Girl ScoutsSeniorGrades 9-10

Programming Robots

Program a robot arm

Learn how robots sense, think and act, drive a six-joint robot arm through a pick-and-place job, take the arm apart in the Parts view to see how its systems work together, plan a familiar task as a flowchart a partner acts out, then program the arm to sort two cubes, by recording its moves or writing the code. Covers all five steps of the Senior Programming Robots badge.

Time
About 2 hours, in two sittings
Steps
5 badge steps, 3 of them in Robotic Arm Simulator
You need
A computer or Chromebook with a mouse or trackpad, and a partner for step 4. Building the cardboard arm in step 2 is optional: cardboard, two plastic syringes, tubing, water, glue and craft sticks. No account needed.
Unlock the kit, $5 I have a code

$5 for one scout: every step, the Robotic Arm Simulator activities that check the work, the printable lesson, and the certificate with a page of the scout's own work.

A six-joint robot arm sorting a red cube and a blue cube onto the zones of their colors.

Badge requirements: the 5 steps

  1. 1Learn about robotsRead and quizA robot senses, thinks and acts on its own. Industrial robot arms are the most common robots on Earth: millions of them weld, paint, pack and assemble.
  2. 2Build a robot part: robot armIn Robotic Arm SimulatorTake the controls of a six-joint robot arm and do the job most factory arms do all day: pick something up and put it somewhere else.
  3. 3Learn how robot systems work togetherIn Robotic Arm SimulatorA robot is several systems working as one: structure, actuators, sensors, power and a controller. Take the arm apart in the Parts view to see how they fit.
  4. 4Learn about programmingWith your troopA program is an algorithm a computer can run. Flowcharts show an algorithm's inputs, decisions and outputs before anyone writes code.
  5. 5Write a program for a robotIn Robotic Arm SimulatorProgram the arm to sort two cubes: the red cube to the red zone and the blue cube to the blue zone, with nobody touching the controls while it runs.

Work on a computer. The apps need a keyboard and a bigger screen than a phone: a laptop, desktop or Chromebook. You can pay here and open the emailed link on the computer.

One scout

Unlock the kit, $5

  • All 5 steps, worked on screen, with a lesson you can print if you like paper
  • Robotic Arm Simulator activities that check the work as it is done
  • A numbered certificate with a page of the scout's own work: your flowchart notes and your robot arm program

We email a link that opens the kit on any computer. No account needed. We keep the email only to send the kit and certificate links: privacy.

Have a discount code?
Leaders: unlock it for the whole troop

One payment and one code. Each scout types the code to unlock the kit on their own computer, and gets their own certificate at the end. Your pack page shows who has started and finished.

See a sample certificate (PDF) · Already paid? Find your link

Questions

What are the requirements for the Girl Scout Senior Programming Robots badge?

The badge has 5 steps: 1. Learn about robots; 2. Build a robot part: robot arm; 3. Learn how robot systems work together; 4. Learn about programming; 5. Write a program for a robot. This kit covers all 5, with activities that check the work as it is done.

Is there a printable version?

Yes. Once unlocked, the whole lesson prints, one step at a time, for a meeting or a table. Printing is optional: every step also works on screen, and a sample certificate PDF is on this page.

What does a scout need?

A computer or Chromebook with a mouse or trackpad, and a partner for step 4. Building the cardboard arm in step 2 is optional: cardboard, two plastic syringes, tubing, water, glue and craft sticks. No account needed. About 2 hours, in two sittings.

Can a troop leader get it for the whole troop?

Yes. A troop pack is one payment and one code: up to 12 scouts for $20, or up to 30 scouts for $35. Each scout types the code on their own computer and gets their own certificate, and the leader's pack page shows who has started and finished.

Is this an official Girl Scouts product?

No. MYTEK Lab makes the kit, and Girl Scouts badge names and steps are used with permission of Girl Scouts of the USA. The troop leader awards the badge; the certificate shows the scout did the work, with a number the leader can check.

All badge kits · Find kits and certificates you bought

Girl Scouts badge names and steps are used with permission of Girl Scouts of the USA. This kit is made by MYTEK Lab; the badge is awarded by the troop.