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"The Seeds of Friendship"
Episode 3 ・ Garden Galaxy
Get Ready!
Part 1
Last time on
Star Stuff!
After making a crash landing on Fruit Galaxy...
LUZ
We met another star-maker named Ed!
VALERIA
Our station's stardust levels were dangerously low, but these two helped us out!
ED
While solving puzzles, we learned about a new block called "wait for"...
LUZ
Using "wait for", we can tell bots to wait for a specific event before continuing to the next line of code.
VALERIA
That helped us restore the station! With the stardust levels back to normal, we repaired our spaceship and took off again.
LUZ
But as soon as we landed here, I felt someone watching us...who could it be?
LUZ
Our story continues...
Hellooo...? This is the Garden Galaxy station, right? Where is everyone?
VALERIA
I'm telling you, if we want to make a lot of stardust then we should make stars shaped like roses! Everyone likes roses!
STAR-MAKER A
Huh? Says who? I like dahlias better, and a lot of my friends do too! We should make dahlia stars!
STAR-MAKER B
No no no, we've done enough flower stars! We should make cactus stars instead, they're the best!
STAR-MAKER C
Um...hi? We're here to help...could someone show us around?
LUZ
My favorite plant is the best plant!!!
STAR-MAKERS
...Maybe we're better off exploring on our own, Luz.
VALERIA
Yeah. I can't shake the feeling someone's watching us, though...
LUZ
Same here. In that case...
VALERIA
HEY! Whoever's following us, show yourself!!
VALERIA
EEEP!
???
Did you hear that? I think they're hiding in this potted plant!
LUZ
WAH! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Oh, stars...
???
Who are you? Why were you watching us?
VALERIA
M-my name's Jazmin, I'm a star-maker here. I saw your spaceship land and I was curious about who it was, but...
JAZMIN
I'm so shy, I ended up hiding!! I totally missed my chance to greet you...and now I've ruined everything!!
JAZMIN
Hey, chill. Nothing's ruined. In fact, you'd help us out if you can explain what's going on at this station.
VALERIA
O-okay, I'll try! Ever since Wolf took over the bots, we've been trying to get our stars back to normal...
JAZMIN
But no one can agree on what kind of stars to make!
JAZMIN
Everyone just wants to make stars of their favorite plant...but I don't get it. A garden can't thrive with just one kind of plant. It needs diversity!
JAZMIN
True. Have you tried telling them that?
VALERIA
No...I want to help make peace, but I get so scared talking to people. What if they hate me, or think I'm weird?
JAZMIN
Well...you're talking to us right now, aren't you? And everything's fine.
LUZ
...OH! I guess I am! Maybe because it's just the two of you...I don't think I can confront my whole station!
JAZMIN
Hmm...here's an idea. What if we work together to restore some of your station's regular stars?
VALERIA
If you get used to talking with us, maybe you can work up the courage to talk with the rest of your station.
VALERIA
You...really want to work with me?! If that's okay...maybe that could work.
JAZMIN
That's good with me. Can you show us the way, Jazmin?
LUZ
R-right! Star Transformer, make me a star!
JAZMIN
Here we are. I see the Starpad in this puzzle is up in the top left.
VALERIA
Yep. I guess we can start by coding that Grabber bot.
LUZ
O-okay! Let's figure out the right sequence!
JAZMIN
Sequence? I think I saw that word in the bot manual somewhere...
VALERIA
Oh! A sequence is a set of steps carried out in order. I read about it in the bot manual, too!
JAZMIN
For example, bots always read code in order, from top to bottom.
JAZMIN
Makes sense. Let's start from the top, then: what should the Grabber bot do first?
LUZ
Hmm...maybe pick up the cube at position D?
VALERIA
That could be it. We might need to make it wait for cube tray C first, though.
LUZ
Maybe it needs to go to button A first?
JAZMIN
Sounds like we're not sure. Let's try some things out, then.
LUZ
Explore!
Part 2
Think about
this question while you play...
What should the Grabber bot do first?
Be ready to vote then discuss once time is up!
1
2
3
What should the Grabber bot do first?
Vote before Discussing
Responses
Polling...
pick up at D
wait for C
go to A
Question
Let's Pair Share!
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Question
Let's Pair Share!
