Wonder Workshop

Dash into Holiday Joy: Easy Tips for Unboxing and Getting Started

Amy Wilson — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:54:00 +0000

Wrapping paper is flying, eyes are sparkling, and excited laughter fills the room as your child finally meets Dash! Christmas morning is all about magic, and with Dash you can skip the stressful setup so your child can dive right into their coding adventure.

We want to make it easy for you to focus on what matters most: being present for the moment your child’s imagination takes off.

Open and Play

Dash arrives fully assembled, charged, and ready to roll (literally), so no need to sneak in to charge Dash or search for screwdrivers or batteries.

Make sure Dash is on the floor when powering on—Dash loves to dance around! Giving plenty of space will allow for smoother play.

Free App Downloads

For an even easier morning, download any of the free Wonder Workshop apps in advance. Blockly is our core app with tons of puzzles inside for kids to solve that orient them to how to dive in with Dash.

With Wonder, kids create traceable paths of code, which help them see and understand what their robot will do.

The Path app is for younger kids who may not yet be ready for coding. In the app kids can draw a route on their mobile device with their finger and send Dash on journeys around the house

Pairing Dash with Your Device

Have a charged device (i.e. laptop or iPad) on hand to make pairing with Dash seamless. See list of compatible devices for more information.

Bonus points for signing up for a free Make Wonder account (optional, but worth it). It gives you a backstage pass to your child’s learning, letting you track their progress, access solutions, discover new activiites, and unlock future levels in Blockly puzzles.

Care and Keeping of Dash

Dash is ready to go right out of the box, but to keep the fun going, be sure to plug in between uses so that Dash will be fully charged and ready for the next adventure.

Download our expert tips for taking care of Dash and pop on this quick video —perfect for your kids to watch while you sip your morning coffee! These simple steps will keep Dash running smoothly as a learning companion for years to come.

How to Change Dash's Name

Give Dash a personal touch! Your child can make their robot truly unique by choosing a new name. Check out this quick video for easy steps to customize Dash’s name.

Bring Additional Cheer with this Activity Booklet

When kids are ready for a little downtime, this coloring and activity booklet does the trick. With a word search, maze, and coloring pages, they can spend a little time in Dash’s magic holiday world in a relaxed way.

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Follow for More

Head over to @wonderworkshop on Instagram and @wonderworkshopofficial on TikTok for more helpful tips and activity inspiration.

20+ Winter WONDER-ful Activities for Dash

Amy Wilson — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:33:46 +0000

Coding in a Winter Wonderland

There are many ways to reinforce physical coding and applied robotics during this holiday season. You can use these winter wonderland ideas as morning warm-ups or for Friday free time, or you can create rotation stations to tackle them all at once during a classroom celebration. Pick and choose your favorites, or try them all!

Computer Science Education Week

The month of December is ripe for classroom celebrations, beginning with Computer Science Education Week. We have tons of activities to choose from and a link to replay our student-facing webinar that aired Monday, December 8!

Activity Packet

Download this Activity Packet with holiday-themed coloring pages, word puzzles, and coding activities.

Winter WONDERland Activity Packets

Check out our printable Winter WONDERland packets, 50+ pages (yes, f-i-f-t-y pages) of offline and online activities.

Please note that some items referenced in these packets are no longer available for sale from Wonder Workshop—but Dash can do anything that Dot and Cue can!

Draw a Christmas Tree

For this activity, you can either use the Sketch Kit accessory with Dash or you can fashion your own harness for a magic marker and get drawing.

The downloadable PDF includes a Blockly Program Key that can serve as a shortcut to writing the required code. Enter the key to download the solution code and voila! You’re ready to draw.

Ski Along

Take a cue for @durritterin on Instagram and create a slalom course for Dash to navigate through. No snow needed – just add code!

Reindeer and Sleigh Ride

Dash through the holidays with MUP Church Coppell STEAM and Pinkerton CISD on Instagram! Their DIY sleigh and parade of Dash reindeer made for a Very Merry Pinkerton Night.

