I'm testing out a new robotics curriculum at a local middle school. Instead of just jumping in willy-nilly and throwing pieces together, the teacher spends a day describing the different building components and their functions. Then the students are asked to make a gadget with a moving part - anything they can imagine, like a merry-go-round or a dog with a wagging tail. Afterwards, they have to describe what they built using the proper terminology. It is so cute to hear little 5th graders talking in terms of "securing axles to wheel hubs with bushings." Maybe we'll inspire some future engineers with this lesson.
