1
60 Minutes
Electricity, Safety & The First Circuit
Learning Objective
By the end of today, every child can explain what a wire, switch, and battery each do, and can build a working circuit that turns an LED on and off.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 0–8 min | Welcome & icebreaker. Ask: "Where have you seen a robot today?" Collect 4–5 answers (phone, fan, car, toy). Introduce camp theme: electricity + movement = robots. |
| 8–18 min | Explain electricity using the "water in a pipe" analogy. Show a battery, ask children to guess what's inside. Pass batteries around (AA, 9V) for them to hold — supervised. |
| 18–25 min | Safety briefing (see box below). This is non-negotiable before any wiring begins. |
| 25–50 min | Guided build: each child wires their battery → switch → LED circuit on a breadboard, following the numbered steps below. Trainers circulate continuously. |
| 50–58 min | Everyone presses their switch at the same time on a countdown — the whole room lights up together. Big celebratory moment. |
| 58–60 min | Pack away safely. Preview Day 2: "Tomorrow, the same wires make something spin." |
Trainer Script — Opening Line
"Robots are just electricity and movement working together. This week, you're going to build both parts yourselves — starting with electricity, today."
Safety Briefing — Say This Word-for-Word
- We only use small batteries today — never a wall socket, ever.
- If a wire or battery ever feels hot, stop and put your hand up immediately.
- Never put a battery in water or your mouth.
- Always disconnect the battery before changing any wire.
Build Steps — The First Circuit
1
Place the breadboard flat on the table. Identify the two power rails (+ and −).
2
Connect the battery clip’s red wire to the + rail, black wire to the − rail.
3
Insert the LED — long leg toward +, short leg toward −. (If it doesn’t light up, this is the first thing to check.)
4
Wire the push-button switch in line between the LED and the + rail.
5
Connect the 9V battery. Press the switch — the LED should light up only while pressed.
Common Issues & Fixes
- LED doesn't light: check it isn't inserted backwards (flip it around).
- LED stays on permanently: the switch is wired to the wrong rail — move it in line with the LED, not parallel to it.
- Nothing happens at all: check the battery clip is fully seated and the breadboard rows are making contact.
9V battery + clip
Push-button switch
LED bulb
Jumper wires (x6)
Breadboard
2
60 Minutes
Motors, Rotation & Building a Fan
Learning Objective
By the end of today, every team can wire a motor to spin, reverse its direction by swapping wires, and control its speed with a dial.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 0–8 min | Recap Day 1: "What did electricity do yesterday?" (lit a bulb). Introduce today's twist — same electricity, different job: spinning. |
| 8–15 min | Open a motor casing (pre-prepared, safe to handle) so children see the spinning rotor and magnets inside. |
| 15–22 min | Live demo: spin a motor forward, then swap the two wires and spin it backward. Ask the group to predict what will happen before you do it. |
| 22–50 min | Guided build in pairs: wire motor + switch + speed dial + fan blade, following steps below. |
| 50–58 min | Each pair demonstrates: spin forward, reverse direction, then slow down and speed up using the dial. |
| 58–60 min | Preview Day 3: "Tomorrow this same spin moves a car, not just air." |
Trainer Script — Reversing Direction
"Watch the motor spin this way. Now I'm going to swap these two wires — just swap them, nothing else changes. What do you think will happen?"
Build Steps — The Fan
1
Mount the DC motor securely onto the base bracket.
2
Wire the motor through the potentiometer (speed dial) and the switch from Day 1.
3
Connect the battery and test — the motor shaft should spin when the switch is pressed.
4
Attach the fan blade onto the motor shaft. Confirm it spins freely without wobbling.
5
Test reversing: disconnect, swap the two motor wires, reconnect, and confirm it now spins the opposite way.
6
Turn the speed dial while running — confirm the fan visibly slows and speeds up.
Common Issues & Fixes
- Motor doesn't spin: check battery polarity and that the switch circuit is closed.
- Fan blade wobbles badly: the blade isn't pushed fully onto the motor shaft — press it on firmly.
- Dial doesn't change speed: potentiometer may be wired to the wrong terminal — check the wiring diagram.
DC motor (TT/N20)
Fan blade attachment
Potentiometer (speed dial)
9V battery + clip
Switch & wires (from Day 1 kit)
3
60 Minutes
Kinetics — Building a Moving Car
Learning Objective
By the end of today, every team can build a two-motor car chassis that drives forward and reverses on command.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 0–7 min | Recap Day 2: "What did the motor spin yesterday?" (a fan blade, moving air). Today, point that same spin at the ground. |
| 7–15 min | Explain kinetics simply: anything that moves has kinetic energy. Demonstrate a wheel rolling when pushed by hand, then by a motor. |
| 15–22 min | Explain steering: one motor reversed while the other runs forward turns the car. Demonstrate on a finished sample chassis. |
| 22–50 min | Guided build in pairs: assemble the chassis, mount two motors and wheels, wire to a shared switch, following steps below. |
| 50–58 min | Floor test: each team drives their car forward, then reverses the wiring connections and drives it backward. |
| 58–60 min | Preview Day 4: "Tomorrow we build something that moves like an animal, not just a car." |
Trainer Script — Introducing Kinetics
"Yesterday your motor spun a fan blade and moved air. Today, the exact same spin is going to move a wheel — and the wheel is going to move your whole car."
Build Steps — The Car
1
Assemble the chassis base and mount the caster wheel at the rear for balance.
2
Mount one DC motor on each side of the chassis, each with a wheel attached.
3
Wire both motors in parallel to the same battery pack and switch.