Launcher Accessory Ideas

Snowball fight! Draw some (masking tape) lines and take sides Use the ever-popular Launcher to toss snowballs of different materials — crumpled paper or foil, cotton balls, Ping Pong balls. Determine a point system based on hitting targets of different sizes and from various distances.

Did someone say football season? Use the Launcher to help Dash score field goals.

Ice Skate the Night Away

Code one or two Dash robots for a solo or paired ice skating routine worthy of a gold medal.

Bulldoze the Snow

Dash is ready to clear the snow from the streets all winter long! Use the bulldozer accessory if you have one, or even better, take a page from these second graders and build your own out of recycled materials or Lego bricks attached to the building block connectors.

Count Down to the New Year

Ring in the New Year with a balloon parade! Check out @insidethegiftedclassroom on Instagram for more festive cross-curricular connections with Dash.

Cozy Hats

Feeling crafty? Knit one, purl two to make Dash a cozy winter hat. Robots get cold too, you know!

Binary Ornaments

With some simple colored beads and a pipe cleaner, you can introduce the binary alphabet! Have students code their names or a winter-related spelling word. Use this ASCII Binary Alphabet PDF to get started. Then loop the pipe cleaner to make an ornament or bend it to form a candy cane!

Winter Pageant

Hold a holiday pageant (see video), where participants dress up in their best winter outfits and answer pageant questions. Ask students to first program their robots with one noun response, an -ing verb response, and a location response. Then surprise the contestants with questions like:

What is your favorite piece of winter attire?
Which winter sport do you excel at?
Where would you like to travel once spring comes?

The Dash and Dot Show

Visit our archives for this holiday episode of the Dash & Dot Show. Find more episodes in our YouTube playlist.

Edible Constructs

And who doesn’t like a yummy snack? Riff off of this clever robot snack by using milk bottles to make a snowman, a red Hershey’s kiss as a Santa’s hat, or pretzels as reindeer antlers!

Want Even More?

You’ll find our 2023 Winter WONDER-ful Activities blog post here.

What other holiday ideas can you come up with?

Can you create your own version of the poem, “The Night Before Christmas”? Have Dash recite your original poem about coding and robots in an A, B, C, B rhyme scheme.
Can Dash use the Launcher to help Santa deliver gifts down a chimney? Create chimneys (think tall boxes!) of different heights and widths.
Can Dash turn into Rudolph and tow a sleigh carrying Dot?
Can Dash tell the story of Hanukkah candles, complete with recordings and blinking eye patterns?
Can you wrap Dash in a dreidel outfit and let it spin?
What mischief can Dash and Elf on a Shelf get into? https://twitter.com/Roosloan/status/806126796441845760

Share your winter WONDER-land ideas with us and tag us @WonderWorkshop on social.

Lesson Plan: Dash the Thankful Turkey

Amy Wilson — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:52:40 +0000

Activity Title: Dash the Thankful Turkey

Objetivo:
Students will program “Dash the Turkey” to travel around a mat, stopping at spaces to share things they’re thankful for.

Materials:

Dash robot
Sketch Mat or any coding mat (can also tape a grid on the floor)
4–6 “Thankful Spot” cards (one per square you choose)
Paper or sticky notes
Optional: Sketch Kit
Optional: Materials to decorate Dash as a turkey (Building Brick Connectors, LEGO bricks, craft materials, etc.)

Setup:

(Optional)Turn Dash into a turkey:
Add feathers, a beak, and eyes using paper or building brick connectors.
Place Thankful Spots:
Place the cards on different squares of the mat from the template we created for you.
Write gratitude notes:
Students write what they are thankful for using the template we created for you, and place them on the Thankful Spots.

Programming Task:

Students will program Dash to:

Have a designated starting place on the mat
Visit each Thankful Spot on the mat.
At each spot:
- Say the thankful message aloud (recorded or prewritten).
- Change light colors (for example, orange = family, green = friends, blue = school).
- Make a sound (like a turkey gobble or a short melody).

Optional:

If using the Sketch Kit, Dash can draw a small heart or leaf shape after each message.

