Session 6 — Let's Try a Maze

Opening concept: A complex problem is just a set of simple problems in sequence.

Activity:

• EdBlocks Activity 12: multi-step programs, maze navigation
• Teacher-built maze: 3 turns, one dead end (foam noodles or cardboard)
• Remote-first: before opening EdBlocks, each team drives Edison through the maze using the remote control. While doing it, one partner calls out the steps aloud (“forward, forward, turn right, forward…”) and the other writes them down. That list is the first draft of the program.
• Students then translate their paper list into EdBlocks blocks, run it, and compare to their manual drive
• Run → observe where Edison goes wrong → adjust one block → run again
• Emphasize: changing one thing at a time makes it easier to figure out what helped

Engineering connection: Debugging is engineering. Finding the exact block that’s wrong is a skill.

Materials: Devices, USB cables, foam noodle maze, paper for mapping