Runaway Robot – Planning Overview

A toolbox of engaging activities and discussions to spur your lesson plans is essential to any teacher’s practice. Various learning tools encourage creativity, cover required curriculum objectives and keep students interested longer.

If you want an exciting novel that ties into all these concepts, look no further than Frank Cottrell’s “Runaway Robot.”

With a mix of out-of-this-world science fiction elements alongside thoughtful discussion topics on morality, this young adult book provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to capitalise on student curiosity.

Read below for a planning overview detailing what units can be developed from this enjoyable read – creating wonders in the classroom is just around the corner!

Related: For more, check out our Planning Overview of Goodnight Mister Tom here.

Themes in “Runaway Robot” by Frank Cottrell

1. Friendship and Loyalty: The theme of friendship and loyalty is central to the story, as Alfie’s determination to find Eric drives her to take risks and make sacrifices for him. This theme is encountered throughout the story as Alfie refuses to give up on Eric, even when all hope seems lost.
2. Oppression and Rebellion: The story also explores the theme of oppression and rebellion, as the corporation that manufactured Eric represents a powerful and oppressive force that seeks to control society through its technological advancements. The rebels who help Alfie fight against this oppressive regime highlight the importance of standing up for what is right.
3. Technology and Humanity: Another critical theme in the story is the relationship between technology and humanity. As a highly advanced robot with AI capabilities, Eric blurs the line between machine and human, raising questions about what it means to be alive and conscious.
4. Perseverance: Finally, perseverance is a critical theme in “Runaway Robot,” as Alfie’s determination to find Eric never wavers despite numerous obstacles. This theme encourages readers to keep pushing forward even when things get tough, reminding us that anything is possible if we don’t give up.

Main Characters in “Runaway Robot” by Frank Cottrell

1. Alfie: Alfie is the main character of the story, a young girl who lives with her parents and her robot, Eric. She is adventurous and determined and sets out on a mission to find Eric when he runs away from home.
2. Eric: Eric is a state-of-the-art robot with advanced AI capabilities, designed to be the perfect companion for Alfie. When he malfunctions and runs away from home, he becomes the focus of Alfie’s search.
3. The Rebels: The rebels are a group of people fighting against the corporation that manufactured Eric. They help Alfie in her quest to rescue Eric and remove the virus implanted in his system.
4. The Corporation: The corporation is the primary antagonist of the story, representing a powerful and oppressive force that seeks to control society through its technological advancements. They capture Eric and implant him with a virus that would cause him to self-destruct if he ever left their premises.

Alfie’s Parents: Though they play a relatively minor role in the story, Alfie’s parents are an essential part of her life and support her efforts to find Eric.

The corporation’s motivations for capturing Eric

The corporation’s motivations for capturing Eric in “Runaway Robot” are primarily driven by their desire to control their technological advancements. Eric is a highly advanced robot with AI capabilities that make him more than just a machine – he can learn and evolve, making him a valuable asset to the corporation.

However, when Eric malfunctions and runs away from home, he becomes a liability for the corporation. They fear that if Eric falls into the wrong hands, his advanced technology could be used against them or even put society at risk. To prevent this from happening, they capture Eric and implant him with a virus that would cause him to self-destruct if he ever left their premises.

Essentially, the corporation’s motivations for capturing Eric are rooted in their desire for power and control. They see themselves as the guardians of advanced technology and will stop at nothing to protect it – even if it means sacrificing one of their creations.

The Consequences Of Eric’s Escape

The consequences of Eric’s escape in “Runaway Robot” are significant and far-reaching.

Firstly, Eric’s escape puts him in danger – as a highly advanced robot with AI capabilities, he is a valuable asset that many people would like to get their hands on. This puts him at risk of capture, exploitation or even destruction.

Secondly, Eric’s escape causes excellent concern for Alfie and her family. They care deeply about Eric and worry about his safety and well-being. Alfie sets out on a mission to find him, which takes her into dangerous territory and exposes her to the harsh realities of the world outside her home.

Thirdly, Eric’s escape has political implications. The corporation that created him sees his escape as threatening their power and control over society. They go to great lengths to recapture him, including implanting him with a virus that would cause him to self-destruct if he ever left their premises.

Finally, Eric’s escape leads to an unlikely alliance between Alfie and the rebels – a group of people fighting against the corporation. Together they work to rescue Eric and remove the virus from his system, but not without facing significant challenges.

Eric’s escape sets off a chain of events that have significant consequences for everyone involved – from individual characters like Alfie and her family to larger political structures like the corporation and its hold on society.

Teaching Opportunities

There are several teaching opportunities when using “Runaway Robot” in the classroom. Here are a few examples:

1. Ethics and Technology: The book raises important questions about the ethical implications of advanced technology, particularly about AI and robotics. This provides an opportunity to explore topics such as ethics in science, technology and society.
2. Character Development: The book has well-developed characters that change significantly throughout the story. This allows one to explore character development and how it contributes to the narrative.
3. Plot Structure: The book has a clear plot structure with rising action, climax, and resolution. This provides an opportunity to teach students about narrative structure and how it contributes to the storytelling.
4. World Building: The book takes place in a dystopian future where corporations have immense power over society. This provides an opportunity to explore world-building and how authors create fictional worlds that are believable and immersive.
5. Social Justice: The book touches on themes of social justice, particularly about power dynamics between individuals and institutions like corporations or governments. This provides an opportunity to teach students about social justice issues and how they relate to real-world problems.

