Programming with Logo - the basics

Let's start by programming a virtual robot. Create a detailed list of instructions for getting your robot from the parking lot to sitting down at a computer in the classroom. [source]

We're going to use StarLogo to learn about and use programming concepts and programmable modeling environments.

Cast of Characters
Turtles: The objects that you control with your programming. Each turtle has a position, heading, color and pen. You can add more specialized traits and properties.

Patches. The piece of the world in which the turtles live. Like turtles, patches can execute StarLogo commands, and they can act on turtles and patches. Patches are arranged in a grid, with each patch corresponding to a square in the Graphics area.

Observer. The observer "looks down" on the turtles and patches from a bird's eye perspective. The observer can create new turtles, and it can monitor the activity of the existing turtles and patches.

Interface
Control Center - Observer. Type commands that can be executed by the observer, eg. clearturtles (ct) and cleargraphics (cg)

Control Center - Turtle. Type commands that will affect the turtle(s), eg. forward 10 (fd 10), right 90 (rt 90)

StarLogo Window. Includes the Graphics area which is the patch where the turtles live. The white area to the left of the Graphics area is the Interface area, where you can create buttons, slides, and monitors that interact with your program.

Commands to build a square
clear-turtles or ct
Erase all turtles (observer command)

clear-graphics or cg
Erase graphics (observer command)

create-turtle number or crt
Create turtles, you can create as many turtles as you want by specifying number (observer command)

forward number or fd
Moves turtle in the direction of its heading the number of steps specified.

right degrees or rt
Rotates the turtle clockwise the number of degrees specified. Remember turning right or left is from the turtle's perspective

left degrees or lt
Rotates the turtle counterclockwise and number of degrees specified.

To create a square
In the observer command center type:
ct
crt 1

In the turtle command center type:
fd 10
rt 90
fd 10
rt 90
fd 10
rt 90
fd 10
rt 90

More turtle commands
repeat number [list of commands]
Repeats the commands in the brackets the number of times specified. For example, to make a square type:
repeat 4 [fd 10 right 90]

back number of bk
Moves the turtle in the opposite direction it is heading the number of steps specified.

pendown or pd
Causes the turtle to draw when it moves.

penup or pu
Causes the turtle to move without drawing.

setcolor colorname or setc
Sets turtle(s) color to colorname.

Challenge: Create a green square

complete command list

Human History

Sites for researching human history @

• HyperHistory


• history for kids


• Medieval England


• The Middle Ages

network admin resources

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2004/04/14/how_to_wds_bridge/page9.html

Create a brochure

You'll be creating a brochure for Maria's. Things to think about:

layout
The first thing you will do is use pencil and paper to roughly sketch the layout of your brochure. Identify where you want to place images & text. Identify the content you will need to create to go into the brochure:
- front cover: visually appealing for your target audience, usually includes logo & tagline
- inside front panel: summarize why a customer should choose your store
- inside three panel spread: summarize info about your store, provide key product info
- back cover: contact info

images
The use of images is important in a brochure. Think about using a store image, key product images, & clipart. Balance the use of images and text. Ensure that you do not use copyright protected images.

tag line
This is an easy to remember slogan that sums up the store philosophy. Examples of tag lines include: just do it (Nike), must see TV (NBC), always low prices (WalMart), when it absolutely has to get there overnight (FedEx)

fonts
It is important to use fonts consistently in a brochure. Probably no more than 3 fonts should be used and you'll want to ensure that they are legible in print.

Resources:
tri-fold brochure templates
trifold brochure writing tips
free stock images

Create a spreadsheet – part 1

Lesson goals:

• Enter data into a spreadsheet
• Understand the concept of rows, columns, and cells
• Create a bar chart
• Create a formula
  

1. Start Appleworks and select Spreadsheets.

2. Put a header in the spreadsheet with your name and today’s date. Select Format and Insert Header.

3. Enter the following data into the spreadsheet, starting with titles in row 1.

Adult animals	Lowest weight	Highest weight
Gray wolf	55	155
Coyote	25	50
Red fox	8	15
Fennec fox	2	4
Dingo	20	40

4. Select Edit and then Select All.

5. Select Options and then Make Chart.

6. Select Bar from Gallery and then OK.

7. Chart should appear in spreadsheet. Move it under your data.

8. Update the Dingo’s lowest weight to 25 and highest weight to 50. See how the chart automatically updates.

9. Add a column, by entering the title “Mean weight” into cell D1.

10. Select cell D2 and type the formula to determine the average weight of the gray wolf. Type exactly the following into the cell:

=(B2+C2)/2

11. Copy the formula from cell D2 to D3.

· Select cell D2 and select Edit & Copy.

· Select cell D3 and then select Edit & Paste Special. Select Paste Values & Formulas then select OK.

12. Repeat step 11 to copy the formula to cells D4, D5 & D6.

13. Update chart to include Mean weight column. Double-click on the chart. Select General. Edit Chart Range - change C6 to D6 and OK.

14. Update the Dingo’s lowest weight to 30 and highest weight to 65. See how cell D6 automatically recalculates and chart updates automatically.

Create a spreadsheet – part 2

Lesson goals:

• Enter data into a spreadsheet
• Understand the concept of rows, columns, and cells
• Choose an appropriate graph
• Create a spreadsheet from scratch
• Create a formula
  

1. Start Appleworks and select Spreadsheets.

2. Put a header in the spreadsheet with your name and today’s date. Select Format and Insert Header.

3. Enter the following data into the spreadsheet, starting with titles in row 1.

Age	1990	2000
Under 5 years	443,155	461,982
5 to 9 years	424,361	395,084
10 to 14 years	398,531	495,955

4. Select Edit and then Select All.

5. Select Options and then Make Chart.

6. Experiment with different chart types from the Gallery, which type is the best to display this data?

7. Go to the web site U.S. Census Bureau Kids' Corner @ factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/kids.html and find the population facts for the state of Virginia. Find out the correct population number for kids age 5 to 9 years in the year 2000 and update your spreadsheet. See how the chart automatically updates.

8. Add a column to calculate the change in population from 1990 to 2000. Use formula =C2-B2.

9. Add this column to your chart by double-clicking on the chart. Select General. Edit Chart Range - change D3 to D4 and OK.

10. Save your work on your memory stick.

11. Create a new spreadsheet.

12.Use the U.S. Census Bureau Kids' Corner to create a spreadsheet that compares the population trends from 5 different states for the 10-14 year category between 1990 & 2000. Remember to provide a title row.

13. Create a chart from this data. Which chart type is the best to display this data?

14. Add a column to calculate the increase or decreases in population between the 2000 and 1990 numbers. Create a formula that will calculate this for you.

15. Add this column to your chart.

16. Save your work on your memory stick.

keyboarding

This year we are trying out Learn2Type for Schools. It provides online access to keyboarding exercises as well as recording student progress online. We are using the free version, which will have some ads and we'll just need to see how annoying that is. A username, password, and class id are required to login.

Other online resources for keyboarding:

• Dance Mat Typing


• free touch typing program


• typeonline.co.uk