News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers

Teacher guide & answers

In this lesson: Connect magnetic inputs to actions and compare field requirements.

Folds Help a Small Robot Change Its Movement

How to use these two pages

Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.

Student worksheet

A simple 15–20-minute lesson

Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.

Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.

Answers to the 2 questions

The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.

How can a stronger magnetic pulse help the robot handle an object?
Correct answer: B — By changing its shape so it can grip
Why: A stronger pulse can switch the body’s shape and help it grip an object.
Clue in the story: Small changes in a magnetic field make the body move. A stronger magnetic pulse can switch its shape and help it grip an object. In tests, the robot also crawled, turned, jumped and rolled.
How does this design differ from many magnetic mini-robots?
Correct answer: C — It does not need a highly uniform field.
Why: The difference concerns how uniform the magnetic field must be, not whether a field is used.
Clue in the story: The study, published on November 6, shows how the folded structure helps control movement. Unlike many magnetic mini-robots, this design does not need a highly uniform magnetic field.

The open question: accept different answers

Ask learners: Describe what small field changes do and what a stronger pulse can do.

One possible answer: Small changes in the magnetic field make the body move. A stronger pulse can switch its shape and help it grip an object.

This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.

Grammar to discuss

Unlike introduces a contrast

Unlike many magnetic mini-robots

Unlike introduces the group being contrasted with this design. The following statement explains the difference in magnetic-field requirements.