Methodological Introduction
In the orderly world of Coders, everything worked as smoothly as in a well-programmed computer. Each Coder diligently performed their daily tasks and helped other inhabitants of the planet when needed. Coders, like small computer parts, worked together to make their planet a wonderful place to live. That was until a terrible day. The Coders' planet was destroyed by a Drakonid shower - a swarm of cosmic meteors. Communication between Coders was broken, some Coders were damaged. Their planet needs rebuilding, will you help the Coders?
The "Luminous Planet In Trouble" collection is the first part of an original programming methodology at the early education stage for children, developed by the LavaVision team. It consists of sixteen interactive applications, controlled by motion on an interactive floor. The applications included in the collection aim to introduce early school-age children to the world of selected programming concepts in an interesting, attractive form of games and fun, embedded in the adventures of small robots fighting to restore order on their planet. The activities proposed in the collection are based on simplified mechanisms of selected programming and IT concepts, such as:
- logical values - true or false,
- data sorting,
- information encryption,
- data,
- iterative loop,
- pattern recognition,
- conditional instruction, condition
- communication,
- pair programming,
- backup,
- specification,
- decomposition,
- sequence,
- instruction,
- algorithm,
- troubleshooting,
- special characters,
- searching in a set according to a given criterion.
By participating in the games and fun of the "Luminous Planet In Trouble" application collection, early school-age children become familiar with the basic principles derived from the world of programming and IT. While playing with the applications, children even unconsciously apply them, not yet knowing what programming really is and what it involves. Selected concepts have been simplified enough to successfully relate them to examples from the child's immediate environment, which they encounter daily in other life situations. Therefore, this collection is an interesting introduction and preparation for classes in the abstract, virtual world of programming.
The activities proposed in the "Luminous Planet In Trouble" applications also support the development of gross motor skills, which, thanks to the extensive format of the board displayed on the floor, engage practically the whole body. In addition, the games and fun used in the applications support the development of logical and algorithmic thinking, important from the point of view of introducing programming methodology at the early stages of child education. While working with the applications, you can develop visual perception, including the ability to classify objects, visual-motor coordination, spatial orientation along with the ability to recognize layouts and patterns. Playing with the applications also allows you to work on extending the child's attention span.
The "Luminous Planet In Trouble" collection consists of sixteen richly illustrated interactive games and logical fun, with which the whole group or one user can work. In each application, we carry out a different mission, we help the Coders repair their destroyed world, and the successes achieved are reinforced with applause and congratulations.
Join the Coders with your students, restore the flow of energy on their planet, providing yourself and your students with a portion of good, valuable fun!
General Work Scenario
Teacher! How can you familiarize the youngest with the abstract world of programming concepts? Knowing the developmental possibilities of your group best, decide for yourself. Choose one of the options proposed below or combine them in any way:
Option 1. Give the application command and play with the children implementing the next boards in the application.
Option 2. Read your students a short story included on the following pages of the guide, showing at the same time a broader context of the introduced concept with the selected application.
Option 3. Add to your classes, at a convenient time of the day, a short conversation. You will refer to examples from the child's immediate environment, in which a specific concept also appears daily in other life situations.
