blocks that program Ozobot to perform certain actions. To get started, you’ll need a piece of paper, markers, and a Color Codes Chart containing all the codes that Ozobot recognizes.
2. Programming with Ozobot Blockly allows students to create programs using intuitive drag-and-drop blocks. The platform offers a range of levels, from beginner to advanced, with various block categories to explore. Students can run Blockly on a device, such as a laptop, tablet, or Chromebook, and easily connect to their Ozobot via Bluetooth.

Just Received Your Ozobots? Here’s What to Do Next

So, you’ve either just received a brand new set of Ozobots, or perhaps you’ve been gifted a dusty set from another teacher’s closet. Now what? Follow these 3 steps to get started and successfully implement Ozobot in your classroom. 

1. Head to Ozobot Classroom and create your free account to access hundreds of lessons aligned with academic standards, including ISTE, CSTA, NGSS, and more!
2. For those new to coding, watch the Basic Training Series that teaches how to use both Color Codes and Blockly. The lessons include videos that guide you and your students step-by-step, making it easy to facilitate the activity.
3. Easily search for lessons by grade, subject, coding method, and more. We offer hundreds of lessons and upload new ones monthly for you to implement in your classroom. Enjoy fun, seasonal lessons like Run Turkey, Run for Thanksgiving or Ozobot Goes Ice Skating for winter!

Unlocking STEAM Potential with Ozobot in Your Classroom

1. We’ve created Pacing Guides for Kindergarten through middle school to help you plan out lessons year-over-year. These guides start with review lessons from previous years and gradually introduce more complex coding skills. Our middle school guide is divided into three levels, catering to students with varying degrees of skill and experience.
2. Use our Standards-Alignment document to find lessons that meet specific educational standards, including CSTA, ISTE, NGSS, TEKS, and Florida standards.
3. If you have access to a 3D printer, check out our 3D CAD Library where you can download files to print accessories for your Ozobot. Use our Ozobot-created lessons to connect various disciplines of STEAM education while integrating 3D-printed accessories, such as our Bowling with Ozobot activity!

Seamless Setup

Setting up for a lesson with Ozobot in your classroom is straightforward. At the beginning of each school year, updating your bots to ensure they are running the latest firmware is good practice. For Color Code lessons, the only setup required, beyond lesson preparation, is calibrating your bots and printing out the activity sheets. If you’re using Ozobot Blockly, make sure to rename your bots and print any necessary activity sheets. Remember, the battery life of an Ozobot is about one hour of continuous use, and it takes approximately an hour to charge fully.

We Are Here to Support

If you need hands-on support or would like us to present an Ozobot training session, we offer in-person, virtual, and self-paced asynchronous options covering Color Codes, Ozobot Blockly, and lesson integration. For more information, you can email sales@ozobot.com. Additionally, we have monthly webinars led by the Ozobot EDU Team to dive deep into more technical applications of Ozobot.

If you encounter any technical issues, our support team is quick and thorough—just send a detailed email to support@ozobot.com.

With these tools and resources, you’re well on your way to successfully integrating Ozobot in your classroom. Happy coding!

The post Ozobot 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Implementing Ozobot in Your Classroom appeared first on Ozobot.

While you build out your lesson, utilize the Lesson Creator tool in Ozobot Classroom to ensure you have included all the required elements.

Step 1: Explore the Standards

We recommend that you start here. Aligning with standards ensures that your lesson meets the expectations set for student learning. Check out your state’s computer science standards and these technology standards that are met through programming with Ozobot.

1. The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) has crafted K-12 standards to prepare students for 21st-century careers.
2. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has created a framework for learning with technology to empower students and educators.

Once you have selected a standard to focus on, break it down to determine the key Knowledge, Skills, and Processes students need to know in order to demonstrate mastery. Ask yourself: 

1. What do students need to know to achieve this standard? (Knowledge)
2. What do students perform at each step? (Skills)
3. What greater thinking processes do students use to perform this task? (Processes)

Step 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Consider what knowledge and skills you want students to demonstrate throughout your lesson. Will it be mastery of content concepts or coding skills? At Ozobot, coding and robotics are always our end game. However, there are so many ways to incorporate Ozobot into your unique classroom content. 

Once you’ve finalized the “end game,” it will help you determine if Ozobot Blockly or Color Codes is the best programming method. This practice of instructional planning fosters coherence and intentionality in lesson design.

Step 3: Get Ideas from the Code!

Whether programming with Ozobot Blockly or Color Codes, use the coding methods Ozobot offers to spark creativity. Ozobot Blockly teaches students to build programs with drag-and-drop blocks and Color Codes is a screen-free option to coding using markers or magnets.

If coding with Ozobot Blockly:

• Navigate the list of blocks on each level, familiarizing yourself with their functions by left-clicking the block and selecting “help.” This opens a glossary of all the blocks!
• Play around with stacking different blocks and running your program. This is our team’s favorite way to develop engaging learning experiences!
• These lessons may center around the bot alone, or incorporate supplementary elements like three-dimensional objects and activity sheets.

If coding with Color Codes:

• Grab a blank piece of paper, a pencil–and start drawing! Ozobot’s education team loves to create this way and will draft multiple versions before landing on the perfect track. 
• Sketch out a track that includes corners, curves, and intersections, then map out where you want your Color Codes to be. Be sure to follow the Color Code Guide PDF.
• Think of ways to give your track risks. This promotes problem-solving, debugging, and other important computer science skills. We recommend incorporating Direction and Counter Color Codes to provide a challenge.

