Robotics for Young Children

Table of Contents

Introduction
Simone and the evil robot
Why robots matter
Powerful ideas
The innovation economy
Computer science as a core subject area
Computer science learning standards
Relationship-based robotics
Constructivism & Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Give me back my caps!
Basic terms and concepts
How to use this book
The hundred languages of children
The important thing about robots

What is a robot?
The important thing about robots
Activity 1.1: Famous robots
Activity 1.2: Machine faces
Activity 1.3: Make a robot face
Activity 1.4: Talk like a robot
Activity 1.5: Robot dance party
Activity 1.6: Robot picture books
Activity 1.7: Take apart a machine or robot
Activity 1.8: Clay robots
Activity 1.9: What is metal?
Activity 1.10: Magnets -- Is it metal?
Activity 1.11: Build with “metal” blocks
Activity 1.12: Robots in real life
Activity 1.13: Be the boss of a robot
Activity 1.14: Is this a robot?
Activity 1.15: Robot dramatic play
Activity 1.16: Questions about robots

How do we build robots?
A robot case study
Activity 2.1: Robot free play
Activity 2.2: Real or robot?
Activity 2.3: Compare robot to robot
Activity 2.4: Robot hospital
Activity 2.5: Robot take aparts
Activity 2.6: Electron game
Activity 2.7: Power conversations
Activity 2.8: Things that light up
Activity 2.9: Circuit sets
Activity 2.10: Simple machines
Activity 2.11: Daisy’s Wild Ride
Activity 2.12: Ramps
Activity 2.13: Marble runs
Activity 2.14: Wheels
Activity 2.15: Study a bicycle
Activity 2.16: Gears
Activity 2.17: Design Thinking
Activity 2.18: The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Activity 2.19: Kinesthetic car wash
Activity 2.20: Water table car wash
Activity 2.21: Car wash made of blocks
Activity 2.22: The domino effect
Activity 2.23: Rube Goldberg contraption
Activity 2.24: Trouble shooting with Rosie Revere
Activity 2.25: Mistake party!

How do we tell robots what to do?
Developing spatial intelligence
Activity 3.1: Checkerboard play
Activity 3.2: The big grid
Activity 3.3: Follow the arrows
Activity 3.4: Map books
Activity 3.5: Meet the Bee-Bots
Activity 3.6: Bee-Bot hokey pokey
Activity 3.7: Turn round and round
Activity 3.8: Create a path
Activity 3.9: Follow a friend
Activity 3.10: Invent a programming language
Activity 3.11: Synchronize!
Activity 3.12: Bee-Bot dance
Activity 3.13: Make a grid
Activity 3.14: Meet Cubetto
Activity 3.15: The function block
Activity 3.16: Code-a-pillar
Activity 3.17: Robot Turtle game
Activity 3.18: Program your parents
Activity 3.19: Pattern blocks
Activity 3.20: People patterns
Activity 3.21: Arrow signs
Activity 3.22: Rebus stories
Activity 3.23: Daisy the Dinosaur
Activity 3.24: Kodable
Activity 3.25: Scratch Jr
Activity 3.26: Other apps
Activity 3.27: Build your code

How do robots help us?
Imagining a better world
Activity 4.1: Robot helpers
Activity 4.2: Robot pets
Activity 4.3: Robot doctors
Activity 4.4: Robot arm
Activity 4.5: Yuck!
Activity 4.6: Robot car
Activity 4.7: Fast & faster
Activity 4.8: Robot directions
Activity 4.9: Brave robots
Activity 4.10: Robot friends
Activity 4.11: Sensors – How robots see
Activity 4.12: Flying robots
Activity 4.13: What is a drone?
Activity 4.14: Swimming robots
Activity 4.15: Robots in space
Activity 4.16: Robot wishes

How can we learn more about robots?
Robotics learning in elementary school and beyond
Activity 5.1: Scratch animation
Activity 5.2: Hopscotch
Activity 5.3: Digital game design
Activity 5.4: Hour of Code
Activity 5.5: Code.org
Activity 5.6: Artificial intelligence
Activity 5.7: Web design
Activity 5.8: LEGO WeDo & EV3
Activity 5.9: LEGO League
Activity 5.10: Maker spaces
Activity 5.11: Ready, set, design
Activity 5.12: Interview a robot expert
Activity 5.13: Visit a science museum
Activity 5.14: Visit a robotics lab
Activity 5.15: Follow a robot blog
Activity 5.16: Girls in STEM

Recommended resources
Picture books
STEM resources
Robotics resources
Coding resources
Resources for parents
Glossary of key terms