Example Blockly Sequence:

Extensions:

Random Stop Challenge: Have students draw cards to see which thankful spot Dash should visit next, then update their code accordingly.
Group Coding: Each student codes one part of the route (one thankful stop) and then merges the code together.
Sketch Challenge: Use the Sketch Kit to write or draw what Dash is thankful for.

Bonus Coloring Book!

Dash Thanksgiving Day Parade

Amy Wilson — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:10:08 +0000

Bring the Thanksgiving Day Parade to Your Classroom with the Balloons Over Broadway STEM Challenge

If you’ve been on social media this November, you’ve probably seen the Balloons Over Broadway STEM challenge floating around. It’s a fun, creative way to combine reading, engineering, and coding — and Dash makes it even more exciting! Here’s how to bring this festive lesson to life in your classroom.

Materials You’ll Need:

Dash robots
Devices to code Dash
Balloons (one per Dash)
Large popsicle sticks (to attach balloons to Dash)
Craft materials (construction paper, tissue paper, glue sticks, etc.)
Book: Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet
Balloon Float Planning Guide (grab it for free here!)

Step 1: Read and Imagine

Start by reading Balloons Over Broadway with your class. Discuss how Tony Sarg, the puppeteer behind the Macy’s Parade, brought imagination and engineering together to create his amazing balloon floats.

Step 2: Plan Your Parade Float

In groups, have students brainstorm and sketch ideas for their own balloon float design. Encourage them to think about what their balloon will represent — a favorite animal, a story character, or even a robot hero like Dash!

Tip: If your students are having trouble deciding, have each student sketch their own idea first, then collaborate to choose one final group design.

Step 3: Build the Balloon Float

Now it’s time to bring those ideas to life! Using craft materials, students can create and decorate their balloon floats. Attach each balloon to Dash using the popsicle sticks — and get ready for the parade!

Step 4: Program Dash to Roll Along the Parade Route

Now it’s time to bring your parade to life! Using Blocky or the Wonder app, have students code Dash to roll along their planned parade route while proudly carrying their balloon float. Encourage them to experiment with speed, turns, and even sound effects to make their parade extra festive.

Tip: Have students test and adjust their code — just like real engineers do! They can measure the distance Dash needs to travel, tweak the path for smoother turns, or add a little “parade music” using Dash’s sound blocks.

Step 5: Host Your Parade

Here are a few fun ways to show off your creations:

Option 1: School Hallway Parade
Line the hallways and let each group code Dash to carry their balloon float through the school for a festive showcase.

Option 2: Build a City Parade
Use one of our coding mats or design your own city on large paper. Students can code Dash to navigate the streets of their mini city while carrying their balloons.

Option 3: Green Screen Parade
Set up a green screen and film Dash parading across the scene! Just remind students to avoid green materials so their floats don’t disappear when you add digital backgrounds.

Hallway Parade Examples

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Build-A-City Parade Examples

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Did You Use A Green Screen?

Post a video of your Green Screen activity and tag us on social media so we can include you in our gallery of school activities!

Spooky STEM Activity Roundup

Abby Dye — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 19:37:34 +0000

It's Our Spook STEM Activity Roundup!

No tricks, just treats: invite creativity, collaboration, and coding into your classroom with these spook-tacular activity ideas!

Got an idea to share? Post it on social media and tag us @wonderworkshop!

A Set of 3 Spooky Challenge Cards

In these Challenge Cards, students will code solutions to help Dash escape from a scary castle, save the day from an angry monster, and face fears about black cats.

Download the whole set and let the spookiness begin!

Code Dash Through a Corn Maze

Use tape to create a simple maze on the floor, making sure that it’s wide enough for Dash to fit through. Add as many fall-themed decorations as you want! Students can then use directional commands in Blockly to help Dash find the way out of the corn maze.

Take Dash Trick-or-Treating

Create a scene for Dash to go trick-or-treating like the students in @upielementarygate did! They went all out with the haunted house decorations and added a part to their program where Dash says “trick-or-treat” when arriving at the door. Perfect for small group work, each team of students can design their own haunted house, then work together to help Dash navigate from one spooky house to the next on Halloween.

