Harbor Pilot
I can navigate two beacons and dock with the required heading.
Your activities & worksheet
Guide a robot boat through two harbor beacons, then align its bow with the north-facing dock. Work with a partner, swap roles, and record your own thinking.
Why do position and heading both matter when docking?
Activity 1 · Pilot the first beacon
- Open Harbor Pilot. The boat begins at C1 R5 facing NORTH.
- Predict and run two moves. Record the tile and heading at beacon 1.
Activity 2 · Navigate and dock
- Build a route through beacon 2 at C3 R3, then the dock at C3 R1.
- Use the Dock facing north action. Complete the game and describe each turn.
Activity 3 · Test a wrong heading
- Add a right turn immediately before Dock. Predict whether the position changes.
- Run, read the docking feedback, then correct the heading and retest.
Individual exit check
Why can a boat reach the dock but still fail the docking check?
Teach this lesson
A 50-minute plan with preparation, prompts, model responses, differentiation, and an individual assessment.
Why do position and heading both matter when docking?
| Planning element | Teacher notes |
|---|---|
| Learning target | I can navigate two beacons and dock with the required heading. |
| Evidence of learning | Visit the two beacons in order. Dock at C3 R1 facing north. Keep individual predictions, observations, and an explanation; a completion badge alone does not establish mastery. |
| Standards focus | 2-3.CT.4, 2-3.CT.7, 2-3.CT.9; 4-6.CT.4. |
| Vocabulary | position, heading, north, east, turn, beacon |
| Readiness | Follow a short sequence and use a grid. Revisit the previous week’s prediction and explanation before introducing this game. |
| Preparation | Open game-week-02.html (Harbor Pilot). Check the twin-hull robot boat and Lantern Harbor scene. Prepare a 5-by-5 grid, arrow counter, and worksheet. Use one device per pair and review the goal before revealing a solution. Game awards and worksheet responses save locally on this device; use teacher records for assessment. |
50-minute lesson sequence
| Minutes | Teaching moves | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | Introduce the mission Read the story and goal. Ask: Why do position and heading both matter when docking? Identify what must be observed to verify success. | Learners restate the task and constraints. |
| 5-12 | Model one action or test Demonstrate one control without solving the whole game. Explain the difference between robot heading and camera view. Ask for a prediction before clicking Run. | Each learner names an input, expected action, and observable result. |
| 12-20 | Activity 1: Pilot the first beacon Open Harbor Pilot. The boat begins at C1 R5 facing NORTH. Predict and run two moves. Record the tile and heading at beacon 1. Ask pairs to trace with a counter before retesting. | Collect the first worksheet prediction and observation. |
| 20-35 | Activity 2: Navigate and dock Build a route through beacon 2 at C3 R3, then the dock at C3 R1. Use the Dock facing north action. Complete the game and describe each turn. Swap driver and navigator after one run. Pause at the first unexpected state. | Both partners connect a block, label, or parameter with the observed result. |
| 35-43 | Activity 3: Test a wrong heading Add a right turn immediately before Dock. Predict whether the position changes. Run, read the docking feedback, then correct the heading and retest. | A revision or comparison is supported by a recorded test. |
| 43-48 | Independent exit check Ask each learner: Why can a boat reach the dock but still fail the docking check? Allow a spoken answer, drawing, or written response without a partner supplying the explanation. | Use the model answer as a guide; accept other explanations grounded in the run. |
| 48-50 | Save evidence and reflect Record completion and a next teaching step. Ask learners to download their worksheet or use a teacher-approved classroom record. | A next test or remaining limitation is named. |
Model program and expected behavior
move x2; right; move x2; left; move x2; dock
The boat travels north twice, turns right to east, travels twice, turns left to north, travels twice, and docks. Nine actions visit both beacons in order and satisfy the north-facing docking requirement.
2D teaching reference
Columns run west to east; rows run north to south. S = start, G = goal, M = mission item, X = barrier, P = route. Start heading: north. Use counters and this grid as an alternative to interpreting the 3D view.
| Grid | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | . | . | G | . | . |
| R2 | . | . | P | . | . |
| R3 | PM | P | PM | . | . |
| R4 | P | . | . | . | . |
| R5 | S | . | . | . | . |
Misconceptions and a useful response
| Misconception | Response |
|---|---|
| Turning moves the boat to the next tile. | Trace the same coordinate before and after a turn. Rotate an arrow counter without sliding it. |
| Finishing the game proves I understand everything. | Ask for an individual prediction, trace, explanation, and a next test. Use completion as one piece of evidence. |
Differentiate the task
Support: Provide an arrow counter and mark the two numbered beacons. Use cardinal-direction cards independent of camera angle. Provide the written position/heading status and a 2D or tactile map when the 3D view is not useful.
Extend: Turn the boat right then left at the start. Explain the same endpoint and the two extra actions.
Independent exit check
Prompt: Why can a boat reach the dock but still fail the docking check?
Teacher key: It must also face north and have visited both beacons in order. Heading and position are different.
Connect to Scratch or physical robotics
Scratch direction 0 points up; this simulator internally uses east/south/west/north indices. Use visual arrows when transferring rather than copying numeric heading values.