A New Kind of Robot Helper

Grade Level: 3
Theme: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Innovation

Full Text:

Earlier this week, some very smart scientists announced they made a special new robot. This robot is different from the robots you might see in movies. It doesn’t look like a person. Instead, it is a small, soft hand that can pick up delicate things very carefully.

The scientists showed their new robot hand on a Tuesday. They said it can hold something as fragile as a single blueberry without squishing it. Imagine trying to pick up a blueberry with big, clunky metal tools—you’d probably make blueberry jam! This robot hand is made from soft materials, kind of like a very gentle gripper.

It uses something called “artificial intelligence,” or AI for short. AI is like a computer brain that helps the robot learn. The robot learned how to hold things by watching people and practicing over and over, just like you practice your math facts.

Why is this a big deal? Well, this gentle robot could be a huge helper in the future. It could work in places like grocery stores, carefully packing fruits and vegetables so they don’t get bruised. It could even help doctors with very careful tasks. The scientists are excited because their invention shows that robots can be gentle and helpful, not just strong and fast.

This news is a great example of how science and technology are always growing and changing. It teaches us that when people have a problem—like how to pick up something very delicate—they can use their creativity and hard work to invent a smart solution. The scientists worked as a team, shared ideas, and never gave up, which are all important things we learn in school, too.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A) Blueberries are very easy to squish.
B) Scientists made a new, gentle robot hand that can pick up delicate objects.
C) All robots are made of hard metal.
D) Robots are only useful in movies.

2. When did the scientists show their new robot?
A) Last year
B) On a Tuesday earlier this week
C) Next month
D) On a Friday

3. How is this robot hand different from many other robots?
A) It is very big and loud.
B) It is soft and can pick up things carefully without breaking them.
C) It can fly.
D) It tells jokes.

4. What does AI, mentioned in the passage, help the robot do?
A) Eat blueberries.
B) Learn how to hold things by watching and practicing.
C) Build other robots.
D) Change its color.

5. Where is one place the passage says this robot could work in the future?
A) On a playground
B) In a movie theater
C) In a grocery store, packing fruits and vegetables
D) In a swimming pool

Vocabulary List

Delicate (adjective): Easily broken or damaged; fragile.
Scientists (noun): People who study the world around us and do experiments to learn new things.
Invent (verb): To create something new for the first time.
Material (noun): What something is made from, like plastic, metal, or cloth.
Technology (noun): The use of science to create tools and machines to solve problems.

Answer Key & Analysis

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