Go Pumpkin Picking

Using the Gripper Building Kit Accessory and small toy pumpkins, create a program that helps Dash pick up as many pumpkins as possible from the patch and deliver them to a new location. Don’t have small pumpkin toys? No problem! Use objects you already have in the classroom, or turn recycled materials into your own DIY props.

Pumpkin Transport Engineering Challenge

Students in @teachingthegifted’s class were challenged to design a cart that would hold 15 pumpkins to help Farmer Dash transport pumpkins from the farm to the market. This is a great way to integrate the Engineering Design Process and Coding while using Dash. This class found that orange snap cubes made great pumpkins!

Make Halloween Decorations with the Sketch Kit

Materiales necesarios:

Robot Dash
Sketch Kit
Large sheets of paper
Examples of Halloween shapes and words

Use the Sketch Kit to help Dash create fall decorations for your classroom! Show a few examples of fall-themed shapes and words, and give students time to brainstorm their favorites before they get started.

Collect and Sort Candy with Accessories

Help Dash pick up spilled candy in this Challenge Card! Use the Bulldozer accessory from Wonder Workshop or challenge students to create their own version. Extend the lesson by swapping out the Bulldozer for the Gripper Building Kit. Using the Gripper, have Dash sort Halloween treats into different categories.

Have a Costume Party

Dash loves to dress up for Halloween! Students in @innovatewithme‘s class designed creative disguises and costumes for a day of trick-or-treating. Share your dressed-up Dash photos on social media and tag us @wonderworkshop.

Dash doesn’t have to be the only one in costume! Check out these wonderful costumes made by @cactuscrew507.

Trunk or Treat with Dash

Cardboard and creativity can go a long way! Annalee, an amazing teacher from Vanalden Elementary, created a larger-than-life Blockly costume and Dash robot to adorn her car for the school’s trunk or treat event. The giant Dash now has a second life decorating the technology classroom and motivating students.

Echa un vistazo this video to see how the class programmed the real Dash robots to dance the day away!

Make a Leaf Pile with Launcher

Use the Launcher accessory and program Dash to throw a pile of found or faux fall leaves in the air. Then, make Dash sing and dance around in the pile to celebrate fall! Make sure Dash is on a hard surface and no crumbly leaves get stuck under the wheels.

Need Accessories?

Gripper

Sketch Kit

Launcher

Fall Football Fun: Dash Kicks Off Coding Season

Amy Wilson — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:09:31 +0000

Fall is in the air—pumpkin spice, crunchy leaves, and Friday night lights. For your classroom, that means the perfect time to bring football fever to your STEM program! Wonder Workshop’s Football Launcher Task Cards turn Dash into an all-star quarterback, inviting your students to huddle up, problem-solve, and code their way to a touchdown.

These free activities combine the excitement of football with hands-on coding challenges that get kids moving, collaborating, and thinking like engineers. Whether you’re an elementary school teacher, STEM coordinator, or library media specialist, this resource is an easy win for your fall lesson plans.

Touchdown Coding: Creative Problem-Solving in Action

Each task card sets up a football scenario—like programming Dash to launch a ball into a target cup in the end zone or navigate defenders before making a touchdown pass

Students must plan their code, test their strategy, and refine their approach—just like a real offensive line adjusting plays. The open-ended challenges encourage trial-and-error, resilience, and creativity, making them ideal for stations, after-school clubs, or team-based STEM games.

First Downs & Field Goals: Building Core Computational Skills

From moving Dash 10 yards downfield to keeping score across multiple throws, these activities sneak in key math and measurement skills while reinforcing loops, sequencing, and conditional thinking. Students gain practice with precise commands, debugging, and iterating—skills that translate directly into stronger coding confidence.

Team Spirit: Collaboration and Friendly Competition

The Super Bowl Showdown card has students split into two teams, programming Dash to launch passes from different yard lines. The team with the most accurate throws wins, turning your classroom into a cheering section of budding engineers. This playful competition promotes communication, sportsmanship, and cooperative problem-solving—essential skills for any young coder.

