RoboPlay™ Competition
Mathematics-Focused. Curriculum-Embedded. Level-Playing-Field.
RoboPlay™ is a unique, mathematics-focused, level-playing-field robotics competition for all students in Grades TK–12. Students apply mathematics, literacy, coding, robotics, engineering design, creativity, teamwork, communication, and real-world problem solving through authentic Adventures and Challenges.
RoboPlay™ Competitions include:
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RoboPlay™ Adventure Competitions (TK–1)
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RoboPlay™ Challenge Competitions (Grades 2–12)
RoboPlay™ is an Integrated Learning Component of the RoboBlocky Curriculum, embedded across RoboBlocky Math™, STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics, and Expanded Learning with Robotics. It can be implemented through classroom, schoolwide, districtwide, and countywide competitions as a culminating learning experience.
RoboPlay™ In Action
"Remarkable Innovation, Perseverance, and Collaboration"
Orange Unified School District (California) caps off its RoboBlocky year with a RoboPlay Challenge Competition. Through hands-on coding and robotics challenges under time constraints in a competitive setting, students not only solve real-world math problems but also develop essential teamwork and social skills. The video above shows how Orange USD students take on the challenges and you can find more information here, and more photos and videos here.
"This event demonstrates remarkable innovation, perseverance, and collaboration. Witnessing students from diverse grade levels approach intricate challenges with ingenuity and fortitude was profoundly inspiring. Initiatives such as the C-STEM RoboPlay Challenge not only foster an ardent interest in STEM disciplines but also nurture the problem-solving and leadership qualities of future generations. Congratulations extend to all the students, educators, and organizers who contributed to the success of this impactful day of learning!"
-- Dr. Stephen Glass, Distinguished Faculty in Residence (PK-12 Specialization), College of Education, CSU Long Beach, and Board Member at Orange Unified School District
Real-World Mathematics and Problem Solving
RoboPlay™ Adventures and Challenges place students in authentic problem-solving scenarios such as space exploration, search and rescue operations, and manufacturing and automation.
Like teams of scientists and engineers working at a space station, on the Moon, or at a remote site, students must understand unfamiliar problems, make decisions, develop strategies, and create solutions using the mathematics, coding, robotics, engineering design, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they have developed.
Students creatively use the same reconfigurable modular Linkbot robots and accessories to program, build, test, refine, and demonstrate their solutions.
Rather than simply following instructions for how a robot should move, students determine how to solve the problem.
Embedded in the RoboBlocky Curriculum
RoboPlay™ is integrated throughout the RoboBlocky Curriculum, providing authentic opportunities for students to apply what they are learning through classroom, schoolwide, districtwide, and countywide competitions.
Students develop relevant mathematics, coding, robotics, computational thinking, and engineering design knowledge and skills through their regular curriculum experiences and apply their learning through RoboPlay™.
RoboPlay™ is included as part of the RoboBlocky Curriculum and uses the same RoboBlocky Platform, Linkbot robots, and accessories students use for regular learning.
Two Developmentally Appropriate
Competition Experiences
RoboPlay™ Adventure Competitions — TK–1
RoboPlay™ Adventures provide developmentally appropriate learning and competition experiences for young students that integrate numeracy, literacy, coding, robotics, engineering design, and collaborative problem solving.
At each level, students participate in:
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Two Numeracy and Literacy Adventures
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One Engineering Design Adventure
Adventures are delivered online through RoboBlocky with audio support, enabling young students to listen to directions and problem information while developing numeracy, early literacy, listening comprehension, coding, robotics, creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.
The Engineering Design Adventure provides developmentally appropriate opportunities for students to design, build, program, test, and improve a robot machine or robotic solution.
RoboPlay™ Challenge Competitions — Grades 2–12
Beginning in Grade 2, RoboPlay™ Challenges provide increasingly sophisticated mathematics, coding, robotics, and engineering design experiences.
At each grade or mathematics-course level, students complete:
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Two Mathematics Challenges
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One Engineering Design Challenge
Students read printed Challenge problems, determine what the problems are asking, identify relevant information, apply mathematics and computational thinking, develop strategies, program and configure robots, test and refine their solutions, and demonstrate their results.
The Mathematics Challenges function similarly to hands-on mathematics performance tasks. Students must understand and apply the mathematics to solve the problem effectively rather than simply follow prescribed robot movements.
The Engineering Design Challenge provides more open-ended opportunities for students to Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines and develop creative and functional solutions to authentic problems.
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Adventure and Challenge Levels
RoboPlay™ experiences are designed around students' current mathematics learning.
RoboPlay™ Adventures
Transitional Kindergarten | Kindergarten | Grade 1
Grade-Level RoboPlay™ Challenges
Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8
Mathematics-Course RoboPlay™ Challenges
Algebra 1 | Geometry | Algebra 2 | Integrated Mathematics I | Integrated Mathematics II | Integrated Mathematics III
Students in Grades 2–8 generally participate in the Challenge corresponding to their grade level. Middle school students enrolled in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Integrated Mathematics I, Integrated Mathematics II, or Integrated Mathematics III participate in the Challenge corresponding to their current mathematics course rather than their grade level.
A Level-Playing-Field Competition
RoboPlay™ is designed so that student success depends on what students know and can do.
In level-playing-field RoboPlay™ Competitions:
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Teams participating at the same level use the same specified robotics equipment.
