This is part of my 15 minute focus series. Kids learn some basic ideas about robots, and then brainstorm ideas and draw a picture to illustrate their ideas.

Supplies:

Print out a worksheet for each child (or just give them a blank sheet of paper), and have writing / drawing materials like crayons or markers.

Also, either print out the book, or have it ready to read off an electronic device.

Book

I started by reading this book, which introduces a few key concepts about robots: that they are machines that humans design to do a job that the human can’t do or doesn’t want to do. Robots have: sensors, processors (programs that evaluate the information gained from the sensors and determine what action to do), and actuators (what tools do the robot’s job).

The book ends with an invitation to design their own robots.

Brainstorming Job / Goals

Ask the children: “Imagine you could design a robot that would be able to do a job. Think of something you can’t do yourself, or something you don’t like to do. What job would you design a robot for?”

Depending on class size, age, and how much time you have: you could

• just ask a question and have a few kids raise their hands and offer answers
• ask each child to share an idea verbally
• ask each child to write down their ideas

How Would Goal Affect Design?

You could either go back through the pictures in the book and ask questions like: “if you wanted your robot to be able to take pictures at the bottom of the ocean (or clean windows on a high rise building or….) what would that mean about the design?”

Or, you could choose one idea from a child as an example.

Ask questions like:

• what sensors would it need to do that job? Would it need to be able to see? To hear? To sense temperature? Smell smoke?
• what materials would it need to be made of: Able to withstand high heat? Extreme cold? Function underwater?
• what actuators would it need? Wheels to move? Screwdrivers? Hands?

Or just ask them all to answer the questions on their worksheets.

Drawing

Give them a few minutes to draw their ideas.

Or, instead of a simple drawing, you could turn this into a bigger event / activity by having them build robot models out of building toys, or build robots from recyclables. We do that as a parent-child evening activity at my preschool and it’s amazing what they have created.

Extensions

Find recommended songs, books, and LOTS more robot themed activities here: Robots.