Materials required
- Meeting robots slides
Optional materials
- Meeting robots worksheets
- Identify the key components of a robot and explain their functions.
- Describe the difference between sensors and actuators and how they interact in a robot.
- Recognize robotic systems in everyday life and be able to reason about how they help.
- Work effectively in a small group to design, build and/or code a robot.
- Communicate ideas and results clearly and professionally to peers and teachers.
Connect with the idea of robots
The class begins by displaying the second slide and asking the students “What do you see here?‘“
[Pause and wait for students to provide answers, which may include mentions of a robot arm and two wheeled robots moving boxes]
The teacher will then guide the class in a conversation about the nature of robots, exploring questions such as: “What is a robot?” And “What is not a robot?” (slide 3).
In the following slides (slides 4-11) you will find information about robots to explore with your students. Here is brief overview of the content:
- The word ‘Robot’ comes from the Czech word ‘Robota’, meaning ‘forced labor’.
- Short definition of what is a robot.
- Different levels of robot autonomy. In the worksheets, there is a brief explanation of each level.
- Introduction to the concept of “educational robot”.
- Brief description of the thinking process of a robot.
- Type of components in a robot.
- Analogy of the robot sensors with the human senses.
- Open question: How do you think that robots can be useful to humans?
Here the students will use the first worksheet
You can use the worksheet for students to write down their research results or simply allow them to take notes in a notebook or blank sheet of paper.
Activity: Research about robots
The teacher will organize small groups of 2-3 students. Each group will be assigned a specific robot to investigate. The students can conduct their investigation on the internet or through provided materials, either digital or physical (this material must be prepared and provided by the teacher). Some popular real-life robots for the students to explore are:
As a teacher, feel free to research other robots to add to the list. By the time you teach this lesson, there could be some new and popular robots for your students to discover.
During this activity, students will gather information about their assigned robot and gain knowledge about how robots are being utilized in daily life. At the end of the research, each group will give a brief presentation about the robot they investigated.
Lesson Evaluation
- Students accurately defined what a robot is and what is not.
- Students understood and could explain different levels of robot autonomy.
- Students identified and understood the various components of a robot.
- Each group successfully conducted research on their assigned robot.
- Students completed the worksheet or took thorough notes during their research.
- Each group presented their findings clearly and accurately.
- Students demonstrated understanding of how the assigned robot is used in daily life.
