The Joy of Little Robots
Course Origin
With the launch of the “Colorful Future, Dream Sports” themed sports meeting, the children in Class Five became very curious about robots.
During conversations with the children, the teacher discovered that they were both familiar and unfamiliar with robots. After the activity, many children exchanged their understanding of robots with their peers, showing a strong interest in them. Thus, we embarked on a journey titled “The Joy of Little Robots”…..
1
Understanding Robots
What is a robot?
A robot is something that can operate automatically.
A robot walks slowly, making a clunky sound.
A robot needs to be plugged in to move.
With the help of their parents, the children learned about various types of robots in daily life through books and online resources. These robots are applied in various fields of production and life, each with different capabilities, serving humanity and making our lives more convenient. So, in what scenarios can we see the application of robots in our lives?
In agricultural production
In hospitals
In shopping malls
In daily life
Our discoveries:
It turns out that robots have so many uses and functions in different fields, not just agricultural robots and medical robots, but also dancing, sweeping, and delivery robots that appear in daily life.
Our reflections:
Robots have unique shapes and amazing abilities, providing children with a vast space for imagination and stimulating their strong desire for creativity, which is beneficial for cultivating their imagination and creativity. Moreover, robots in actual production are the crystallization of human wisdom, relying on bold human innovation. The goal of this activity is to cultivate children’s strong interest in robots and to spark their initial innovative thinking.
2
Unveiling Robots
Robots can replace humans in certain tasks, providing assistance.
Robots, like us, need to “eat” to replenish energy, and their energy source is charging.
The brain of a robot is called the control system, which contains many small chips that tell the robot what to do and how to act.
Through reading these picture books together, the children gained a more comprehensive understanding of robots. During the reading process, the children raised many new questions, which also provided new directions and ideas for our subsequent activities.
3
Imitating Robots
In discussions with the children, the teacher found that they were very interested in robots. Upon seeing different types of robots, they would unconsciously imitate robots by talking and dancing. Through physical imitation of robots, children can enhance their love for robots and further understand them, stimulating their interest in imitation and role-playing.
The robot role-playing game officially begins!!
Teacher’s reflection:
In observation, imitation, and communication, the teacher used the specific and concise question, “What is different about the way robots move compared to our hands and feet?” to narrow and specify the children’s observation and expression perspective, helping them further perceive the dynamic characteristics of robots.
4
The Robot in My Heart
As the activities progressed, the children’s understanding of robots deepened. Based on their sensory experiences, allowing children to design their own robots can stimulate their thinking and enhance their imagination and creativity.
In the journey of exploration and creation, the children’s imagination and hands-on abilities were thoroughly ignited. Each creation is a deep dialogue with the world of robots, and a grand creation of robots filled with infinite possibilities is underway.
Now, let us follow the children of Class Five into the world of robots!
01
Drawing Robots
The children have gained a certain understanding of robots. They enjoy exploring the mysteries of robots and boldly imagining. Robots encourage children to think creatively, and each child has their imagined robot, each with its unique functions. So, what do the robots in the children’s hearts look like, and what abilities do they have?
Through the children’s simple storytelling and easy-to-understand drawings, the drawing robots were showcased.
02
Collage Robots
The children transformed into creative little craftsmen, embarking on the journey of making cardboard robots! They first selected their favorite color of cardboard, then took small scissors to carefully cut out the robot’s head, body, and little feet; next, they glued these parts onto a base cardboard to form the complete structure of the robot. Finally, they used double-sided tape to securely attach the parts and cut out unique mechanisms and cute decorations from different colored cardboards to add a unique flair to their exclusive robots.
03
Clay Robots
The children transformed into little creators, embarking on a fun journey of making robots with clay! They first selected their favorite clay color, rolled a piece into a round ball for the robot’s head; then they kneaded a piece into a rectangular shape for the body, carefully attaching the head to the body to form the overall shape. Next, they rolled out thin strips of various colors to make the robot’s arms and legs, pressed two small round pieces for lively eyes; some children creatively shaped small squares and long strips as exclusive buttons and mechanisms. Unique and playful clay robots were thus “born” from the children’s hands!
04
3D Robots
According to the “Learning and Development Guidelines for Children Aged 3-6”, children in artistic activities are non-logical and have no fixed order.Children and their families collected various waste materials such as cardboard boxes, cans, paper tubes, and beverage bottles over the weekend, and together they crafted their imagined robots step by step.
With the help of parents, the children used their nimble hands to cut, glue, and paint, creating lifelike “robots” from the hands of parents and children.
Now, please enjoy the group photo of our little friends with their 3D robots!
05
Building Robots
Look! The engineers are at work! The children built robot creations using different methods through hands-on activities and thoughtful consideration. In the process of building together, their cooperation, communication, and hands-on skills gradually improved.
All activities stem from the children’s interests, and the image of robots has sparked their strong curiosity. Throughout the activities, the children continuously explored the secrets of robots, developing their hands-on and problem-solving abilities. I believe that in the near future, more and more types of robots will serve various industries, and the journey of exploring robots will be deeply etched in the children’s hearts, continuing the exploration…
Editor｜ Xu Chu
Review｜ Ren Huanjuan