Step 4: Level Up Your Lessons with a Programming Challenge

Once you have your idea, define the skills you want students to enhance during the course of your lesson. How can you encourage students to research, think, inquire, question, discuss, and plan?

Here are some essential programming skills that will give your lesson a unique challenge:

• Problem-solving – Encourage students to analyze complex scenarios and devise solutions with their code. 
• Attention to detail – Ask students to organize their code with specific guidelines to successfully complete the activity. For example, what specific Color Codes are required to get Ozobot through the track?
• Debugging – Turn coding mistakes into a learning experience by highlighting the benefits of trial and error when programming.
• Logical reasoning – Provide an experience that prompts students to think critically and decompose the steps needed to arrive at a conclusion. How can students organize their blocks in Ozobot Blockly to program a desired outcome?
• Planning – Provide students with scenarios where they must anticipate obstacles and risks in their Ozobot’s journey, fostering strategic thinking.

Planning on submitting to Ozobot Classroom? Here’s what we’re looking for:

1. First, check the Classroom Lesson Library for existing lessons related to your idea to avoid duplications. If your lesson is too similar to a lesson in Ozobot Classroom, it will not be approved.
2. Please avoid content related to storybooks, as we have ample lessons in our library on using Ozobot with narrative text.
3. Be mindful of copyright and trademarked terms to ensure compliance with intellectual property laws. 

Looking for more tips on creating an Ozobot lesson? Check out our How to Master Writing an Effective Ozobot Lesson blog post for everything you need to know!

The post Lesson Ideation: 4 Tips for Brainstorming an Ozobot Lesson appeared first on Ozobot.

In tandem with using the Lesson Creator Tool in Ozobot Classroom, below are guidelines to help you create your best Ozobot lesson yet, and allow other educators to implement your lesson seamlessly!

STEP 1: Lesson Ideation

When conceptualizing a lesson, focus on content aligned with your classroom and grade-level objectives, while emphasizing the Ozobot programming component. What specific coding skills or concepts do you want students to grasp in this lesson?

• Ozobot Blockly teaches students to build programs with drag-and-drop blocks. How can you integrate Ozobot Blockly to encourage computational thinking and creativity? What programming challenges or constraints can you introduce to enhance critical thinking and debugging skills?
• Color Codes is a screen-free option to coding using markers or magnets. How can you elevate the challenge in your lesson to go beyond introductory levels? How can you leverage advanced coding concepts, pushing students to apply higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills?

Check out our lesson ideation blog post to learn more tips for brainstorming Ozobot lessons.

Please follow these guidelines:

1. First, check the Ozobot Classroom Lesson Library for existing lessons related to your idea to avoid duplications. If your lesson is too similar to a lesson in the Ozobot Classroom, it will not be approved.
2. Please avoid content related to storybooks, as we have ample lessons in our library on using Ozobot with narrative text.
3. Provide a programming challenge! We encourage you to create lessons beyond introductory concepts to enhance students’ coding proficiency.
4. Be mindful of copyright and trademarked terms to ensure compliance with intellectual property laws.

STEP 2: Creating the Lesson Plan

Utilize the Lesson Creator Tool in Ozobot Classroom for consistency and ease of adjustments.

We’ve highlighted key factors to consider when developing your lesson; nevertheless, this list is not exhaustive, as there are additional elements necessary for a comprehensive lesson.

About Lesson

• Include two learning objectives–one about the content of your lesson and one about how Ozobot will be used in your lesson. 
  • Read our blog post to learn more about writing a lesson objective.
• Ensure your lesson applies to one or two grade levels, with differentiation for additional levels. Please avoid listing a lesson as K-12.

Preparation

• Help teachers prepare by listing all necessary items for successful lesson execution, including materials specific to the lesson type.
  • Include “Color Code Markers” for a Color Codes lesson.
  • Include “Device to run Blockly” for an Ozobot Blockly lesson. This will be a tablet or computer.
  • Include “Activity Sheets” if you have uploaded a graphic organizer or Color Codes track.
• Grouping allows you to choose whether the item is required per student, group, or class.

Direct Instruction

• Offer precise instructions for teachers to facilitate your lesson, breaking down the process into clear steps. Use the “Add Step” feature to organize the template.
• Assume the reader is unfamiliar with Ozobot, providing explicit directions for a first-time teacher.

Student Practice

• Present step-by-step instructions for students, using a student-friendly tone. Use the “Add Step” feature to organize the template.
• Upload any student-facing activity sheets. 
  • We recommend uploading a file in case your Google account changes.

Supplements

• Apply a maximum of four relevant standards to your lesson, including one ISTE and/or CSTA standard for technology and programming skills.
• Upload a solution page if applicable for teachers to understand the intended end result.
• Please do not include the Color Codes Guide PDF, as it may change. Here is where you can find the most updated version.

STEP 3: Submit your lesson!

Complete all sections of the Lesson Creator Tool, then submit your lesson for review. Our Education team will provide feedback and work with you to make the revisions. Once it meets our requirements, we will publish it to the Ozobot Classroom lesson library!

The post How to Master Writing an Effective Ozobot Lesson appeared first on Ozobot.