Airblock

Airblock

Airblock

A transformable, flying robot, made especially for children.

 

Official website:

https://www.makeblock.com/steam-kits/airblock

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Via the MakeBlock coding app, children can control their robot with instructions they program themselves. They will be learning to program and create at the same time, through play.

Yes, makex robotics competitions http://www.makex.io/en

$99 per item

Info for teachers:

Guiding creativity

There are numerous examples of construction and play on the Makeblock App. They are all specially designed to guide children as they begin the creative process, practice different skills, master them, and start creating independently.

Programming Guide

Detailed software instructions allow children to easily get to grips with programming and exercise their logical thinking. Using the systematic methods they can attempt to solve everyday problems with programming.

 

Materials in English:

 

Materials in Icelandic:

 

Materials in Polish:

 

Materials in Estonian:

 

Materials in Swedish:

 

Materials in Italian:

Whilst they play, children can learn block-based programming, the principles of aerodynamics, exercise logic and use their critical thinking skills.

Scratch based block programming.

Not specified

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Bioloid

Bioloid

Bioloid

All-round robot kit for education/robot competitions/entertainment.

The Bioloid is an educational robot kit which helps you learn the basics of structures and principles of robot joints.

 

Official website:

http://www.robotis.us/bioloid-1/

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

$1.199,00  per Bioloid Premium KIT

The Bioloid is an educational robot kit which helps you learn the basics of structures and principles of robot joints. And you can expand its application to the engineering, inverse kinematics, and kinetics.

It is also for hobbyists who enjoy building customized robots and is the most frequently used robot kit for various robot competitions.

A review in Swedish from Finland

 

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Info for teachers:

  • Secondary school / Age 15+
  • Intermediate and advanced levels
  • Everything is included with the kit
  • With Bioloid you can create any types of robots inspired by all living creatures.
  • Bio+ All + Droid = BIOLOID

 

Robotics, Mechanics, Electronics, English language, Science, Mathematics

RoboPlus

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Edbot

Edbot

Edbot

A transformable, flying robot, made especially for children.

 

Official website:

http://ed.bot/edbot

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

This robot seems really fun to program and watch performing. A big plus that Edbot is compatible with block coding using Scratch.

Robot for sale at company online webshop for 799£ +VAT & Shipping.

Software is not open sourced but is included when buying the robot and all future software updates are then also free.

Not specified

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Info for teachers:

Age 7+.
Beginners, intermediate, advanced level.

Video tutorials in English on Vimeo.

On Edbots homepage there are quite a lot of downloadable tutorials and lessons made as PowerPoint presentations in English. Lessons show how to block code Edbot using Scratch.

Math, science, motion physics

  • Block coding using Scratch
  • Python
  • JavaScript
  • C/C++

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Edison V2.0

Edison V2.0

Edison V2.0

Edison is a STEM robot that comes ready to go but is also a build kit because Edison is compatible with Lego bricks which makes it possible to customize and build your own robot designs

 

Official website:

https://meetedison.com

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

This robot can also be programmed using barcodes (with Python) which is suitable for more experienced coders.

Microbricand the company behind this robot has made robots for use in schools since 2004.

 

Materials in Swedish:

 

Website in Polish:

 

Materials in Estonian:

  • One robot (EdPack 1) 49.00 $
  • Two robots (STEM starter pack) 114,00 $
  • 10 pack  (EdPack10) 369,00 $.

The company is based in Australia but they ship worldwide and there are resellers in Europe like RoboShop https://www.robotshop.com/eu
Software is free of charge and teaching materials (lessons and worksheets) are open sourced and licensed under Creative Commons.

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Info for teachers:

  • Age 6+
  • Beginners, intermediate, advanced level

The Edison developers have on their homepage available for download lessons and other teaching material for programming the robot. Language support for their materials are in English, Swedish, Polish, Spanish, Turkish, Greek, French, Estonian, Czech and many more.

Edison has great language support mainly because they have a community of users devoted to translating and producing lessons for Edison.

Math, science, motion physics, design.

Edison is a STEM robot that comes ready to go but is also a build kit because Edison is compatible with Lego bricks which makes it possible to customize and build your own robot designs. With the Edison kit as the base and then extend it with lego almost as far as your imagination takes you.

  • Block coding using Edison’s own apps EdScratch and EdBlocks which are very similar to the standard version of  Scratch.
  • Text coding using EdPy witch is coding in Python

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Poppy Ergo Jr

Poppy Ergo Jr

Poppy Ergo Jr

Poppy Ergo Jr is a low cost arm designed for education, easy to build and modify.