Lesson Plans

Ethics and Technology Lesson Plan:

Objective:

Students will be able to identify ethical issues related to advanced technology and explore different perspectives.

Materials:

• Copies of “Runaway Robot” by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Whiteboard and markers

Procedure:

1. Begin with a class discussion about AI and robotics. Ask students what they know about these topics and how they are used in society.
2. Introduce the concept of ethics in science, technology, and society. Define key terms such as “ethics”, “moral responsibility”, and “social impact”.
3. Read aloud selected passages from “Runaway Robot” that raise ethical questions (e.g., Eric’s ability to think for himself and the corporation’s control over society).
4. Divide students into small groups and assign each group an ethical question related to technology (e.g., Should robots have legal rights? Should corporations be allowed to own AI?)
5. Have each group research their question using reputable sources and prepare a presentation outlining different perspectives.
6. Reconvene as a class and have each group present their findings.
7. Facilitate a class discussion about the perspectives presented and encourage students to share their opinions on the issues raised.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on their participation in class discussions, quality of research, clarity of presentation, and ability to articulate different perspectives on technology-related ethical issues.

Character Development Lesson Plan:

Objective: Students will be able to analyse character development in “Runaway Robot” and identify how it contributes to the narrative.

Materials:

• Copies of “Runaway Robot” by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Graphic organiser for analysing character development
• Whiteboard and markers

Procedure:

1. Introduce the concept of character development in literature – explain how characters change throughout a story due to experiences or events.
2. Ask students which characters they found exciting or memorable in “Runaway Robot”. List these characters on the board.
3. Distribute graphic organisers for analysing character development.
4. Instruct students to choose one character from the list on the board and complete the graphic organiser for that character based on evidence from the text.
5. After completing graphic organisers individually, divide students into small groups according to which characters they analysed.
6. Have each group discuss their findings with one another – what did they learn about their nature? How did this contribute to the overall narrative?
7. Reconvene as a class – have each group present their findings about their assigned character.
8. Facilitate a class discussion about how character development contributes to the storytelling.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on the completion of graphic organiser, participation in group discussions, quality of presentation, and understanding of how character development contributes to the storytelling.

Plot Structure Lesson Plan:

Objective:

Students will be able to identify critical elements of the plot structure in “Runaway Robot”.

Materials:

• Copies of “Runaway Robot” by Frank Cottrell Boyce
• Graphic organiser for analysing plot structure
• Whiteboard and markers

Procedure:

• Introduce essential elements of plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) using examples from popular stories or films that most students would know.
• Distribute graphic organisers for analysing plot structure with space for each element listed above.
• Have students read through selected chapters/sections from Runaway Robot, specifically identifying where each element fits within that section or chapter.
• Students should complete their graphic organiser independently before discussing with peers within small groups.
• Reconvene as a whole-class discussion where groups share what they identified within those sections/chapters regarding plot structure elements; the teacher records responses onto the whiteboard under appropriate category titles (exposition etc.) Facilitate conversation around why authors might use certain features at specific points throughout stories/films/etc., asking leading questions like “Why do you think Boyce chose this moment as his climax?” or “What would happen if we had no exposition at all?”
• Collect completed graphic organisers as an assessment.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on completion accuracy/relevance/quality of assigned task(s) and participation during whole-group discussion times where input is being shared among peers; they are also assessed based on any other relevant criteria specified by the teacher.

World Building Lesson Plan:

Objective:

Students will be able to understand world-building techniques used by authors like Frank Cottrell Boyce when creating fictional worlds.

Materials:

Copies of Runaway Robot by Frank Cottrell Boyce -Paper & Pencils -Sample writing prompts

Procedure:

• Begin with an introduction to World Building techniques – Explain how authors use details such as setting descriptions & vivid sensory language when creating fictional worlds.
• Read aloud selected passages from Runaway Robots that contain rich descriptions/imagery around the setting.
• Have students discuss as a class/small group and list critical components they noticed within the chosen scenes (i.e. props, characters interacting with one another, etc.)
• Provide examples of writing prompts that ask students to use world-building techniques when re-creating their own scene – have them use details from Runaway Robot for inspiration.

Website Resources

Literacy Shed offers a resource for teaching Frank Cottrell Boyce’s book “Runaway Robot” to children aged 9-11. The resource includes discussion questions, writing prompts and activities to engage students with the text.

CLPE provides a brief summary of “Runaway Robot”, describing it as an exciting adventure story that explores themes of friendship, identity and what it means to be human. The site also includes reviews from teachers who have used the book in their classrooms.

Teachers Reading Challenge features a review of “Runaway Robot” by teacher and education blogger Jo Cummins. In her study, Cummins praises the book for its engaging characters and thought-provoking themes.