Robotics Competition
WORKSHEET
1. Suggested Use
Confidence and teamwork focus, followed by closed practice B1+-level vocabulary and grammar activities.
2. Suggested Activities
A. Project-based learning
Students work in groups to come up with a competition that empowers young people to build their confidence and positive attitudes, similar to the robotics competition in the video. They prepare a promotional video and poster to advertise the event, thinking about why people would want to get involved, what people need to do to enter, and what the competition involves. Have an exhibition day and stick posters around the classroom for students to say which events they’d sign up for and why.
B. Mediation task: Relaying specific information (+ note taking)
Have students imagine they are school journalists writing a short blog post about one of the students from the video (Valerie or Natasha). They watch the video and take notes on who the person is, what they learned and what message they share. Then they write a short, clear summary for a school website aimed at inspiring other students.
C. Pronunciation task: /ɪ/ vs /iː/ short and long vowels
Have students identify words in the script with the sounds, e.g. machine, skill, feel, build etc. Model, drill and practise the sounds and have students come up with a word that sounds similar but with the opposing vowel sound, e.g. feel vs fill, these vs this. Put students into pairs to mime saying the sounds then have their partner guess what word they were miming.
3. Vocabulary
Technology & tools
robot
robotic
tools
design
build
machine
game
competition
wood
metal
resources
environment
Collocations & expressions
lack confidence
try something new
believe in (yourself)
join a team
develop skills
exciting careers
positive attitude
4. Grammar
Tenses:
(present continuous) … she is learning so much; (past perfect) I’d never used …; (present perfect) I've made so many friends, I've learned so many …
Infinitives of purpose:
They come together to compete and to build their confidence; Robotics gives them the chance to learn, to grow, and to feel proud.
Emphatic structures:
it’s about way more than just machines …; What matters is that you try, have a …
TRANSCRIPT
Robotics Competition
NARRATOR:
Everyone feels they lack confidence at some time in their lives. But for some young people, trying something new is the first step to believing in themselves. At a robotics event in Detroit, USA, high school students from all over the world come together to compete—and to build their confidence. One team, the Build a Dream Amazon Warriors from Canada, is new to the competition. Valerie Alexander says she has never built anything before joining the team. But now, she explains, she is learning so much and making new friends.
SOUNDBITE - Valerie Alexander:
"I'd never used tools or built anything before. And now I'm in this environment, I'm here, I've made so many friends, I've learned so many things."
NARRATOR:
The teams design and build robots for a game where the robots move around an area and carry yellow cubes. But for many of the students, it’s about way more than just machines. These events help students develop skills they can use in the future. Skills that lead to exciting careers in science and technology.
Natasha Stamler is a student from New York with four years of experience on her robotics team. She encourages other teens to get involved, even if they don’t have much experience or money. What matters is that you try, have a positive attitude, and learn new things.
SOUNDBITE - Natasha Stamler:
"Just do it. Maybe you don't have the funds or resources in your school. Maybe you can try to build things. It can be wood, it can be metal. It doesn't matter. Just try your hand, and as you have fun with your friends you're really learning real-world skills."
NARRATOR:
Doing something new isn’t always easy. But for these teens, robotics gives them the chance to learn, grow, and feel proud of who they are.