Curated OER
Google for Education: Children and Technology: Robots and Block Diagrams
A robot can execute very primitive commands, but it needs instructions to combine them. In this lesson, look at two types of instructions: commands and conditionals. Students split into pairs and one becomes a robot while the other one...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Programming a Robot
In this video segment from Cyberchase, the CyberSquad breaks down an action into a series of steps in order to program a robot to do what they need it to do. [4:50]
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Intelligent Robot
In this segment from Curious, learn how a robot is a machine that can connect with its surroundings and has some level of autonomy.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University: Robotics Institute
Robotics research at Carnegie Mellon University includes links to projects, research, and events.
New York Times
New York Times: Robotic Vehicles Race
An article about the latest in robotic vehicle technology. Click on link to a classroom lesson plan.
Other
Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
The resource offers mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a Robotic Face
Build a robotic face that can make facial expressions using simple machines on this website. This website includes the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Design a Robotic Arm
A challenge that asks students to move a marble, a straw, and a coin from the table into a cup using a robotic arm they designed. The site includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their design process.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Engineer a Safe Stopping Robot
A challenge for students to design and engineer a robot that turns itself off when it leaves a safe area. This challenge contains tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Technology Student
Technology Student: Robo Lab
This site describes how to use the RoboLab software that is used with the Lego Mindstorms system. The Mindstorms product is used to introduce robotics to beginners.
Technology Student
Technology Student: Pic Microcontrollers
This site describes how to program and use PIC controllers, which are often used in the robotics field.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Grand Challenge: Simulating Human Vision
Students are introduced to the Robotics Peripheral Vision Grand Challenge question. They are asked to write journal responses to the question and brainstorm what information they require to answer the question. Their ideas are shared...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Fence That Farmland!
Students develop and solidify their understanding of the concept of perimeter as they engage in a portion of the civil engineering task of land surveying, using the technology of a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot to automate this task.
Other
Youth Time Magazine: The Impact of Technology on the Future of Work
An interview with David Timis who studies the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work. He discusses how youth can prepare themselves. Includes a 30-minute video. (Published August 30, 2020)
Government of Canada
Canadian Space Agency: Canadarm
A concise description of the development, function and history of Canada's most famous robotic and technological achievement.
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Technology Education: Mission to Mars Web Quest
This WebQuest lets you explore Mars through the missions sent there over the years. You can evaluate what you think about the benefits of space exploration.
Read Works
Read Works: Robo Helpers
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about new robots that learn to walk like humans. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in drawing conclusions.
Scholastic
Scholastic News: Transformers Come to Life
This article describes Kuratas, a 13 foot tall Japanese robot that can be operated by a human pilot or remotely via a 3G touch phone.
Read Works
Read Works: Almost Human
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction passage discusses the topic of robots. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding for vocabulary...
English for Everyone
Reading Comprehension Assessent: "Robots" [Pdf]
Read Theory provides a free reading comprehension assessment that is designed for reading students in elementary grades. Six multiple choice questions and one extended response question are included on the nonfiction reading assessment.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: You've Got Triangles!
Students learn about trigonometry, geometry and measurements while participating in a hands-on interaction with LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT technology. First they review fundamental geometrical and trigonometric concepts. Then, they estimate the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Haptics: Touch Command
Students experience haptic (the sense of touch) feedback by using LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robots and touch sensors to emulate touch feedback recognition. With four touch sensors connected to LEGO NXTs, they design sensor attachments that...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Automatic Floor Cleaner Computer Program Challenge
Students learn more about assistive devices, specifically biomedical engineering applied to computer engineering concepts, with an engineering challenge to create an automatic floor cleaner computer program. Following the steps of the...
NASA
Nasa: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology is "the lead US center for robotic exploration of the solar system."