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PIPER COMPUTER

Everything you need to teach STEAM effectivly using the Piper Computer Kit.

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PIPER MAKE

Teach fundamental STEM skills while providing a bridge to career connected learning.

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ALL MAKE GUIDES


  1. Security Zone
  2. Ultrasonic Drum
  3. Resistor Piano
  4. Walker Race
  5. Walker Dance
  6. Walker Detect
  7. Runaway Rover
  8. Rover Sensor Steering

  1. Lighthouse
  2. Frog Frenzy
  3. Game Controller
  4. Minecraft Controller
  5. Retro Racer

  1. Security Zone
  2. Ultrasonic Drum
  3. Resistor Piano
  4. Ther-Mood-Stat
  5. Color Coded
  6. Pulse

  1. Beam Break
  2. Car Race
  3. Motion Ball

  1. Solar House
  2. Soil Sensor
  3. Air Guitar

  1. Light Show
  2. Light Show Animation

Make-A-Thon

PIPER MAKE

EDUCATOR GUIDES


YOU ARE HERE

Gaming expedition

Mission 2 of 5

Gaming expedition: Mission 2 of 5

Frog Frenzy


Advanced

45 minutes

Grades 3 - 8

MISSION OBJECTIVE

Learn how to build a Game Controller and program the code for a game that uses (x,y) coordinates.

The Earth team has lost connection to a mining ship on Pipax, but our scientists have scrambled to get a primitive view and mining control back up! In this mission, code a game where ore randomly appears and use your Controller to play.

View student interface at make.playpiper.com
MISSION CHARACTERS

Scientist

Commander
MISSION MATERIALS

Computer with USB port and Chrome or Edge browser
Piper Make Base Station or Starter Kit
Game Controller

MISSION RESOURCES

Learning Goals

  1. Students will create hardware using tools such as a screwdriver.
  2. Students will review key electronics understandings, including wire and pin positions for specific inputs and outputs.
  3. Students will practice the computational concepts of
    • Loops: Running the same sequence multiple times.
    • Events: While a pin’s condition is on or off, another action happens.
  4. Students will create programs that use variables to store and modify data.
  5. Students will create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals.
  6. Students will practice organizing problems into smaller, manageable tasks.
  7. Students will create programs by incorporating smaller portions of existing programs to develop something new or add more advanced features.
  8. Students will test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task.

Career Connections

Software Quality Assurance Analyst: Salary $99,620/yr
Web and Digital Interface Designer: Salary $83,240/yr
Computer User Support Specialist: Salary $71,530/yr
Video Game Designer: Salary $83,240/yr

Hardware Diagram

Blueprint

DOWNLOAD BLUEPRINT

Have an different version? Look for more information on the Support Page.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Is your Pico disconnecting after you test the Controller?
    • Check the program and wiring to make sure they are correct. The wires sent with your Game Controller might be different colors than depicted, which is fine. Follow the diagram to make the right connections.
    • Unplug your Pico, wait 5 seconds, and plug it back in.
    • Refresh your browser page.

Our customer support specialists are on hand to ensure your implementation of Piper runs seamlessly.
View Support Docs or Contact Support
Gaming EXPEDITION RESOURCES

Vocabulary Words

Console Personal computers built for gaming (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)

Modding Making "modifications" to how a game sounds, how it plays, looks, or functions, usually by users

Graphic User Interface (GUI) A way to display information on the computer screen where the user can use a mouse to click on buttons to do things.

Playtesting Playing through new builds to find bugs, ensure flow, and get new ideas to build on

Virtual reality (VR AComputer technology that makes a person feel like they are somewhere else, requires players to wear a headset and use input devices to play games

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Material Library

Coming Soon!

Standards Alignment