Easy Setup, Big Impact

All you need are a Dash robot, simple materials like cups or blocks for goalposts and defenders, and a bit of floor space. That said, if you want to get fancy, there are supplies available on Amazon to spice up your setup. Find a football field table cloth to use on the floor of your classroom, or these nifty footballs to use with the launcher.

The cards are flexible—you can adapt them for different grade levels or time blocks, making them perfect for quick brain breaks or full STEM sessions.

Need a Launcher for Dash?

Launcher is a customer-favorite for Dash. This fun accessory transforms your Dash robot into a projectile-launching machine. Shop for it on our online store today.

Need help using launcher?

For tips on how to launch things with launcher that are not the balls that come in the box, please seeour Blog Post, Beyond the Ball: Learn to Launch Lemons, Pom Poms, and Other Creative Cargo.

Happy Birthday to Dash

Amy Wilson — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:56:18 +0000

Dash’s birthday is just around the corner and we’re celebrating with a Robot Party Activity Packet and an activity-card printable!

These resources are great for use at home or at school. They include tons of ideas programming Dash in collaborative (and celebratory) groups. You’ll find challenges as well as your favorite games, like Red Rover, Red Rover and Hot Potato all reimagined to employ coding and Dash robots.

Download these resources and plan your robot birthday party today!

Download this Free Printable with Task Cards: Students can code Dash to deliver presents, launch confetti, and even perform a birthday dance—all while boosting their coding and creativity skills. There’s also a template for creating a birthday hat for Dash!

The History of Dash

Back in the Spring of 2013, Wonder Workshop’s founders were on a mission to create a learn-to-code robot that would appeal to all elementary school students. In an early prototype, they hid the wheels of Dash to make it feel less like a car and more like a friendly robot.

The color was also key in making the robots approachable to all kids. While Blue is a primary color, did you know there are 76 shades and over 300 hues of blue?

In September 2013, the first true prototype of Dash was built. That’s why we celebrate Dash’s birthday on September 13!

With prototype in hand, Wonder Workshop embarked on our first production run in January of 2014. We had to source materials, parts, and find the right partner to help us bring our vision to life.

Join our Python Pilot

Amy Wilson — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Invitation to Join Our Blockly Pro Python Pilot!

Are your students ready to take their coding skills to the next level? We’re excited to invite educators to participate in a pilot program for our newest feature in Blockly Pro—Python coding!

Until now, Blockly Pro allowed students to toggle between block-based coding and JavaScript. With this pilot, students will be able to switch seamlessly between Blockly, JavaScript, and Python, giving them an authentic introduction to one of the world’s most widely used programming languages.

Who Can Participate?

This opportunity is open to upper elementary and middle school classrooms that meet the following requirements:

An active Make Wonder Subscription
Dash Robots available for student use
Students who are already familiar with Blockly
Access to a Chrome Browser on student devices

Pilot Timeline

Pilot Window: September 15 – October 31, 2025
Feedback Due: November 4, 2025 (though we welcome input throughout the testing period)

What’s Involved

As part of the pilot, you and your students will:

Explore the Beta version of Blockly Pro with Python
Test its features in your classroom with Dash
Share your feedback, ideas, and any issues you encounter

Your input will directly help us shape the future of Blockly Pro for classrooms everywhere.

How to Apply

If you meet the requirements and are excited to join, please fill out this form to express your interest. We’ll reach out to selected participants with next steps.

We can’t wait to see your students coding in Python with Dash!

Bring Design Thinking Principles to Your STEM Program

Amy Wilson — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:28:43 +0000

Ignite Creativity and Resilience in STEM Through Design Thinking

In today’s dynamic world, students need mindset tools that fuel innovation, adaptability, and deep empathy. That’s where design thinking comes in: a human-centered, iterative approach that transforms your STEM classroom into a vibrant lab of curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

Far from being just for designers, design thinking speaks directly to the heart of STEM learning—allowing students to step into the shoes of real users, explore bold ideas without fear, bring those ideas to life through hands-on prototyping, and learn through testing, reflection, and iteration.

