WeDo Guide

WeDo 2.0 Science

Name:
1
Table of Contents

About this book ................................................................................................................... 3

Your Pieces ........................................................................................................................ 4
The Smarthub ..................................................................................................................... 6
The Motor .......................................................................................................................... 7
Tilt Sensor ......................................................................................................................... 8
Motion Sensor ..................................................................................................................... 9
Gears ............................................................................................................................. 10
Pulleys............................................................................................................................ 11
Axles .............................................................................................................................. 11
Connectors ...................................................................................................................... 12
Wheels ........................................................................................................................... 12
Code Blocks...................................................................................................................... 13
Flow blocks ................................................................................................................... 13
Motor Blocks .................................................................................................................. 14
LED Blocks .................................................................................................................... 14
Sound Blocks.................................................................................................................. 15
Display Blocks ................................................................................................................ 15
Sensor inputs ................................................................................................................. 16
Number and text inputs .................................................................................................... 17
Unit 1 – Pulling .................................................................................................................. 18
Unit 2 – Speed ................................................................................................................... 20
Unit 3 – Robust Structures .................................................................................................... 22
Unit 4 – Frog’s Metamorphosis................................................................................................ 24
Unit 5 – Plants and Pollinators................................................................................................ 26
Unit 6 – Prevent Flooding ..................................................................................................... 28
Unit 7 – Drop and Rescue ...................................................................................................... 30
Unit 8 – Sort to Recycle........................................................................................................ 32
Notes ............................................................................................................................. 34

2
About this book

You can use this book to take notes on the names and uses of
the different parts in your LEGO WeDo set you can complete the
book in your own time without worrying about it being extra
homework. Take your time and complete it at your own pace as
we learn more about Lego WeDo.

Not again!

3
Your Pieces

4
5
The Smarthub

The smart hub is the centre of everything your WeDo set can
do. It uses Bluetooth to talk with the tablet or computer you
are writing your code on.

It sends off instructions to all the other WeDo sensors and

motors at exactly the right time.

We suggest you rename

your Smarthub before
you use it in the
classroom so that you do
not have any strange
connection issues. To do
that just find the pencil
icon on the connection
screen.

6
The Motor

The motor is how we make your Lego WeDo projects come to

life and move using code we can change the motor’s speed and
direction.

Motors are in nearly every machine that we use every day. If

you see a machine that moves the chances are it has a motor
inside it making that movement happen.

We can see motors in fans, cars, boats and even game

controllers. What are some examples of motors you can think
of?

7
Tilt Sensor

The tilt sensor does exactly what it says. It senses when it’s flat
or angled forwards or backwards. Tilt sensors are used in a lot
of devices these days like cell phones and computers. Using a
tilt sensor, we can know if the phone is in portrait or landscape
mode. And adjust the display accordingly.

We can control our tilt sensor with the blocks below.

With WeDo we can use our tilt sensor to begin other actions. For
example if we had a car connected to a tilt sensor we could
have it move forwards and backwards depending on what
direction the tilt sensor was moved.

8
Motion Sensor

The motion sensor can detect any object within 15cm of itself.
It uses infrared light to check if there is something close by.
When it sees something, it will send a signal back to the smart
hub.

Motion sensors are used in automatic doors, lights and cameras

to save energy and make things happen without people having
to press a button.

The motion sensor in our WeDo kit can be used to trigger

different actions to start when there is an object detected
nearby using the blocks above.

9
Gears

Gears are usually circles with teeth going around the outside
but sometimes they can come in different shapes like our worm
gear on the right hand side above.

Gears are used to change the speed and direction of a force. By

using different gear combinations, we can make our projects
move fast or slow.

Gears are used in nearly every machine that moves. Everything

from a pull-back car to a super-fast formula one car will use
gears to control their speed and direction.

You will definitely be using gears a lot when you are learning
with LEGO.

10
Pulleys

Pulleys can be used to transfer a force to another axle. A pulley

combines a wheel with a groove in it with a rubber band. We
can also use pulleys to make it easier to lift things. We can see
pulleys inside car engines or on cranes.

Axles

We can put different components such as gears or pulleys on

axles.

11
Connectors

Connectors are used to stick different LEGO pieces together,

they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and they are
incredibly useful. Sometimes you will find that changing which
connector part you use can have a large impact on your project
and can really help to improve it. Experiment with using the
different connectors so you are familiar with them.

Wheels

Wheels are by far the best way to move on land. We see them
in cars, trains and even airplanes use them. Did you know that
the black thing around the wheel is called a tyre and LEGO
make more tyres every year than any other company in the
world!

12
Code Blocks
Flow blocks

Start block
This goes at the beginning of a piece of code. Press it to start that code

Start on message block

This goes at the beginning of a piece of code. The code will start when
the correct message is received.