 

Official website:

https://www.poppy-project.org/en/robots/poppy-ergo-jr

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

It is a robotic arm, consisting of 6 motors allowing life-like movements and 3D printed elements. The use of rivets makes the assembly, modification and reassembly easy. Ergo Jr comes with three tools for different interactions with its environment: a lampshade, a gripper and a pen holder. 

The robot is controlled with a Raspberry Pi board, and a camera helps it interact with the world. 

Everything in the robot is let transparent and accessible to promote an educative approach and interactive technology.

The Poppy project is a community-centered robotic project. It targets the needs of a multidisciplinary community where researchers, teachers, artists, and robotic enthusiasts can share their work and ideas.

 

Materials in Icelandic:

 

Materials in Estonian:

 

Materials in Swedish:

 

Materials in Italian:

 

Materials in Polish:

Starting from 50 EUR. Full set costs 319 EUR

Not specified

 

Info for teachers:

Not specified exactly. Rather for older students, at age 14+

Dedicated platform for educational use of Poppy (in French) https://www.poppy-education.org/

Manual of the Poppy Project covers everything from the short overview of what is possible within the project to the details on how you can build a Poppy robot or reproduce one of the pedagogical activity https://docs.poppy-project.org/en/ 

It comes with a set of pedagogical activities, developed with high-school teachers, ranging from the discovery of the robot and how to control it to more complex and integrated project. These activities are accessible for free on the project’s forums.

 

Materials in English:

 

Materials in Icelandic:

 

Materials in Estonian:

 

Materials in Swedish:

 

Materials in Italian:

 

Materials in Polish:

An ideal medium to learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Snap! – Python – C ++ – Java – Matlab – Ruby  – JavaScript

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Lego WeDo

Lego WeDo

Lego WeDo

LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 brings to life 280 building elements that motivate students to collaborate, build, problem-solve, and explore, all while deepening their STEAM learning and developing 21st-century skills.

 

Official website:

https://education.lego.com/en-us/elementary/intro

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Info for teachers:

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MimicArm

MimicArm

MimicArm

MimicArm is easy to build, easy to use a programmable robot that grows with the child’s ability. A DIY robot with a collection of robots, sensors and programming tools for both beginners and programming experts.

 

Official website:

https://mimicrobots.com/

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

MimicArm is easy to build, easy to use a programmable robot that grows with the child’s ability.

It suits everyone, from robot novice to veteran programmer. Thanks to the intuitive manual mode children as young as 5 are able to use mimicArm immediately. When the child is ready, the simple yet powerful programming software gradually eases you into programming concepts and the pre-programmed experiments start simple to guide you every step of the way. The experiments incrementally increase in complexity until you’re able to program using genuine C code, just like the professionals.

Vimeo user Brett Pipitone has several tutorial videos and lessons on his Vimeo page  https://vimeo.com/user18380378

Not specified

MimicArm Novice Kit $199 from Mimicrobots

Info for teachers:

  • Age 5+
  • Beginners, intermediate, advanced levels

From manual mode to block programming and coding.

Math, science, motion physics, developing STEAM skills

MimicBlock and Arduino programs

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Mini Bots

Mini Bots

Mini Bots

The Mini Bots have their own special approach to robots and make it easy for children to discover this special world. The clever robot models can follow lines and avoid hindrances. Five nimble action robots can be made from actuators and sensors, such as IR trail sensor and push buttons.

 

Official website:

https://www.fischertechnik.de/en/products/teaching/stem-robotics/533923-robotics-mini-bots

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Approximately £100 in Amazon per item.

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Key Learning Objectives:

  • From electronics to robotics!
  • Understand the focal points controlling and rules
  • Use the ROBOTICS module and its set programs to activate 5 agile driving robots
  • How actuators and sensors work 
  • Deepen and practice project and group work

Info for teachers:

Primary level, Secondary level, Study / vocational school

Fischertechnik learning materials support in teaching technical concepts of science, engineering and physics in a practical way and introducing them to your secondary school and college students or your apprentices.

The Mini Bots program is saved to the ROBOTICS module and can be easily chosen using the DIP switch.

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Mio the robot 2.0 (Clementoni)

Mio the robot 2.0 (Clementoni)

Mio the robot 2.0 (Clementoni)

Mio is an inexpensive and fun STEM robot made by Clementoni an Italian company that makes a lot of robots and other teaching toys that are classified as STEM  products.

 

Official website:

https://www.clementoni.com/pt-en/67580-mio-robot-20

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

When Mio arrives you start by assembling it from pieces learning as you build how all the parts work together to make a functioning robot.

