Grade 1 Robotics Lab Session 1: Robot Introduction Expedition
Session Architect: Muhammad Bilal
Session Length: 40 - 50 minutes
Learning Objectives
In this session, students will:
- Understand the basic components of the robotics kit.
- Learn how to control the robot using an on-screen gamepad in Scratch.
- Develop curiosity and problem-solving skills by experimenting with the robot’s movements.
- Familiarize themselves with the environment of Scratch.
Equipment Required:
- M3D Robotics kit (including M3D Go, its attachments, and necessary connections).
- Laptops with Scratch pre-installed.
- Paper and pencils for students to document their discoveries and ideas.
- Markers and small obstacles for robot navigation.
Teaching Aids
Visual aids:
- Scratch app running on a projector for better visual aid.
- Game pad program of scratch of the “M3D Go” next to the on-screen gamepad. (See Figure 3.2)
- Projector and screen (optional for the video demonstration).
Resources:
Scratch Code for the session:
Grade 1 Session 1.sb3 (1.5 MB)
Perquisites:
- The teacher should be familiar with block coding in Scratch and it’s different categories of blocks. If not, we suggest using online resources to learn. We recommend the playlist by “ShiftClickLearn” on Youtube.
Structure and Lesson Plan
Introduction (10 minutes):
Start by introducing the topic in a simple and engaging way. You might say:
“Today, we’re going to meet our very own robot! Have you ever seen a robot before? Maybe in a movie, or even in your own house?”
Listen to their answers. If they need help, you can say:
“Do you know those robot toys that can move on their own? Or maybe you’ve seen a robot vacuum cleaner that moves around by itself and cleans the floor. Those are robots!”
Then ask:
“What makes robots special? Why do you think people use robots?”
You could explain by saying:
“Robots can do lots of different jobs! Some robots help clean, others help build things, and some can even carry stuff from one place to another. Today, we’re going to play with our own robot, and you’ll get to tell it what to do!”
- Show examples of robots they might have seen, like robot toys, delivery robots, or even a robot at the grocery store.
- Briefly explain that robots have parts that help them do their jobs, like motors (to move), wheels (to roll), and sensors (to help them know where things are).
Hands-on Exploration (10 minutes):
Introduce the robot to the class in a way that lets them touch and learn about it. Explain each part while showing it:
- Motors: “These make the robot move, like how cars have engines to go forward.”
- Wheels: “These help the robot roll around, just like the wheels on your bike.”
- Battery: “This gives the robot power, just like the batteries in your toys.”
- Attachments: “The robot can use special tools, like carrying things or pushing objects.”
Encourage the students to explore the robot and see how each part works to make the robot move and do different jobs.
Familiarization with Scratch:
Once students have a basic understanding, guide them in small groups to open Scratch on their computers and turn on the robot.
- Show the Scratch app running on a projector screen and explain each part of the interface so that the students don’t get overwhelmed.
Figure 3.1: Scratch Editor
You may say something like:
“This is just like the physical controller you use to play with your toy cars. Only this time, it is on a laptop screen as you can see in the top left corner. The different colored boxes on the left side are what tell the robot what to do when you press a button”
- You may ask them to focus their attention on the controller in this first session. This will help them get familiar with the robot and its controls without overcomplicating it.
- Encourage them to hover their mouse over the digital on-screen gamepad on the top right corner and familiarize themselves with all the buttons.
Figure 3.2: Scratch Gamepad Program
After that, show them how to connect it to their computers [Instruction video available on the M3D Go page].
Instructor’s Role:
Encourage curiosity by asking questions like:
- “What happens when you press a specific button, e.g., the forward button?”
- “How much does it move in one click?
- “What is that belt that connects the two wheels of the robot?” Students may link the appearance similar to a tank which will help familiarize them with the M3D Go robot.
Simple Activities:
- Moving the robot forward, backward, and turning.
- Provide simple tasks to students, such as driving the robot in a straight line or moving from one specific spot to another.
Guided Experimentation (20 minutes):
Allow students to explore the robot on their own, using the gamepad to control it freely. Move around the room and interact with each group, offering suggestions for what they can try next. Let them:
- Draw path/lines on paper and make the robot follow these paths.
- Race with each others’ robots.
- Experiment with uneven terrain, e.g. small obstacles, grass/carpet, and slippery surfaces, inclined surfaces.
- Encourage students to experiment with how they control the robot’s direction and precision.
Using Arrow Keys (5 Minutes):
Allow students to explore controlling the robot using arrow keys. Let them freely move the robot around and try different movements. As you move around the room, interact with each group, offering suggestions on what they can try:
- Guide the robot around obstacles placed in the room (e.g., books, toys).
- Create a small path or maze using classroom objects and challenge the students to navigate through it using only the arrow keys.
- Encourage them to try moving the robot in straight lines and sharp turns to see how it responds.
- Allow students to experiment with the robot’s movements, understanding how the arrow keys control direction and speed.
- Provide them with all the attachments e.g. display, motors, dumper, forklift to familiarize them with the kit.
Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes):
Gather the students together and ask them to share their experiences:
- What was the most fun thing they did with the robot?
- Did they find anything tricky when controlling the robot?
- What would they like to see in this robot in the next class?
- How does the robot turn? How is it different from a car?
End with a reflection on the importance of robotics in solving real-world problems, linking this back to their experimentation.
Wrap-up (5 minutes):
Summarize the session by highlighting the key learning points:
“Today, you all took the first steps toward becoming robot controllers! You learned how robots move and how you can control their movements. Next time, we’ll go even deeper and see how we can program robots to do more complex things!”
Encourage students to think about what else they would like to learn about robots and share their ideas in the next class.
Glossary
- Robot: A machine designed to carry out tasks, often controlled by a human or a computer program.
- Gamepad: A device used to control a robot or other machines.
- Experiment: Trying out new things to see what happens.
