Computational thinking meets robotics: using mBot2 to explore kinematics concepts in physics classrooms

Robotics and computational thinking have been increasingly recognized as powerful tools in physics education because they let learners test models, visualize dynamic systems, and practice algorithmic problem-solving in concrete and authentic ways. This article presents a 5-E lesson plan that integrates educational robotics and computational thinking to teach kinematics concepts in classroom settings. It introduces the mBot2 robotics kit and its mBlock programming environment, outlines a detailed 90-minute 5-E sequence with three scaffolded challenges, and aligns the activities to NGSS three-dimensional learning. The lesson plan emphasizes hands-on engagement, inquiry-based learning, and the development of computational thinking skills. The lesson was implemented with 82 preservice science and mathematics teachers during the 2024-2025 academic year and the findings indicated the lesson was engaging, fun, and effective in helping participants link hands-on robotics activities to kinematics concepts (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, motion graphs) while fostering computational thinking skills such as decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking. The article concludes by highlighting the practical implications for physics teachers to incorporate robotics-enhanced learning activities in their instruction.