It’s February, and while love may be in the air, why not pair it with a drone?

This month’s activity puts a hands-on, classroom-friendly twist on the classic Valentine’s Day Conversation Hearts. Instead of sweet phrases like “I ❤️ U,” students use heart-shaped cards printed with programming commands to plan, test, and fly drone programs. Rather than jumping straight into code, learners build their program physically first, then bring it to life through flight.

By drawing hearts at random and arranging them into a working sequence, students experience coding concepts in a tangible, low-pressure way. Each group’s program looks a little different, which naturally supports differentiation and problem-solving. As students translate their heart-based plans into code, they begin to see how sequencing, conditionals, and loops directly affect what happens in the air.

This activity helps students build confidence, test ideas quickly, and watch their logic take flight.

For our free curriculum, visit Robolink Learn for free lessons and programming tools.

Classroom Set Up / Materials Needed

• CoDrone EDU

• CoDrone EDU–compatible computer

• Conversation hearts

• For Folder 1, print out enough for each group to have their own

• For Folder 2, print out enough for each group to have 3 - 5

• For Folder 3, print out enough for each group to have 1

• Open floor space or flight zone

Tip: Laminate the hearts so they can be reused next year, or print them off 

Challenge 1: Build-a-Program Hearts (Sequencing)

Before jumping into code, students start by building a flight the same way they might build a sentence: one piece at a time.

First, make sure that students each start out with a Takeoff heart and a Land heart.

Then, students will draw or be given 3 to 5 conversation hearts, each representing a different drone action. Once they have their hearts, they’ll organize them in an order that creates a complete flight plan

Once students are happy with their heart sequence, they’ll transfer that into Blockly for Robolink or Python for Robolink. Students can reflect on their program and adjust as needed!

This challenge helps students see that sequencing matters and that even small changes in order can lead to very different outcomes in the air.

Challenge 2: “If You Love Me…” (Conditionals)

Now it is time to add a little decision-making. Using the prompt “If you love me, then…”, students introduce conditionals into their programs and let the drone decide what to do next.

As a teacher, decide if you want students to keep their original conversation hearts or if you want to collect them all and redraw.

For this challenge, all students will need conditional “If” and “do”  hearts.

Have students draw a heart with conditional logic on it, such as: 

• Altitude > X

• Time = 3

• Front color = red

If the students are keeping their action cards, they can go ahead and add it to their new hearts and create a new program. Students may ask to draw more cards, depending on the complexity of their program. Use your discretion on how many lines of code you want them working with.

Once students are happy with their new heart sequence, they’ll transfer that into Blockly for Robolink or Python for Robolink. Students can reflect on their program and adjust as needed!

In this challenge, students learn:

• How conditions influence behavior

• Why order matters when writing logic

• That drones can react differently based on timing or sensor data.
  
  

Extension: Broken Heart Debug

Sometimes things fall apart, and that is part of the learning.

In this extension, students will create a deliberately broken conversation heart-based flight program. Students will then switch groups to mend their “broken heart” before time runs out.

Students must:

• Identify what is not working

• Rearrange, remove, or replace hearts

• Test and refine until the drone completes a successful flight

This activity reinforces problem-solving, collaboration, and persistence, and it often leads to some of the best “aha” moments.

Real World Connection: Drones in CTE Careers

The same logic students practice with conversation hearts is used in real-world drone careers every day. Before a drone ever takes off for an inspection, survey, or mission, its flight path is carefully planned, tested, and refined.

In industries like construction, agriculture, and public safety, drones rely on sequencing to follow precise routes, conditionals to respond to sensor data or timing, and loops to repeat tasks efficiently and safely. A drone inspecting a job site might fly the same orbit multiple times a day. An agricultural drone may change behavior based on altitude or location. Search and rescue drones are programmed to repeat patterns while monitoring for specific conditions.

By translating physical logic into code, students are practicing the same problem-solving and planning skills used by drone pilots, robotics technicians, and engineers across CTE pathways. These foundational concepts help students understand not just how drones fly, but how they make decisions in the air.

Wrap Up

Conversation Hearts turn abstract coding concepts into something students can see, touch, and test. By starting with physical logic and moving into code, learners build confidence, strengthen their understanding of sequencing and decision-making, and experience firsthand how small changes can lead to big differences in flight.

Whether you lean into the Valentine’s theme or simply use it as a playful entry point, this activity keeps programming hands-on, collaborative, and meaningful. Students are not just writing code. They are planning, testing, debugging, and thinking like real drone programmers.

Ready to bring this activity and more like it into your classroom?

Explore free, classroom-ready lessons and challenges on Robolink Learn, and see how CoDrone EDU can help students connect coding concepts to real-world applications.

FAQ: Conversation Hearts Drone Coding Activity

What grade levels is this activity best for?

This activity works well for upper elementary through high school. Younger students may focus more on sequencing, while older students can dive deeper into conditionals, loops, and efficiency using Python.

Do students need prior coding experience?

No prior coding experience is required. The physical conversation hearts allow students to plan and test logic before translating it into code, making this a great introductory activity.

Can this be done using Blockly and Python?

Yes. Students can enter their programs using Blockly for Robolink or Python for Robolink, depending on their experience level and classroom goals.

How long does this activity take?

Most classrooms can complete one challenge in 20–30 minutes. The full sequence of challenges can be spread across multiple class periods or used as stations.

Do I need a large flight space?

No. This activity works well in classrooms, gyms, or multipurpose rooms. Even small indoor spaces allow students to observe sequencing, drift, and decision-making.