Sometimes using software to program a robot is much easier than trying to do these calculations and estimations in your head. With Mio the robot you have to visualize the command sequences needed before you enter them by hand on the buttons at the back of the robot. This shows the pupils that some things can be programmed even if there are no way to do this using a computer, tablet or phone.

 

Product info in Swedish:

Materials in Polish:

This robot may be found in ordinary department stores and the price there might be between 25-40 €.

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Info for teachers:

From age 6 and up

There are some good user made youtube videos showing creative ways to program the robot and how to make use of its accessories like the arm with a magnet and the arm that can hold a pen. Youtube videos showing Mio the robot can be found in a variety of languages like english, italian and portuguese.

 

Math, motion physics, art  

No software programming used. This robot is programmed by pushing buttons that are attached to the robot itself.  

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Nao robot

Nao robot

Nao robot

NAO is a tremendous programming tool and he has especially become a standard in education and research.

 

Official website:

https://www.softbankrobotics.com/emea/en/nao

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Yes, for instance, there have been tournaments where the robots play soccer. There are also NAO challenges.

NAO is the first robot created by SoftBank Robotics. Famous around the world, NAO is a tremendous programming tool and he has especially become a standard in education and research.

NAO is also used as an assistant by companies and healthcare centres to welcome, inform and entertain visitors.

It has been used with kids with autisms to help them communicate with others.

 

Materials in Estonian:

 

Materials in Italian:

Price: $9,000

The pack includes:

  • One NAO Power V6 (Dark Grey)
  • 1 Charger and 1 Battery
  • 2 years of warranty
  • Unlimited Choregraphe Licenses
  • User Manual
  • Full SDK and API
  • RobotLAB Support 

Available: https://www.robotlab.com/store/nao-power-v6-standard-edition 

 

Not specified

Info for teachers:

Students 7 years and older.

Pepper and NAO easily create an empathetic link with students & researchers by their eye-catching appearances, moderate sizes and humanoid behaviours.

Proven by various studies and researches, the main characteristics of our humanoid robots meet perfectly the instructional goals in education. They are enabling new ways for pedagogy and classrooms.

Being connected, the robots are able to search the latest teaching materials at a centralized level, generate, update and adapt their behaviour and content to fit local conditions and audience. 

Nao can speak up to 21 languages and provide translation via Cloud services, allowing you to develop the language skills of students.

Pepper and NAO are versatile and high-performing robots to meet the expectations of researchers. They are advanced platforms for the in-depth study such as human-machine interaction, cognitive computing and autonomous navigation, etc.

They are advanced platforms for in-depth study such as human-machine interaction, cognitive computing and autonomous navigation, etc.

Reading, Writing, learning a new language, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Geometry, Programming.

NAO can be programmed using several programming languages, including C++, MATLAB, JAVA, LabVIEW and Python. Instead of using the drag and drop boxes in the Choreograph, they’re going to get our NAO robot walking and talking using coding.

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Ollie

Ollie

Ollie

It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s app-enabled. Get in the driver’s seat with Ollie and command this app-enabled racing robot to execute tricks and dominate every inch of turf, trail, and track.

 

Official website:

https://www.sphero.com/ollie

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

The Ollie app is used to control Ollie without programming. 
The Sphero Edu app is used for programming Ollie.

It´s connected to Sphero Edu.

Now it costs $79,99. That´s on the official Sphero website. 
On Amazon you can buy it for lowest of $ 53,99.

Ollie can make up to 100 tricks and can be used outside.

Materials in Polish:

 

Materials in Estonian:

Info for teachers:

Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, middle school, or high school

Sphero has expanded Lightning Lab. Teachers can create an account for themselves and their students.  Through this account, teachers can send assignments to students digitally. (I couldn´t find the app, maybe it´s not available in Iceland?)

https://www.sphero.com/education/professional-learning-and-resources/ is a website to introduce Sphero robots for teachers.

With various kind of lessons you can use Ollie in almost every subject.

In an educational environment, subject matter such as sight words, colors, vocabulary words, and math facts can be placed on the floor.  Then, teachers can give students definitions, words, or numbers and students use a device to roll the robots to the specific word or number.  This is a fun, simple way to review material.

In the Edu Sphero app uses Scratch blocks or you can write your own JavaScript text programs.

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Orion5

Orion5

Orion5

This is a stationary robotic arm that mimics many features of those mechanic arm robots used in the industrial world.

With Orion5 one gets a robot capable of doing various repeating tasks using its grip claw.  For example, moving objects from and to specific places.

 

Official website:

https://rawrobotics.com/orion5

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Website is quite easy to navigate.
Their software located at GitHub might be difficult to set up for those who have no experience with GitHub type of software installations.

