Lesson 262: Imagine what robots might do in the future

💡 TECHNOLOGY & FUTURE SKILLS (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. How Machines Think

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Objective

I can imagine kind, safe jobs that robots might do in the future. I can say that robots are built and programmed by people, people make the rules, and humans are more important than machines.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Imagining future robot helpers

People already use robots and AI tools to help with some jobs. We can also imagine how robots might help people in the future.

Robots are built and programmed by people

  • People design the robot's body.
  • People write the code and rules that tell it what to do.
  • Robots follow these rules. They do not make their own.

Future jobs for robot helpers

  • Robots might help clean parks or pick up rubbish.
  • They might help carry heavy things in shops or hospitals.
  • They might help plant trees or water gardens carefully.

Kind and fair ideas for robots

  • Robots can help with boring or heavy jobs, so people have more time to care and think.
  • Robots should not be used to hurt people or be unkind.
  • We can imagine robots that help keep people safe, healthy, and included.

People stay in charge

  • People choose which robot ideas are good.
  • People check if the robots are working safely.
  • People can turn robots off or change the rules if needed.

Good questions to ask

  • "How could this robot help people?"
  • "Is this idea kind and fair?"
  • "Who makes the final choice about this robot?"

Adults can say: "We can dream about helpful robots. But people write the rules, check the robots, and decide what is safe and kind."

Picture strip: "Future robot helpers"

Guided Practice — Imagine three future robot jobs

You and an adult will imagine three robots that help people in the future.

  1. Fold a page into three boxes or use three sticky notes. Label them Robot 1, Robot 2, and Robot 3.
  2. In box 1, imagine a robot that helps the Earth (for example, picks up rubbish, plants trees, or saves water). Draw or describe it.
  3. In box 2, imagine a robot that helps people work (for example, carries heavy boxes, cleans floors, or fetches tools). Draw or describe it.
  4. In box 3, imagine a robot that helps families or schools (for example, passes out pencils, reminds about bags, or tidies play areas). Draw or describe it.
  5. For each robot, ask: "How is this robot kind?" and "Who is in charge of this robot?" Help your child answer that people are in charge.
  6. Add a short sentence under each picture, such as: "This robot helps the park." or "This robot helps our class."
  7. Say together: "Robots help with jobs. People write the rules and stay the boss."
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "Robots can help in the future. People decide what is kind and safe."

Practice — My "future robot helpers" page

Use this practice to help your child picture robots as helpers and people as the ones in charge.

  1. On a new page, help your child draw a big title: "Future robot helpers".
  2. Under the title, draw one big robot in the middle of the page. Around it, draw three small pictures to show how it helps (for example, cleaning, carrying, or planting).
  3. Next to each small picture, write or trace a short label, such as: "helps the park", "helps workers", or "helps our class".
  4. Near the robot's feet, write or trace: "People wrote my rules."
  5. At the bottom of the page, write or trace: "Robots help with jobs. People are more important than machines."
  6. Ask your child: "If this robot did something unkind, who could change the rules or turn it off?" Help them answer: "Trusted adults."
  7. Read the page together and use it as a reminder that the future can have helpful robots, and people still care, choose, and stay in charge.

Quick Check — Future robot helpers

Answer each question about future robots and who decides what they do.

1) Who builds and programs robots?

Robots and AI tools are made by people.

2) What is one job robots might do in the future?

We imagine robots helping with safe, useful jobs.

3) If we have future robot helpers, who should be in charge?

Humans stay in charge of tools and machines.

4) Which idea shows a kind, fair use of robots?

We want robot ideas that help people and the Earth.

5) Which sentence is true about robot rules?

Programs and rules are made by people, not robots.

6) Which sentence is true about robot feelings?

Only humans and animals have real feelings.

7) In the future, if robots help with jobs, what can people do?

Robots can help with tasks so people can focus on caring and deciding.

8) What is a safe rule for imagining future robots?

We want our ideas about robots to be kind and helpful.

9) If you ever feel worried about robots or the future, what can you do?

Trusted adults can listen and help you feel safe.

10) What is one big goal of this lesson?

We want children to dream about helpful robots and remember that humans decide what is right.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

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