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New Adventures and Challenges are unknown to students before the competition.
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Students work collaboratively to solve unfamiliar problems.
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Teams develop and test their own solutions.
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Students apply mathematics, coding, robotics, engineering design, creativity, and teamwork under time constraints.
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Solutions are evaluated using clear scoring criteria.
This format reduces advantages associated with custom-built competition robots, advance knowledge of competition problems, or outside technical assistance while emphasizing student learning, problem solving, and teamwork.
Learn, Practice, and Compete
Students develop the knowledge and skills needed for RoboPlay™ through the RoboBlocky Curriculum.
Previous RoboPlay™ Adventures and Challenges provide additional opportunities for students to learn, practice, develop strategies, and experience authentic problem solving before participating in new competitions.
Teachers can also use previous Adventures and Challenges for classroom RoboPlay™ Competitions, providing broad opportunities for students to participate and preparing teams for schoolwide or districtwide competitions.
Learn → Practice → Compete
New RoboPlay™ Adventures and Challenges are developed each year, while previous Adventures and Challenges provide ongoing opportunities for learning, practice, and classroom competitions.
Create Your Own RoboPlay™ Adventures
and Challenges
Schools and districts can create their own RoboPlay™ Adventures for TK–1 and RoboPlay™ Challenges for Grades 2–12 tailored to their students, curriculum, grade levels, and instructional priorities.
This provides educators with greater flexibility, local control, and ownership while maintaining the core RoboPlay™ approach to mathematics, literacy, coding, robotics, engineering design, teamwork, and real-world problem solving.
Through Barobo Professional Learning, teachers and Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) can learn how to develop their own RoboPlay™ Adventures and Challenges for their students.
Locally developed Adventures and Challenges can support:
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Classroom instruction
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Mathematics intervention and MTSS
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Expanded Learning
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Classroom competitions
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Schoolwide competitions
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Preparation for districtwide and/or countywide RoboPlay™ Competitions
RoboBlocky instructors have access to resources that support the development of their own RoboPlay™ Adventures and Challenges.
RoboPlay™ for All Students
Because RoboPlay™ is embedded in the curriculum, competition experiences can extend beyond specialized extracurricular robotics teams and engage students across entire grade levels.
Hillview Crest Elementary School in New Haven Unified School District uses the RoboBlocky Curriculum in every TK–5 classroom, with all students in Grades 2–5 participating in RoboPlay™.
This illustrates how curriculum-embedded robotics can provide broad opportunities for students to apply mathematics, coding, robotics, engineering design, creativity, teamwork, and problem solving.
How to Host a RoboPlay™ Competition
RoboPlay™ can be implemented through classroom instruction, and afterschool and summer programs. Competitions are flexible and can be implemented at multiple levels:
Classroom → Schoolwide → Districtwide → Countywide
Competitions can be scheduled based on the number of participating students, teams, and schools and can be conducted in existing facilities such as:
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Classrooms
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Multipurpose rooms
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Cafeterias
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Gymnasiums
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Libraries
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Other available school or district spaces
Student teams typically include 3–5 students who work collaboratively to solve RoboPlay™ Adventures or Challenges. Schools can begin with classroom or schoolwide competitions and expand their programs over time.
Districtwide implementation is encouraged to support broad student participation, instructional continuity across schools and grade levels, and sustained district commitment to mathematics, coding, robotics, and engineering design.
RoboBlocky instructors and coordinators have access to resources that support the organization of classroom, schoolwide, districtwide, and countywide RoboPlay™ Competitions.
Depending on district needs, Barobo can also provide RoboPlay™ judge training for districtwide competitions.
What Equipment Do Student Teams Need?
RoboPlay™ uses the same RoboBlocky Platform, Linkbot robots, and accessories used throughout the RoboBlocky Curriculum, allowing schools and districts to use the same learning environment and robotics hardware for classroom instruction and RoboPlay™ Competitions.
One Robot. One Platform. Unlimited TK–12 RoboPlay™ Opportunities.
Each team uses the specified robotics equipment for its Adventure or Challenge level and brings its own computer, robots, and accessories.
Grades TK-K
Each team uses:
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One 4-Linkbot Bundle
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One OmniBot Pack
Grades 1-6
Each team uses:
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One 4-Linkbot Bundle
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One OmniBot Pack
Grades 7-8
Each team uses:
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One 4-Linkbot Bundle
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One OmniBot Pack
High School Mathematics
Each team uses:
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One 4-Linkbot Bundle
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One OmniBot Pack
Supporting Multiple Teams
The same standard Linkbot bundles can readily support multiple RoboPlay™ teams:
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4-Linkbot Bundle — supports one team
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8-Linkbot Bundle — consists of two 4-Linkbot Bundles and supports two teams
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16-Linkbot Bundle — consists of four 4-Linkbot Bundles and supports four teams
Robots, activity mats, and accessories are available from the Barobo Shop.
Bring RoboPlay™ to Your School or District
RoboPlay™ brings mathematics, literacy, coding, robotics, engineering design, creativity, teamwork, communication, and real-world problem solving together through curriculum-embedded Adventures and Challenges from TK through Grade 12.
Students develop knowledge and skills through the RoboBlocky Curriculum and then apply their learning to unfamiliar problems through engaging classroom, schoolwide, and districtwide RoboPlay™ Competitions.