By embracing the empathize–define–ideate–prototype–test cycle, students not only build design literacy—they develop resilience, learn to reframe failure as opportunity, appreciate diverse perspectives, and understand that the best solutions often emerge through reflection and refinement.

Whether you’re guiding students to program Dash robots or to engineer solutions for real-world challenges, design thinking provides a clear, flexible roadmap—one that empowers every learner to become a thoughtful innovator.

Start with Empathy and Understanding: Begin each project by encouraging students to think about the people or problems they’re designing for. This could involve identifying tasks that Dash robots can solve or help with, fostering a deep understanding of the user’s needs and perspectives.

Define the Problem: Guide students to clearly articulate the problem they wish to solve. This helps narrow their focus and tailor their design process towards a specific goal, ensuring their solutions are relevant and purposeful.

Ideate Solutions: Encourage creative brainstorming where students propose a variety of solutions. Facilitate sessions where they sketch out how Dash robots can be programmed or configured to address the defined problem, promoting out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration.

Plan: The planning stage is foundational in the design thinking process. It’s where students learn to translate abstract ideas into concrete action plans. They outline steps, predict challenges, and consider the resources they’ll need. Effective planning helps in streamline their approach by providing a clear roadmap for action. It encourages students to think ahead, anticipate problems, and develop a structured approach to solving them.

Prototype: Utilize the hands-on nature of Dash robots by having students create tangible prototypes of their solutions. This could involve programming Dash to navigate mazes, communicate messages, or interact with objects, allowing students to experiment with different coding approaches.

Test and Iterate: Implement a cycle of testing and refining. Students should test their solutions, gather feedback, and make adjustments. This iterative process teaches resilience, problem-solving, and the understanding that design is an evolving process rather than a one-time effort.

Reflect and Share: Finally, incorporate a reflection and sharing phase where students discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how their designs evolved over time. This not only enhances learning outcomes but also encourages public speaking and critical thinking skills.

Download this printable to hang in your classroom!

Lesson Plan: Design Thinking with Dash

Grade Levels: Elementary / Middle School
Time Required: 2–3 class periods (can be shortened/extended)
Materiales necesarios:

Design Thinking Workbook (student copies)
Dash robots (1 per group)
Building materials (classroom craft supplies, tape, cardboard, markers, etc.)
Devices (laptops, Tablets, or iPads) with Blockly
Evaluation Rubric
Optional: Dash Planning and/or General Planning worksheets

Lesson Objectives

Students will learn and apply the steps of the Design Thinking process.
Students will collaborate to identify and solve a real classroom problem.
Students will design, prototype, and test an accessory for Dash that addresses their chosen problem.
Students will practice creativity, problem-solving, communication, and resilience.

Lesson Procedure

1. Understand (Identify Problems)

In groups, students brainstorm classroom problems without judgment.
- Grade 2-3: Classroom problem
- Grade 4: School problem
- Grade 5: Any problem
Write all ideas down.
Select the top three problems and highlight them.
As a group, choose one problem to focus on.

2. Define (Frame the Problem)

Groups explain their chosen problem in detail.
Discuss why this problem matters and why solving it would help the classroom.

3. Ideate (Generate Solutions)

Brainstorm possible Dash accessory ideas that could solve the problem.
No evaluating during brainstorming — just idea generation.
Select the top three solutions and highlight them.
Pick one solution to pursue further.
Record details: how will it work? what will it look like?

4. Plan & Build (Prototype)

Assign team roles (Documentarian, Builder, Programmer).
Sketch the accessory design.
Create a materials list.
Build a prototype using classroom materials.

5. Test (Iterate & Improve)

Program Dash to demonstrate the accessory in action.
Run tests and note mistakes.
Gather feedback from peers and teacher.
Revise the design to improve functionality.
Record results and reflect on what worked and what could be better.