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Learn!
Part 3
VALERIA
My idea didn't work. The bot can't pick up the cube at position D yet because this bridge is off.
Same. I tried adding "wait for C" as the first line, but I didn't have a way of turning on cube tray C.
LUZ
So looks like the only thing the bot can start with is "go to A". Jazmin was right.
VALERIA
Yeah. When the bot is on button A, that turns on this bridge here. That gives us a path to get the cube!
LUZ
Hehe...I'm glad I could be helpful.
JAZMIN
How'd you figure out the first step? Process of elimination?
LUZ
That's one way of doing it! But for me, I understand these systems by looking at how the hardware is connected.
JAZMIN
Hardware? I think that's another word from the bot manual...
VALERIA
Oh! Sorry, I should explain! Hardware means the physical parts of a computing system, like a bot or a button.
JAZMIN
Then there's software, which is the code that tells hardware what to do. The bot code is an example of software.
JAZMIN
So if you're stuck on writing the software...try looking at how the hardware connects, starting from the goal!
JAZMIN
The goal? So we should start by looking at the Starpad?
LUZ
Yeah! We know reaching the Starpad is our last step, so we can trace the path we need to take backwards from there.
JAZMIN
Let me try. Working backwards from the Starpad, we know this bridge needs to turn on.
VALERIA
And to do that, we need to flip switch E. I know by looking at the wiring of the hardware.
VALERIA
Right! So keep working backwards from there! To flip switch E, we need this bridge to be on...
JAZMIN
...Which we can do by turning on cube tray B. We can't reach it from here, so the bot will have to do that.
LUZ
Right. For the bot to turn on cube tray B, it needs to get the cube at position D.
VALERIA
For that, the bot needs this bridge on. Looking at the wiring, we can turn it on by putting a cube in cube tray C.
LUZ
And we just figured out how to get a cube — by turning on the bridge connected to button A.
VALERIA
And the bot can press button A right from the start — so that's the first step in our sequence!
JAZMIN
We can figure out the rest of our sequence by tracing back the steps we just talked about.
JAZMIN
Got it. The first step is to have the bot go to button A, so let's add that to our code.
LUZ
After that, we'll move the cube to cube tray C.
VALERIA
Then the bot can pick up the cube at position D...
LUZ
...And drop it at cube tray B!
VALERIA
Then we can flip switch E, which lets us cross over to the Starpad!
JAZMIN
That code looks good, Luz. Let's run it and see what happens.
VALERIA
...The bot just fell into space. Whoops!
VALERIA
Hmm...that seemed like the right order, but the bot went through the steps too quickly.
JAZMIN
If a bot did something too fast for us, it usually means we need a "wait for" block somewhere.
LUZ
But where in the code should we add it? Let's think a bit.
LUZ
Luz needs to add a "wait for" block to the code. Where should it go?
Think independently before starting poll
Poll Preview
Vote!
Polling...
Responses
Luz needs to add a "wait for" block to the code. Where should it go?
3
2
1
Before "drop at B"
Before "pick up at D"
Before "go to A"
Vote!
Polling...
Responses
Question
Text
Text
Text
Text
4
3
2
1
When sequencing "wait for", it helps to ask ourselves: which command did the bot do too quickly?
VALERIA
Whatever the answer is, we should put the "wait for" before that line to give ourselves more time.
VALERIA
In this case, the bot went to pick up at D too quickly. We didn't have time to get the cube and put it in cube tray C.
LUZ
So let's add the "wait for" before "pick up at D."
LUZ
And we'll want the bot to wait for cube tray C since that's how we turn on the bridge. That tells the bot it's safe to cross!
JAZMIN
Now let's run our revised code and see what happens.
LUZ
Great! Now that the bot's waiting, we have time to get the cube.
VALERIA
It worked! Now all we have to do is flip the switch...
JAZMIN
And cross over to the Starpad!
LUZ
We did it! Thanks for all your help, Jazmin. You said you're shy, but you taught Luz and I a lot just now.
VALERIA
Agreed. I hadn't thought about working backwards from the goal before. That helped us sequence our steps correctly.
LUZ
W-wow...you're both so nice...reading the entire bot manual 50 times was worth it for this moment!
JAZMIN
Did...did you just say 50 times?! I've only read the first couple chapters...