Because this robot doesn’t use block programming it might require somewhat more time to get used to coding both for teachers and students.

Orion5 can be transformed from a stationary robot to a mobile version if combined with another robot (Proteus) which is also made by RAWrobotics

Robot for sale at company online webshop for 550$ inc. VAT.

PS! Shipping within Australia only. Need to contact the company and make some special agreement to get this robot sent outside of Australia.

Software is open source and free of charge.

Not specified

Not specified

Info for teachers:

  • Basics coding from age 11-12
  • More advanced coding level from age 13+
  • Intermediate, advanced level

Video tutorials x3 in English.

Web-based simulation and programming environment in English and compatible with all operative systems capable of running a modern up to date web browser.

Math, science, motion physics

  • Python
  • JavaScript
  • C/C++.

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OSMO

OSMO

OSMO

There’s digital gaming. There’s real world fun. And then there’s Osmo, a magical experience that merges the real and virtual worlds to defy the boundaries of play. 

Osmo is a system that uses a stand and a clip-on mirror to allow an iPad or iPhone’s front-facing camera to recognize and track objects in the physical play space in front of the device.

 

Official website:

https://www.playosmo.com/en/

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Info for teachers:

Osmo is recommended for ages 5-11, but there are multiple levels of difficulty in all the games that make them fun for any age, including adults.

All the materials come with the packages and the apps you choose to work with. The possibilities are almost endless, a lot of teaching ideas for almost all the subjects.

Teachers guide: https://assets.playosmo.com/static/downloads/teachers_guide.pdf

Osmo teaching resources on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/healdster/osmo-resources/?lp=true 

Osmo teachers training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4pTL2QNOCE&list=PL9nsxDc9oNbWdbCbZQuSnTq03zCuYcOMl

Osmo’s range of learning tools covers core subject areas, from math and spelling to coding and language. The fusion of tech and tangible learning engages and challenges students of different levels while helping them build 21st-century skills.

Osmo Words is a fun problem-solving tool that helps students practice spelling, vocabulary and critical thinking.

Tangram helps students develop visual-spatial abilities, nonverbal reasoning, fine motor skills, and executive functioning.

Newton challenges students as they progress with bouncing balls, accelerating platforms, and fans that will encourage collaboration and creative problem-solving. It develops spatial reasoning skills, visual-spatial abilities and executive functioning. 

Osmo Masterpiece is an imaginative drawing tool that helps students gain confidence, a sense of proportion, perspective, and fine motor skills.

Masterpiece can also be used for handwriting practice or even learning new languages, like Chinese!

On Osmo´s Wikipedia page says: 

„Osmo is a line of hands-on educational digital/physical games produced by the company Tangible Play, based in Palo Alto, CA. Osmo’s products are built around its proprietary “Reflective Artificial Intelligence,” a system that uses a stand and a clip-on mirror to allow an iPad or iPhone’s front-facing camera to recognize and track objects in the physical play space in front of the device”

It is different from one program to another how you play the games; coding blocks,  pencils, tiles, tokens… depends on how the program is set up.

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Photon

Photon

Photon

Photon is a robot that “develops with the child”. As the child starts to take on the tasks and experiments within the apps, the robot absorbs knowledge and develops new abilities.

 

Official website:

https://photonrobot.com/

 

Other online channels:

General decription:


Materials in Swedish

 

Materials in Polish:

 

  • The apps are free.
  • The dongle (USB) is € 19,90
  • Price: € 219,90 (free shipping in EU-countries)

Apps available on Google Play and AppStore.

Not specified

Info for teachers:

  • Age 4+
  • Beginners – intermediate level

When the robot is unboxed it doesn’t know anything, but as the child starts to take on the tasks and experiments within the apps, it absorbs knowledge and develops new abilities. And so does the child. When all challenges are completed the child knows the basics of programming.

  • The YouTube channel has tutorials mostly in Polish.
  • The Photon EDU-app offers support for teachers.
  • There is also an educational mat (additional, € 49,90), stickers (€ 3,90), flashcards (€11,90).
  • Available in English, German, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, French and Czech.
  • The Photon Robot application uses the Amazon Polly text-to-speech system, thanks to which it is able to read the instructions contained in the application in 47 voices and 24 languages.

Geography, science (nature), math, physics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dkZ-x_YrP4

With the app Photon EDU you can conduct classes based on dedicated scenarios.

Photon can be programmed through four different apps:

  1. Photon Draw (age 5+) – Programming by drawing
  2. Photon Badge (age 6+) – Programming by creating a sequence of symbols
  3. Photon Blocks (age 7+) – Programming by connecting
  4. Photon Code (age 10+) – Sequence creation similar to programming in complicated programming languages.