Assessment

Use this Evaluation Rubric

Programming:
Students use coding concepts in Dash to bring their design to life. Proficiency is shown by completing tasks independently, with advanced solutions (efficient code, use of lights, sounds, sensors, loops) indicating exemplary work.
Reflection & Documentation:
Students record their design process using journals, sketches, or multimedia tools. Strong performance includes clear, thoughtful reflection using target vocabulary, and thorough documentation of each design phase.
Collaboration & Communication:
Students actively participate in group discussions, cooperate with peers, and contribute to presentations. High-level performance includes giving constructive feedback to others, incorporating peer feedback, and clearly communicating design ideas.
Creativity:
Students generate multiple solutions, apply the iterative process, and refine their ideas. Outstanding creativity is shown when students go beyond expected requirements, developing imaginative, original, and effective solutions.

Extension Ideas

Host a “Design Expo” where groups present their prototypes to the class.
Encourage students to document the process in video or photos.
Challenge groups to refine their design further or combine ideas.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

Did your design work as planned? Why or why not?
How could this design be scaled up for use in the real world?
Do you think other classes could use your accessory/program?
What was the hardest part of the design process?
If you had time to redesign, what would you change?

Code the ABCs and the 123s with Dash

Amy Wilson — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:29:07 +0000

Welcome back to another exciting school year! As your students return full of curiosity and energy, it’s the perfect time to spark their creativity while reinforcing foundational skills. This year, why not combine literacy, numeracy, and coding in a hands-on activity that turns learning into an adventure? With Robot Dash and the Sketch Kit, students can program Dash to draw letters, numbers, words, and even creative designs—all while practicing problem-solving, sequencing, and spatial reasoning.

ABCs & 123s Activity Packets

In this packet, students use Blockly or Wonder to code Dash with Sketch Kit so that the robot writes letters and numbers right on the page. By programming Dash’s movements with precision, learners get a tangible connection between their code and a visual result. From spelling words to mirrored writing, from rhyming games to creative typography, this is coding that jumps off the screen and onto paper.

About These Packets

These packet give students step-by-step instructions for coding Dash to draw every letter of the alphabet and the numbers 0–9 using the Sketch Kit. Each page includes a program key—a unique code that links directly to the Blockly or Wonder program that will draw that letter or number. These keys serve as an “answer key” for your activity, letting students compare their own coding solutions with a pre-built version.

How to Use Program Keys

Wonder Workshop’s program keys make it easy to share code without having to manually recreate it block-by-block. Each program key is a short combination of letters and numbers, along with a link. To use one:

Open the Blockly app on your device.
Go to the “Menu” and pick your own profile. Then click on My Projects. In the upper right hand corner, there is a download icon. Tap on that.
Select “Enter Program Key” and type in the code exactly as shown.
The app will instantly load the saved program, ready for you to run, explore, or modify.

Students can use the keys in this packet to quickly load the drawing code for each letter or number, then compare it to their own work, make adjustments, or remix the code for creative variations.

Instructions for loading a program key in the Wonder App can be found here.

Need a Sketch Kit?

Sketch Kit is our accessory that enables kids to see the results of their code on a large canvas. The harness attaches the dry-erase markers (included) to the robot so the markers draw a line as Dash moves.

Need a Sketch Mat?

We’ve partnered with Geyer to bring you a dry–erase whiteboard mat. There’s a grid on one side and it’s blank on the other. Measuring 100″ x 52″, this mat provides an expansive canvas.

Why Kids Will Love It (and You Will Too!)

This activity isn’t just about making shapes—it’s about making connections. Students will:

Build literacy skills by coding Dash to write their spelling words, explore symmetry in letters, and create word-based art.
Strengthen numeracy by programming numbers in standard form, Roman numerals, or even binary.
Flex creativity by designing stylized letters, adding shadows, experimenting with spacing, or even coding Dash to draw a BINGO board.
Develop critical thinking by editing and troubleshooting their programs to get exactly the result they want.

Ready to get started? Download the full “ABCs & 123s” worksheet, grab your Sketch Kit, and let Dash lead your students on a back-to-school coding journey they’ll remember all year.