Intro to Robotics
About this free Intro to Robotics course
Intro to Robotics is a free robotics course for kids that introduces how robots sense, think, and move. Across 13 hands-on lessons, students explore the magic of sensors, motors, and controllers, practice coding, build attachments, and design and program robots of their own.
Many lessons are unplugged or use simple materials. Students fold robot origami and make binary bracelets to learn how computers store information. Later lessons move to block coding in Scratch and to building and programming LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robots. No experience is needed, just curiosity, creativity, and a drive to invent the future.
Who this course is for
The course is aimed at students in grades 3 through 7 and assumes no experience with coding or building. It works well for classrooms, libraries, and after-school clubs. Lessons 12 and 13 use LEGO Education SPIKE Prime kits. If you don't have one, the earlier lessons and the Scratch coding lesson can still be completed on their own.
Course outline
- Lesson 1: What is robotics? What makes something a robot, and where robots are used today.
- Lesson 2: A look inside the robot. Sensors, motors, controllers, and how they work together.
- Lesson 3: Hour of Code. A first taste of programming with guided coding puzzles.
- Lesson 4: Robot origami. Folding a paper robot to explore design and moving parts.
- Lesson 5: Binary bracelets. Encoding letters in binary, the language computers use.
- Lessons 6-8: Building and attachments. How robots are built and how to design and make attachments that help them do a job.
- Lesson 9: Advanced robots. Robots in medicine, space exploration, and industry.
- Lesson 10: Design your own robot. Sketching and planning a robot to solve a real problem.
- Lesson 11: Code in Scratch. Using block coding to control characters and events.
- Lessons 12-13: SPIKE Prime. Building with LEGO SPIKE Prime and coding the robot to move and react.
What you'll learn
- Explain the main parts of a robot and what each does
- Write simple programs using block-based coding
- Represent information in binary
- Design attachments and robots to solve a specific task
- Program a robot to move, turn, and respond to sensors
How long it takes
Each lesson is designed for about one class period, so plan on around 13 hours in total. Clubs that meet weekly usually finish the course in one semester.
Frequently asked questions about Intro to Robotics
Is Intro to Robotics really free?
Yes. Intro to Robotics is completely free, with no fees, subscriptions, or account required. STEM for Others is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and every course in our curriculum library is free for students, families, and teachers.
Do I need a robot kit?
Not for most of the course. Lessons 1-11 use paper, simple craft materials, and free online coding tools. The final two lessons use LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, which many schools and libraries already have.
How do I start the course?
Click Begin Course at the top of this page to open the full slide deck in a new tab. You can also flip through the slides embedded above. Work through one unit at a time and try the practice questions before moving on.
Do I get a certificate?
The self-paced Intro to Robotics materials don't include an official certificate. If you're taking the course through a STEM for Others chapter program, ask your chapter leader about recognizing your completion.
Can teachers and clubs use this curriculum?
Yes. Teachers, homeschool families, libraries, and after-school clubs are welcome to use the Intro to Robotics materials with their students at no cost. STEM for Others volunteers also teach our curriculum in partner schools and libraries. You can find a chapter near you or start one at your school.