With the app Photon Bridge, together with the Photon USB dongle, it is possible to connect to computers and 8 robots simultaneously. With the dongle it is also possible to connect with coding apps like Scratch, MakeCode and JavaScript.

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Robbo Robot kit

Robbo Robot kit

Robbo Robot kit

Robot kit is a comprehensive robot construction kit with five simple magnetic-mount sensors and led light.

Robot kit is designed to teach both children and adults programming and robotics. It is a good supporting tool to run any physics experiments e.g. involving velocity and acceleration, exploring optics.

 

Official website:

https://www.robbo.world/products/

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Info for teachers:

Suitable for children ages 7-99 years old. The teaching material was specifically designed for kids and teens ages 7-15. Kids and teens under the age of 14 years old should use robots under supervision.

Work with Robot kit improves problem solving, analytical skills, innovativeness and enhances teamwork skills.

By mixing and combining sensors you can replicate any technology that surrounds you, from smartphone to refrigerator. The Robot kit combines science with unlimited amount of creativity.

With the Lab everyone has the chance to be a doer instead of just a user. This is a fun and engaging way of learning programming while enhancing skills in problem solving, abstract thinking and creativity.

The Robot and Lab can be programmed with a computer and an USB cable using several different types of programming software.

You can use:

  1. RobboScratch visual programming interface. This is a ROBBO™ specific tool. See software for installation and usage.
  2. Arduino IDE. This is a more general tool for programming microprocessors. Uses text based programming and has a big community providing a lot of examples and tutorials.
  3. Snap4Arduino. This is also a visual programming interface that can be run inside the Chrome web browser. Requires Firmata. See instructions how to install for Windows without admin rights.

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Robotics in Industry

Robotics in Industry

Robotics in Industry

This Robotics educational construction set is focused on constructing and programming robotics for true-to-life industrial applications. Four real-life, fully functional industrial robots: A high-bay shelving system, 3-axis robot, and two additional gripper arm robots can be built and programmed.

 

Official website:

https://www.fischertechnik.de/en/products/teaching/stem-robotics/533020-robotics-in-industry

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

$270 per set

CAUTION: absolutely necessary for operation is the TXT Controller, the Software ROBO Pro, the Accu Set or Power Set

Not specified

Info for teachers:

Secondary level, Study / vocational school

www.fischertechnik-elearning.com (languages: German, Spanish, English)

 

STEM education

Software ROBO Pro

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Root

Root

Root

This robot is magnetic and can be placed hanging on to a magnetic whiteboard like the kind used in school classrooms.

On a whiteboard Root can move around. drawing pictures, patterns and letters/numbers that its been pre coded to produce.

 

Official website:

https://rootrobotics.com

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Root the robot was developed during robots and coding in schools research done at the Harvard University.

Coded Root is capable of producing drawings, music and can even be used for making fun games.

The robot has built-in color sensors and it can be coded to follow a specific color line through a maze of lines in different colors. Other sensors include hearing sounds and seeing light.

Block coding using the iOS app (Root Coding)

PS! iOS support only for now but an Android app in the making.

Not specified

 

European countries can order Root from amazon.com and the price/robot is $199 + shipping and import fees for around $77.
Robot and software is not open source.

Info for teachers:

  • For the children in age 6+.
  • Beginners, intermediate, advanced level.

The coding app (in English) for iOS has a help menu that is intended to be of guidance when getting started with Root coding.
For teachers, there are right now materials being made but one of it has yet been released.

On youtube, there are a lot of videos from users about Root and presentations of what you can do with the robot.

Math, science, motion physics, arts, music

Block coding using the iOS app (Root Coding)
PS! iOS support only for now but an Android app in the making.

Database categories

Thymio 2

Thymio 2

Thymio 2

Thymio is an open source robot to assist the teacher in the digital education era. Thymio is a small robot which will allow you to discover the universe of robotics and learn a robot’s language.

You will be able to program it and carry out numerous experiments. With Thymio, the basics of robotics and programming become notions everyone can discover, whatever their age.

 

Official website:

https://www.thymio.org/en:thymio

 

Other online channels:

General decription:

Approximately 220 € per item.

Not specified

Not specified

Website is user friendly and easy to navigate.

Info for teachers:

Age 6+

3D printed accessories, remote control, posters, teachers guide (PDF), reference card VPL, tutorial VPL, challenge pack, paper craft

Math, arts and crafts, science, physics

Visual programming language (VPL), blockly, Scratch, text programming Aseba

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