Robotic toys can be applied effectively to support many themes or topics. This task will enable you to use a robotic toy to support the Early Years Desirable Outcomes, and in particular:

  • Language, Literacy and Communicating Skills and Personal and Social Development, or
  • Mathematical Development and Personal and Social Development, or
  • Knowledge and Understanding of the World and Personal and Social Development, or
  • Physical Development and Personal and Social Development.

Task:

Decide on the focus for the activity and the desired learning outcomes. Depending on the chosen focus, age, ability and previous experience of the children, use the robotic toy to demonstrate to pupils how to:

  • enter keypad commands to move the robotic toy: backwards and forwards, turn left and right, wait, and if appropriate, make sounds
  • send the robotic toy on a random journey
  • send the robotic toy on a planned journey through single key presses to build up a journey - eg. to the large yellow teddy bear or the small blue teddy bear, the teddy with three buttons, two buttons etc.
  • plan a journey through single key presses, making a simple pictorial record of each command
  • send the robotic toy on a planned journey through a sequence of combined key presses, testing the pictorial record of their earlier journey
  • use a number line to explore number bonds to ten, or 'counting on' and 'counting back' to aid counting, addition and subtraction skills
  • draw lines and shapes on a large sheet of paper

Plan differentiated focused tasks/activities which will allow pupils to:

  • enter direct commands to programme a robotic toy
  • 'build' a journey through single key presses
  • enter a simple sequence of commands to send a robotic toy on a planned journey
  • work collaboratively
  • develop a greater understanding of language and develop numeracy skills

Learning Outcomes for the Teacher

Using the robotic toy, know how to:

  • enter direct commands to send the robotic toy on a journey
  • recognise opportunities to use a robotic toy to enhance themes/topics


Resources

Depending on the focus for the activity:

  • robotic toy
  • charger
  • pupil/teacher-made covers
  • pictures
  • number lines
  • objects
  • toys
  • models
  • task cards etc.

Teaching Strategies