My Favorite STEM Robots for the Classroom

One of the things I love teaching in my STEM Classroom is coding and STEM robots. But boy can it be hard to know what you need to get started. It took me a few years of trying out different resources and activities to find what works best for my students. Today, I’m sharing all my favorite STEM robotics supplies with you.

1. STEM Robot Ozobot

Ozobots are small, programmable robots that are perfect for all types of surfaces you might find in your classroom. These versatile little STEM robots can follow lines and also respond to color codes, making them ideal for teaching coding to students of all ages.

Ozobots are especially adorable little sphericle robots that are easily programmed to follow lines and interpret color codes to make specific movements. They can be used on a digital surface like an iPad or on a physical surface like paper, the floor, or a tabletop.

Ozobot lessons are great for introducing coding to students of all ages. Since Ozobots can be coded with colored lines, it is a great introductory coding activity.

These “codes” tell the Ozobot which direction to move along a black-lined path. For older students, Ozobots can also be used with the OzoBlocky app for even more coding fun. And, If you don’t already have this amazing STEM robot, check out the Ozobot website for awesome educator deals!

I also have tons of fun Ozobot activities you can check out in the Miss Tech Queen TPT store!

2. STEM Robot Mouse

When I want to give my students the opportunity to work collaboratively, I pull out my Robot Mouse. This is an adorable little robot that’s especially fantastic for teaching coding and collaboration to even your youngest students.

From kindergarten to second grade, I love using the STEM robot, Robot Mouse. To give my students the opportunity for more problem-solving, I use printable coding mats.

Working in small groups or with a partner, students use coding mats to “program” Robot Mouse to follow a specific set of instructions. Students select task cards and then program Robot Mouse to move and complete the task card.

Then, they follow the instructions and select the correct code to send Robot Mouse on its way. With the use of arrows and colors, kiddos work together to get the mouse through a set of obstacles. Another benefit of this adorable little STEM robot is you can ask your students to design and build their own mazes for it to maneuver through.

3. Sphero STEM Robots

Looking for the perfect STEM robots for upper elementary students?

Sphero STEM robots are undoubtedly the perfect bots for your older kiddos. While students need access to an app and tablet to use Sphero, the app is user-friendly and fun for students.

Programming the Sphero involves block coding which is used through the app. It’s not hard to learn and once your students get the hang of it they won’t want to stop.

While there are lots of ways to use Sphero STEM robots in your classroom, I suggest getting masking tape to create paths and specific markers on the floor. I like to challenge my students to program the Sphero bots to reach these markers as they move through the paths around the room.

For even more fun, students can use their engineering skills to build an obstacle course out of blocks, Legos, or other materials for their Sphero to navigate.

Check out these super fun Sphero activities in the Miss Tech Queen TPT store!

4. Bee-Bot STEM Robots

Similar to Robot Mouse, this sweet little programmable floor robot, Bee-Bot, is perfect for your younger students. Use this colorful little robot to teach sequencing, estimation, problem-solving, and more. Laminate a set of colorful shapes to use as mats on the floor. Then, working together as a team, have students take turns pressing the arrow keys to follow a set pattern.

Alternatively, have students practice counting by laminating sheets of numbers or using an enlarged Chutes and Ladders board on a large floor mat. Have students roll dice and then press the arrow keys to move the Bee-Bot the correct number of spaces.

One of my favorite features about the Bee-Bot is the See and Say feature. It gives your Bee-Bot a voice and perception. Kids can program the Bee-Bot to play a message or sound when entering a program or encountering another Bee-Bot.

You can grab a whole “hive” of Bee-Bots for your kiddos to use together in small groups.

5. Codeapillar STEM Robots

One of my favorite adorable robots for the younger age group is the Codeapillar. It is unquestionably the cutest!

Students can choose interchangeable pieces of this caterpillar STEM robot to connect together.

Because the pieces are easy for young hands to grasp, this is the perfect way to get your young kiddos excited about coding.

Each piece comes with a colorful symbol that will direct the Codeapillar to complete a task.

Students can put the pieces together to make the Codepillar follow a path or specific movements.

STEM Robots for the Win

Whether you have an interest in using STEM robots every day, or as part of an ongoing dedicated time for technology during the week, there are so many ways to use STEM robots in the classroom. Check out this video for even more fun and exciting ways to use STEM robots in your classroom!

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