Session 1 — What's a Robot?

Opening concept: Input → Process → Output. Edison as a machine that takes in information (sensors), does something (program), and acts (motors, lights, sound).

Physical activity: PL-1 (Human Robot) — run this before touching Edison. One student is the robot, one gives instructions. Debrief: what happened when instructions were vague? That’s the same problem we’ll see all semester.

Activity:

  • Walk through Edison’s parts using the Meet Edison worksheet (EdBlocks Activity 1 sheets)
  • Find every sensor on the physical robot: sound, infrared, line, light
  • Scan one barcode together as a class: clap-controlled driving
  • Students explore: can you make Edison move without touching it?

Engineering connection: Understand — what does Edison need to know to do its job?

Materials: EdBlocks Activity 1 student sheet, complete barcode list, EdMat