Send message block

This block will send any message you like and the start on message block
with the same message will start. Messages can be text or numbers.

Wait for block

This block will make the program wait until something happens. It can
wait for some time or until a sensor sends a message.

Repeat block
This block will repeat actions. It can repeat an amount of times or until a
sensor sends a message.

Start on key press block

This block will cause the code to begin when you press a certain key.

13
Motor Blocks

Motor this way block

Sets the motor to turn the axle in the direction shown and starts the
motor. Tap on the block to quickly change the direction of the rotation.

Motor this way block

Sets the motor to turn the axle in the direction shown and starts the
motor. Tap on the block to quickly change the direction of the rotation.

Motor power block

Sets the motor power to the specified level and starts the motor. The
level can be set with a numeric input from 0 to 10.

Motor power block

Sets the motor to turn the axle in the direction shown and starts the
motor. Tap on the block to quickly change the direction of the rotation.

Motor Off Block

Stops any movement of the motor.

LED Blocks

Motor power block

Sets the motor to turn the axle in the direction shown and starts the
motor. Tap on the block to quickly change the direction of the rotation.

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Sound Blocks
Play Sound
Plays a sound. The sound is chosen from a list available within the
software. You can choose a sound using a numeric input. Choose sound
number 0 to play a sound that you have recorded yourself.

Display Blocks
Display Background
Use this block to display an image chosen from a list available within the
software. You can set an image using a numeric input.

Display Block
Use this block to open the display area on the software screen. Numbers
or text will appear in the display area.

Add to display
Adds a quantity to the number currently shown on the display. Enter the
number you wish to add. Tap on the block to change the mathematical
operation.

Subtract from display

Subtracts a quantity from the number shown on the display. Enter the
number you wish to subtract. Tap on the block to change the
mathematical operation

Multiply Display
Multiplies the number shown on the display by a specified number. Enter
the number you wish to multiply by. Tap on the block to change the
mathematical operation.

Divide Display
Divides the number shown on the display by another number. Enter the
number you wish to divide by. Tap on the block to change the
mathematical operation.

15
 Display closed
Use this block to close the display area on the software screen.
Tap on the block to change the size.

Display Medium Size

Use this block to set the display area to medium size.
Tap on the block to change the size.

Display full size

Use this block to set the display area to full size.
Tap on the block to change the size..

Sensor inputs

Any Distance Change

Inputs the Motion Sensor mode “Any Distance Change” to a block.

Distance Change Closer

Inputs the Motion Sensor mode “decreasing distance between the sensor
and an object” to a block.

Distance Change Further

Inputs the Motion Sensor mode “increasing distance between the sensor
and an object” to a block.

Shake
Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “Shake” to a block.

Tilt Down
Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “Tilt Down” to a block.

Tilt Up
Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “Tilt Up” to a block.

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 Tilt That Way
Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “Tilt That Way” to a block.

Tilt This Way

Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “Tilt This Way” to a block

Tilt Sensor No Tilt

Inputs the Tilt Sensor mode “No Tilt” (or horizontal position) to a block.

Distance Sensor Input

Inputs the value detected by the Motion Sensor (from 0 to 10) to a block.

Number and text inputs

Sound Sensor Change

Inputs the Sound Sensor (from the device) mode “sound level change” to
a block

Number Input
Inputs a numeric value to a block

Text Input
Inputs a text value to a block.

Display Input
Inputs the numeric value shown on the display area to a block.

Random Input
Inputs a random value to a block. The range of numbers is determined by
the block to which it is attached.

17
Unit 1 – Pulling
Vocabulary Definition

force

friction

static friction

rolling friction

kinetic friction

equilibrium

18
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

19
Unit 2 – Speed
Vocabulary Definition

speed

acceleration

20
 Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

21
Unit 3 – Robust Structures

Vocabulary Definition

earthquake

tectonic plates

richter scale

variable

prototype

Equilibrium

22
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

23
Unit 4 – Frog’s Metamorphosis

Vocabulary Definition

life cycle

metamorphosis

incomplete metamorphosis

complete metamorhosis

larva

24
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

25
Unit 5 – Plants and Pollinators
Vocabulary Definition

pollen

nectar

seed

stamen

stigma

pollinator

cross-pollination

26
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

27
Unit 6 – Prevent Flooding
Vocabulary Definition

floodgate

sluice

dike

upstream

downstream

precipitation

dam

erosion

automate

28
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

29
Unit 7 – Drop and Rescue
Vocabulary Definition

stretcher

rescue

weather

weather-related hazard

30
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

31
Unit 8 – Sort to Recycle
Vocabulary Definition

physical property

recycle

sort

efficient

waste

32
Project Name:

Objective:

Results:

Project Overview

33
Notes

34
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x

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