4
Test on the floor — press the switch and confirm the car rolls forward in a straight line.
5
Disconnect, swap the wires on both motors, reconnect, and confirm the car now reverses.
6
Optional challenge for fast finishers: reverse only one motor's wires to make the car turn instead of reverse.
Common Issues & Fixes
- Car drives in a circle: the two motors are spinning at different speeds or in opposite directions — check both wiring directions match.
- Car won't move at all: check the caster wheel isn't dragging or jammed against the chassis.
- One wheel spins, the other doesn't: a loose connection on one motor — check both terminals.
Chassis kit
2x DC motors + wheels
Caster wheel
Battery pack
Direction switch
4
60 Minutes
Servos — Robots That Move Like Us
Learning Objective
By the end of today, every team can assemble and power a pre-programmed Arduino-driven creature with a moving servo limb, LED, and buzzer.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 0–7 min | Recap Day 3: cars moved forward and back. Today's robots move like living things — a leg, a tail, a hand. |
| 7–15 min | Demonstrate a servo moving to an exact angle and holding it, vs. a motor that just spins continuously. Let children feel the difference by hand. |
| 15–20 min | Show the pre-programmed Arduino board. Explain simply: "Tonny already taught this board what to do — today you build its body." |
| 20–22 min | Teams choose their creature: crawling insect, walking dog, or waving hand. |
| 22–50 min | Guided assembly: mount the Arduino board, attach the servo limb, wire the LED and buzzer, following steps below. |
| 50–58 min | Power-on moment: each team powers their creature and watches it move, light up, and buzz for the first time. |
| 58–60 min | Preview Day 5: "Tomorrow, you build everything from this whole week again — on your own." |
Trainer Script — Introducing the Servo
"A motor spins forever in one direction. A servo is different — it moves to an exact spot and stops right there, just like your elbow stops when your arm is straight. That's what makes a robot able to wave, crawl, or walk."
Build Steps — The Creature
1
Mount the pre-programmed Arduino board onto the creature frame base.
2
Attach the servo to its designated limb mount (leg, tail, or hand depending on creature choice).
3
Connect the servo signal wire to the labelled pin on the board — do not connect it to any other pin.
4
Wire the LED and buzzer module to their labelled pins.
5
Connect the battery pack last, after every other connection is checked.
6
Power on and observe: the limb should move on its own, the LED should light, and the buzzer should sound in sequence.
Safety Note for Trainers
Always connect the battery last and disconnect it first when making any adjustment. Children should never force a servo limb by hand while it is powered — this can damage the gear inside.
Common Issues & Fixes
- Servo doesn't move: check the signal wire is on the correct labelled pin, not swapped with power or ground.
- LED or buzzer silent: check polarity and that the wire is fully seated in its pin header.
- Servo moves but jitters: check the battery has sufficient charge — swap in a fresh pack.
Pre-programmed Arduino board
Servo motor
LED + buzzer module
Creature frame (insect / dog / hand)
Battery pack
5
60 Minutes
Capstone — Build, Present, Celebrate
Learning Objective
Each child independently assembles a complete capstone kit covering circuit, motor, wheel, and servo elements, then presents it to the group.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 0–5 min | Brief reminder: "No new lesson today — this is everything from the week, in your hands, on your own." |
| 5–40 min | Independent capstone build. Trainers observe and only intervene if a child is stuck for more than 2 minutes or there is a safety concern. |
| 40–50 min | Final testing — each child powers on their build and confirms it works as intended. |
| 50–58 min | Presentations: each child or team shows their robot to the group — what it does, how it's powered, and what they're proudest of. |
| 58–60 min | Certificates handed out. Group photo. Children take their robots home. |
Trainer Script — Capstone Introduction
"This kit has a circuit, a motor, a wheel, and a servo in it — everything we built this week, just smaller. You already know how every part of this works. Build it your way."
Trainer Checklist Before Day 5 Begins
All capstone kits pre-counted and complete (no missing parts)
Spare batteries on hand for every group
Certificates printed with each child's name
Camera or phone ready for the group photo
Presentation order assigned so every child gets a turn
What "Independent" Means Today
Trainers do not hand-hold today. If a child asks "what do I do next," the correct response is a question back: "What did we do on Day 2 when the motor didn't spin?" Let them recall it themselves — that recall is the entire point of Day 5.
Appendix
Master Materials & Logistics Checklist
For trainers preparing kits ahead of each session.
Per-Child / Per-Team Kit Summary
| Day | Per Team / Child | Quantity Basis |
|---|
| Day 1 | 9V battery + clip, push-button switch, LED, jumper wires, breadboard | Per child |
| Day 2 | DC motor, fan blade, potentiometer, 9V battery, switch (reused from Day 1) | Per pair |
| Day 3 | Chassis kit, 2x DC motors + wheels, caster wheel, battery pack, switch | Per pair |
| Day 4 | Pre-programmed Arduino board, servo, LED+buzzer module, creature frame, battery pack | Per pair |
| Day 5 | Full capstone kit (circuit + motor + wheel + servo elements) | Per child |
Trainer Setup Notes
Arrive 20 minutes before each session to lay out kits per table
Test one sample build from each day's kit the night before, to catch any faulty parts
Keep a spares box (extra LEDs, wires, batteries) at the trainer table throughout the week
Charge or replace Arduino board batteries before Day 4 and Day 5
Confirm group sizes and seating before each session starts
Group Sizing Guidance
Groups of 2–3 children per kit work best for Days 2–4, allowing every child a turn to wire, test, and observe. Day 1 and Day 5 are individual builds, as both are designed to test personal understanding rather than teamwork.
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