Beep. Boop. Bop. Today we’re talking robots!
Let’s start with some questions:
- What is a robot?
- What does a robot sound like?
- What does a robot look like?
- What kind of robot would you build?
Now, let’s read a book
Read any book you may have that mentions robots. If you don’t have one, try a digital title!. Or, you can order one from the library, such as Bitty Bot. We’ll also be making a robot book at the end.
Song time!
Do you know “Wheels on the Bus”? Let’s sing about a robot in the same tune!
The legs on the robot go up and down, up and down, up and down
The legs on the robot go up and down, all day long (Now march along like a robot!)
The head on the robot goes side to side
The arms on the robot go up back and forth
The buttons on the robot go beep beep beep
The feet on the robot go stomp stomp stomp
Try with other robot body parts, and then make up some of your own!
Learn Through Videos
My favorite robot videos are Storybots! They have topics on everything, so see what these little robots can teach you!
Science!
To work, robots need coding. It’s time to code your child! Tell them what to do, as if you were writing a code for a computer. Here’s are some sample steps:
- Walk forward two steps
- Walk to the side one step
- Turn around
- Walk backwards
- Sit down
You can do each step individually (if they’re younger) or add them together to really code! For example:
- Walk forward two steps
- Walk forward two steps and walk to the side one step
- Walk forward two steps, walk to the side one step, and turn around
- Walk forward two steps, walk to the side one step, turn around, and sit down
Switch it up! Have them code YOU next!
Art
Let’s make a found robot! The challenge here is to use any sort of craft supply or recyclable material you have to make your robot. Think box body, or toilet paper tube body. Maybe pipe cleaner antenna? Draw some eyes. Construction paper arms? Whatever you think! The challenge is to find materials and let your child use their imagination to come up with their own unique robot. Your child is an inventor, after all.
Last, make your own robot book!
- Staple papers together and have each page represent a different number robot.
- Write (or have your child write) “This is a ____ robot” on each page. (e.g. This is one robot.)
- Illustrate! Draw or cut out pictures for each page.
