STEM Robotis PLAY 600 Pets Review {Timberdoodle 1st Grade Curriculum Kit}

Today we are going to take a closer look at one of the STEM components in our 1st Grade Elite Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle, our Robotis PLAY 600 Pets.

Our Robotis PLAY 600 Pets

 

F was super excited to get started with his kit.

 

What's included?  This set is so neat!  It includes a geared motor (CM-20 with 2-way output), over 50 parts along with an instruction manual to build a bluebird, puppy and cricket.  There are also online directions (via ROBOPLUS Design App) to build a whale, goldfish, polar bear and tank.  So there are 7 pet builds.  The interactive 3D assembly instructions are fun and F enjoys looking at them from various angles.  This set builds one model at a time so you have to unbuild or destory your previous pet to build the next and so on.

 

F built the bluebird first.

And then of course, the bluebird had a great time crawling or rolling around the house.

A close-up of F's bluebird

 

Building the puppy

F built the puppy next.

And a close-up of F's puppy.

The puppy had a great time walking all over the house.  F especially liked the ears and tail.

 

F built the cricket next.

Side view of the cricket

And a front view of F's cricket.

 

At this point, F had built all 3 pets in the instruction manual so he moved onto the ROBOPLUS Design App to build the other designs.

F built the goldfish next.

 

And a close-up...

F gathering the pieces needed to build the whale.

Creating the whale using the App instructions.  The interactive 3D assembly instructions are fun and let you manipulate the design by rotating it, zooming in, etc.

Finished Whale

This set is great for fine motor skills and gives kids confidence in building and STEM.  The pieces are large and easy for young kids with smaller hands to assemble.  This is an entry-level robotics kit which allows younger students to become familiar with some of the fundamentals of simple automation.  I appreciate that no tools are required for F to build these various pets.  I love that it encourages children to imagine and expand on these designs to create their own as well!  This set is geared for ages 6 and up and I think it is perfect for F in 1st Grade.  You will need two AA batteries, which are not included.  Check out the video below to see some of F's pets in action!

Our Robotis PLAY 600 Pets is a part of our Timberdoodle 1st Grade Curriculum Kit and if you can't tell we highly recommend it!

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I will be refunded the purchase price of our curriculum kit in exchange for my honest reviews.  All opinions are my own.

Crazy Snow In Texas

Today feels so weird.  It's hard to describe but it feels like we have lost an entire week.  The days have blurred together a bit.  With the crazy amounts of ice and snow in Texas, power outages, and no water it has been a bit of a mess.  We were without power and water for most of last week.  Thankfully, we were able to spend a few days with nearby friends (who did not lose power or water).  We are home now and have begun the process of getting resettled.  Our city is under a boil water notice.  I'm grateful that we have currently have bottled water to drink.  The stores are eerie to shop at and have a reminiscent feel like the beginning of the pandemic - long lines, out of many items, limits on hard to get items, etc.  I'm so grateful for my family, friends, and fellow Texans.  We seem to have very minimal damage due to the weather and I'm so thankful.  The kids were able to get out a bit and enjoy the unprecedented amount of snow that I have ever seen in my home state.

Gerald the Snowman.

E being pulled by A on a boogie board.

C buried in the snow.

B buried in the snow as well!

Stevie Dawg catching snowflakes!

E and G walking in the snow.

And of course, we learned to shovel snow.

While the snow is now gone and life is getting back to normal please pray for all of those that need help.  I know all of Texas would appreciate it.  Hope you all are staying safe!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day!  We enjoyed heart shaped pizzas for lunch and had a fun day together as a family.  I especially enjoyed all the cards, special treats and gifts the kids gave each other 💗. 

Squishmallows

 

D made a list of all her Squishmallows for art today. I love how her inventory has pictures and names.  And she was able to do this all while her arm is in a cast - impressive!  Do your kids collect these?

Happy National Carrot Cake Day

Happy National Carrot Cake Day! We will be enjoying these carrot bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes later today. How are you celebrating?

A+ Interactive Math Family Math Package Review

{Disclaimer:  I received a FREE copy of this product in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.}

I was blessed to receive a Family Math Package from A+ Interactive Math!  This package includes 8 different grade levels of math including 1st-6th, Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 and can accommodate up to 10 students!  

 

F has been using this program for 1st grade math and he has really enjoyed what he has completed so far.

About A+ Interactive Math

This curriculum contains video lessons, practice worksheets, interactive reviews, chapter tests, solutions, progress reports, automatic grading and tracking and more.  It really has it all! ✔

Benefits I personally love

• Allows students to be independent learners and frees up my time so that I'm not teaching every subject. 
• Accelerates learning because students can go at their own pace.
• Helps improve student's confidence in Math
  
• Comprehensive and teaches a solid foundation in Math which is extremely important
• User friendly
• Lessons utilize audio, visuals and text for a variety of learners
• Instant auto grades as well as tracking and progress reports
• Has parental controls that allows you to customize features specifically for your student
• Printable worksheets and tests for use offline as well
  

How is this program set up?

Students will watch the video lesson first.  Then they will participate in an interactive review or question and answer section.  In this review, the program will automatically reteach material if the student answers questions incorrectly.  This immediate reinforcement is fabulous.  After the review, students will complete an online worksheet.  They will practice the learned material.  After the worksheet is complete, students can review the step-by-step solutions when needed.

 

Table of contents

Above you can see that Chapter 1 of 1st grade math includes counting numbers to 100, reading and writing numbers to 100, identifying numbers to 100, finding the missing number, reverse counting, one more and one less, skip counting by two/five/ten/twenty-five, name the number and identifying numbers past 100.

F scored 100% in the interactive review above.

After completing all the lessons within a chapter, students will take a chapter test.  If gaps are revealed after this test, students can go back and review and/or relearn that material.  This is a great way to make sure that your students are understanding all the material.

If you are looking for a Family Math program then I would suggest checking out A+ Interactive Math.  Be sure to use the referral code CumminsLife and let me know what you think!

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