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Robots & Machines

Fourth graders learn how robots work — machines programmed to follow instructions, using sensors to react to the world — and how people design and program robots to do helpful jobs everywhere.

Grade 4Computing Systems40 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain what a robot is.
  • ✓Explain sensors.
  • ✓See robots follow a program.
  • ✓Explain robots & people.
Essential Question

Robots vacuum floors, build cars, and explore Mars — but they aren’t magic. They follow programs, just like the code you write! How do robots work?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Robots Explorer

Project this and tap each idea. Have students learn how robots follow programs and use sensors.

🤖 Explore robots & machines — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Not Magic

5 min

Robots explore Mars — but they follow programs, not magic. How?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a robot in action.
  • Ask how it works.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Wonder.
  • Predict.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

9 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Be a “robot” following commands.
  • Note exact instructions.
  • Feel the idea.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Be a robot.
  • Note it.
  • Feel it.
3

Use — Explore Robots

11 min

Students use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Robots Explorer.
  • Note sensors.
  • Note programs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note them.
  • Explain.
4

Modify — Program It

10 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a robot new commands.
  • Predict what it does.
  • Explain sensors.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Command it.
  • Predict.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

5 min

Students conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain what a robot is.
  • Name a robot’s job.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain it.
  • Name one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
1B-CS-01

Describe how computing devices like robots work.

CSTA
1B-CS-02

Model how hardware and software work together.

CSTA
1B-AP-10

Create programs that control a device.

ISTE
5

Computational Thinker.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Robot + sensor cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A robot uses ___ to ___.”
  • Act as robots.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “robots follow instructions.”
  • Use pictures.
  • Give simple commands.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Program a real/virtual robot.
  • Explain a sensor’s job.
  • Design a helpful robot.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🤖Robot pictures/toys
  • 💻The Robots Explorer
  • 📋Command cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

robota programmable machineprograminstructions a robot followssensora part that notices the worldautomateto do a task automaticallycommandan instruction for a robotmachinea tool that does workpreciseexactly righttaska job to do
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a robot?
A machine that can be programmed to follow instructions.
QUESTION 2
What do robots use to “notice” the world?
Sensors (like light, touch, or camera sensors).
QUESTION 3
Do robots think for themselves, or follow a program?
They follow a program that people write.

Create: a helpful robot.

Have students design a robot to do a helpful job and describe the steps it would follow. A printable robots sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Robots & MachinesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Robots & MachinesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Robots & MachinesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: automate, command, machine, precise, program, robot, sensor, task
  1. instructions a robot follows
  2. an instruction for a robot
  3. a tool that does work
  4. a part that notices the world
  5. a programmable machine
  6. a job to do
  7. exactly right
  8. to do a task automatically

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a robot?
  2. What do robots use to “notice” the world?
  3. Do robots think for themselves, or follow a program?
Answer key — Part A: 1) program · 2) command · 3) machine · 4) sensor · 5) robot · 6) task · 7) precise · 8) automate
Part B: 1) A machine that can be programmed to follow instructions. 2) Sensors (like light, touch, or camera sensors). 3) They follow a program that people write.