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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 3 - 4

Robo Clock

Cartoon drawing of an analog clock with minute and hour hands.Reading an analog clock involves knowledge of angles and clockwise vs. counter-clockwise, which are concepts important in many engineering designs.

Students learn various topics associated with the circle through studying a clock. Topics include reading analog time, understanding the concept of rotation (clockwise vs. counter-clockwise), and identifying right angles and straight angles within circles. Many young students have difficulty telling time in analog format, especially with fewer analog clocks in use (compared to digital clocks). This includes the ability to convert time written in words to a number format, for example, making the connection between "quarter of an hour" to 15 minutes. Students also find it difficult to convert "quarter of an hour" to the number of degrees in a circle. This activity incorporates a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robot to help students distinguish and visualize the differences in clockwise vs. counter-clockwise rotation and right vs. straight angles, while learning how to tell time on an analog clock. To promote team learning and increase engagement, students work in teams to program and control the robot.

Engineers and scientists use the concept of time constantly, ranging from work with steady to unsteady processes to simple processes such as flow rate and velocities; these processes are all phenomenon related to time. Time is critical in almost all engineering framework. Circuits and control systems in our MTA subway systems utilize time in switches as well as traffic signal lights. To help fourth graders understand the importance of time, examples of velocities and experiments that scientists and engineers run on timely manners are introduced before the LEGO EV3 robot activity.

Mechanical engineers work on many different types of machines that rely on gears, and these engineers must be aware of and design for gear motion in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. The gears of cars, designed by mechanical engineers, allow flexibility in order for a car to make right and left turns forward and reverse modes. These turns allow wheels to rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

Mechanical engineers who design and construct machines such as cars and airplanes incorporate knowledge of degrees in the design of the steering mechanisms. These machines must have the ability to go forward, take a right turn or even a U-turn. Relating the number of degrees in a circle is important to many engineering applications including forces, moments, and torque. The concept of a GPS (global positioning system) and many other smart devices designed by engineers use degrees to track an objects location.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Read analog time with relative ease.
  • Describe the physical characteristics of right and straight angles.
  • Convert "quarter of an hour" and "half of an hour" to degrees of a circle.
  • Explain the number of degrees in a circle.
  • Describe how time and degrees are used in engineering related areas.

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