Feed the Robot
Students are introduced to computational thinking by writing step-by-step instructions for a "robot" to make and eat a peanut butter sandwich. The activity is ideally led by two adults—one acting as the robot, who follows the instructions exactly, and the other reading the students' instructions aloud, occasionally manipulating the process for learning purposes. Students quickly realize the importance of clarity and specificity when vague instructions lead to humorous but incorrect actions (e.g., “open the bread” resulting in the bag being torn apart). After each failure, they iteratively refine their instructions, improving their problem-solving and algorithmic thinking skills. The lesson concludes with a discussion on computational thinking, algorithms, coding, and their relationship to microelectronics.
Core Content: computer science
Grade Levels: middle school
Time Required: one 50-minute class period
ME Career Connection: Many careers, even those beyond ME, use computational thinking in some form or another. We discuss following instructions or looking at flowcharts that are used in any field that requires the use of specific methodologies.
Author: Brent Strickhouser
