TEACHER ONLY · LESSON GUIDE
AIR Unit 0 Day 1 — Parts of a Smart System
Use this page to run the lesson. The student item directly below remains the independent and absence route.
Daily Learning Contract
Topic: Smart-system parts
Objective: Students will distinguish among a robot, algorithm, model, and connected system and justify a classification using accurate technology terminology.
- §126.19(c)(12)(A) — integrate use of appropriate technology terminology in scholarly inquiry and dialogue such as classroom discussion and written samples;
Demonstration of learning: One Mission Log classification that identifies the system parts and justifies the classification.
Before class
Time: One class period
Student route:
Day 1 · Robot, Algorithm, Model—or All Three?
Use what already exists: AIR Unit 0 teacher deck; shared Mission Log; current Day 1 examples.
Lesson flow
- Launch: Launch with a familiar smart device and ask which parts make it work.
- Model: Model one system by labeling body, rule, learned pattern, and human judgment.
- Do: Run the examples sort and have students begin Mission Log page 1.
- Check + support: Listen for students calling every automated tool AI; use a labeled visual and partner rehearsal.
- Close + handoff: Collect one justified classification and preview the constrained robot design brief.
Check before students leave
Ask each student or team to point to the specific evidence named above and explain one choice, test, or revision. Completion alone is not evidence of understanding.
Support + troubleshooting
Scaffold: Keep the visual task sequence visible, assign purposeful partner roles, and use the sentence stems on the student page before simplifying the task.
When stuck: Ask students to show the exact step where the system stopped, then check setup, inputs, and saved work before replacing the task.