The Three-Step Robot Program

The teacher programs the robots with picture cards (jump, spin, crouch, clap…) and children carry them out in the order they're laid out. They practice remembering movement sequences and paying attention.

How to play

1. The teacher shows six cards and we practice each command: jump, spin, crouch, clap, step back and arms up (2 min).
2. One-step program: the teacher shows a card and all the robots do it together (2 min).
3. Two-step program: two cards in a row on the floor, done in order from left to right (3 min).
4. Three-step program: look at three cards, the teacher covers them, and we do them from memory (3 min).
5. A child programs the others by laying out three cards (1 min).
6. End of program: robots power down by sitting slowly (1 min).

Rules

• I look carefully at the cards before starting.
• Robots wait for the "Run program!" command.
• I do the commands in order.
• If I make a mistake, I keep going with the next one.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: use cards with arm and trunk versions (clap, arms up, turn head, lean).
• Autism: the cards are a natural support; let the child place and remove the cards after each program.
• Visual impairment: the teacher reads the commands aloud in order and the child repeats them before moving.

Learning goals

• Remember and reproduce movement sequences.
• Follow a left-to-right order.
• Wait for the signal and respect the programmer's turn.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Picture cards: 6

Teacher tip

Make the cards large, with a clear drawing and no words. The usual mistake is starting before "Run program!", so add a big, funny robot-voice pause.

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