VALERIA
Hehe...I just wanted to be prepared in case the bots ever stopped working! Plus, I like to read!
JAZMIN
Oh, cool! Tell us more about what you like while we keep restoring stars.
LUZ
...Okay!! I'm gonna tell you all about my favorite plants!!
JAZMIN
(Hmm. She seemed timid at first, but she's actually pretty brave.)
LUZ
(Now if we can just get her to realize that, she can settle this station's arguing once and for all!)
LUZ
Keep Going!
Part 4
Keep this in mind as you play...
Check In!
Part 5
You're ready, Jazmin. Go talk things out with your station — don't worry, we're right behind you.
VALERIA
O-okay...okay! I can do it...here I go!
JAZMIN
Ugh, we're getting nowhere. Dahlia stars? Cactus stars? At this rate, we're not going to have any stars except for the ones shaped like Wolf!
STAR-MAKER A
Um...can I say something?
JAZMIN
Huh? Jazmin? It's rare to hear you speak up...go ahead.
STAR-MAKER A
I think...I think people like gardens with a lot of variety. A diverse garden attracts more wildlife, improves the soil, and looks beautiful!!
JAZMIN
So...can't we just make stars for everyone's favorite plant? This is a space for all of us, right?
JAZMIN
...
STAR-MAKERS
...Jazmin's right. Why are we trying to only make ourselves happy? We should share in each other's interests!
STAR-MAKER A
Yeah...we were being selfish. Sorry, Jazmin.
STAR-MAKER B
You're...not mad?
JAZMIN
While we were arguing, you and your friends gathered all this stardust for our station, right? How could we be mad?
STAR-MAKER C
Yeah, thanks for that! Now, should we try making a new star together? What do you think, Jazmin?
STAR-MAKER A
Let's do it!!
JAZMIN
A while later...
What a pretty [bouquet] star! You did great, Jazmin!
LUZ
Luz, Valeria...thank you so much! Talking with you two gave me the courage I needed.
JAZMIN
But, before you leave...um...oh, I'll just say it! Can I join you two on your adventure???
JAZMIN
Fine with me. Is it okay with you, Luz?
VALERIA
Definitely! Seeing you be so brave, Jazmin...it gives me courage, too.
LUZ
On that note...Valeria, I'm sorry we drifted apart the last couple years. It was my fault. I felt like I could never reach your level...in anything.
LUZ
Luz...no, I'm sorry. I wanted you to see for yourself how capable you are...but I ended up pushing you around.
VALERIA
Can we be close friends again...?
VALERIA
Of course!
LUZ
Hehe...so nice to see everyone getting along.
JAZMIN
Yeah. Looks like we can head to the next station soon. Are you two ready to go?
VALERIA
Yes!!
LUZ & JAZMIN
Alright, we're approaching our destination...
VALERIA
Hang on. Is that...a giant claw?
LUZ
And it's heading right for our ship?!
VALERIA
EEEK!
JAZMIN
Until next time...
Tinker to understand how BOOM and WEAK work!
In problem 1, which of Zorro's observations is the most useful?
Be ready to vote then discuss
why after time is up!
You can also use the Inspector
to read rules and learn more about state blocks!
To understand a problem,
ask yourself these questions:
Once you understand a problem,
plan a solution by asking yourself these questions:
Work independently
to solve problems!
Next lesson, you will solve problems independently to show what you’ve learned!
Asking the Guiding Questions
Inspecting rules and objects
Inspecting state blocks
If you get stuck, try:
In problem 1, learn about SINK
by making the rules shown below.
SOL IS SINK
GOLD IS SINK
FOSSIL IS SINK
Both 2 and 3
Which rule(s) are helpful
for solving the problem?
1
2
3
4
Be ready to vote then discuss
after time is up!
Click to undo
your last move
Click to reset
the problem
Inspect state blocks
Inspect rules and objects
Reset the problem
Shortcut: Press the R key
Undo your last move
Shortcut: Press the Z key
As you play, make observations
about problems by asking yourself:
"What do I notice and
what could be useful?"
Some useful things to notice are:
Focus on rules
See a reminder of how a state block works
Sol's friends will ask you
questions during your journey.
Try to help them out by
answering correctly!