QUEST 1: Animal, Mineral, Vegetable... Robot? ORIGINS

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ORIGINS – Species

QUEST 1: Animal, Mineral, Vegetable... Robot?

Teacher notes

Curriculum links: Science, ICT Key Stage: Key Stage 2 Zone Relevance: Origins

Aim: In this activity, pupils are given an opportunity to explore the definitions of abiotic and biotic. This is a complex topic better suited to older / more able pupils.

Background: Like all living organisms, human beings are composed of organic materials, water and cells. Like other creatures we are born, we grow, we can reproduce and eventually die. As homo sapiens we are bipeds with a powerful brain. Psychologically we have a complex level of intelligence, a strong awareness of self and full range of emotions. As research and technology progress we are able to build robots that exhibit the very characteristics we use to define ourselves as living humans, blurring the lines between human and robot. Luckily the line between abiotic and biotic is well defined, and for now, can help us distinguish between robot and human. Abiotic: refers to the non-living things in an ecosystem. Biotic: refers to the living things (needs water, food, suitable habitat etc) in an ecosystem.

Activity 1: C-3PO is a translation protocol Droid. He makes the lives of Star Wars characters easier by interpreting languages for them. Challenge pupils to think of some examples of robots in their lives and suggest how these make our lives easier. You can create a PowerPoint presentation in advance with some examples to use as stimulus.

Activity 2: a. Give pupils cards with a picture and brief description of different robots, organisms and complex machines (not necessarily robots) and ask them to divide these into three groups: living organisms, robots and other (see templates overleaf). They can use the Pupil worksheet to do this. The cards can be made ahead of the activity. b. Once they have completed this, ask pupils to identify any similarities the objects in different groups have.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 6 Ideas for cards: 1) Robonaut: NASA’s humanoid robot that works with astronauts on the International Space Station and tweets from space! 2) Asimo: Honda’s talking humanoid robot that can play soccer and go upstairs on its own. 3) Luke Skywalker: A human Jedi Knight with a mechanical hand. 4) Darth Vader: A former Jedi Knight with mechanical lungs, arms and legs. Darth Vader cannot live without the mechanical armour composing most of his body. 5) Darth Maul: A Sith warrior with mechanical legs. 6) Jar Jar Binks: A well-meaning if clumsy Star Wars character whose image was created in part using a computer. 7) C-3PO: An uptight protocol Droid who has a lifelong friendship with R2-D2. 8) R2-D2: A mischievous astromech Droid with a personality. 9) Roomba: A vacuum that can clean your floors on its own. 10) Thermostat: A device that surveys its environment and then reacts to those environment readings. 11) Motion sensor lights: Gathers and responds to data taken in through motion sensors.

Homework activity: Pupils can be challenged with researching and creating a presentation in PowerPoint about a robot of their choice. This should include information relating to how it has been designed to make human life easier

Adapted from an original document created by The Edmonton Telus Science Center.

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 7 Pupil worksheet: Using the cards in front of you, list whether you think each example is a living organism, a robot or other.

Living organism Robot Other

EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE GUIDE 8