Sphero Spectacular: A “Float-tastic” Fifth Grade Parade!
This week, fifth graders in Mrs. Cimmings's class brought the spirit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade directly into the classroom—robot edition! As an introduction to Spheros, students designed their own balloon floats, attached them to the robots, and navigated their Spheros through a parade route.
This hands-on challenge allowed students to explore how robotics work, experiment with movement controls, and understand how physical design affects motion. Students brainstormed float ideas, engineered lightweight designs, and practiced carefully steering their Spheros so their creations could “march” the full parade route.
The activity combined creativity, collaboration, and emerging computer science skills. Laughter echoed around the room as students adjusted float designs, avoided “parade collisions,” and celebrated successful runs down the route.
What Skills and Standards Did Students Practice?Massachusetts Digital Literacy & Computer Science (DLCS), Grades 3–5.CS.a
Describe how computing devices follow input commands (students used the Sphero app controls).Demonstrate how robots respond to inputs and produce outputs (movement, lights).Compare and discuss solutions to improve robot navigation and float stability.Demonstrate perseverance and mindset when working through obstacles (wobbling floats, steering challenges).
Essential QuestionsHow do robots respond to the commands we give them?How does the design of an object affect how well it moves when attached to a robot?What strategies help us collaborate, troubleshoot, and improve our ideas?
