Ages 8–10 · Est. 35–50 minutes · 2–6 players

Robot Talent Show

The robots need a checked starting configuration before the curtain can open. Work together to set the robot show controller.

6 clues, gradual hints and a complete paper finish. Choose a reader, a recorder and a checker, then work through the mission together.

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Robot Talent Show: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right.

Your mission

Work together to set the robot show controller.

Welcome to the robot talent stage. The robots need a checked starting configuration before the curtain can open. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to set the robot show controller. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.

How your team will think

Infer a one-to-one legend and apply recovered instructions to a control panel.

Write each recovered instruction beside its signal. Keep the legend and the panel’s starting settings visible as you apply the instructions and check the final configuration.

Set up in one room

Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
Lay out Unlabelled legend, Performer list, the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.

Bring to the table

One complete player set and record set per team
One pencil per child
One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Print and sorting checklist · Plan the player roles

Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.

Look before you print

See all 6 player clues

These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.

Clue 1 of 6

Signal

Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right.

Read this clue in text

Unlabelled legend Signals: DOT, BAR, ARC. Words: LEFT, HOLD, RIGHT. Each signal has one word; each word is used once. Training messages DOT+BAR means HOLD+LEFT (any order) BAR+ARC means HOLD+RIGHT (any order) DOT+ARC means LEFT+RIGHT (any order) Received message BAR > ARC Report decoded words in order, with hyphens.

Clue 2 of 6

Record

Use the performer list and stage slots to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.

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Clue 3 of 6

Song

Song desk: Decode all shapes in message order. Repeated shapes repeat their letter. Convert the full word using the table.

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Key: square means S; circle means H; star means O; diamond means W. Message: square, circle, star, diamond. Conversion: SHOW means 7; GEAR means 0; RAIL means 3.

Clue 4 of 6

Program

Program desk: Combine every BEFORE rule to order the four actions. Write positions on the whole-sheet cards. Read position 2.

Read this clue in text

Cards: Start show [7]; Check light [3]; Test sound [1]; Load program [5]. Rules: Test sound BEFORE Load program; Check light BEFORE Start show; Load program BEFORE Start show; Test sound BEFORE Check light; Check light BEFORE Load program. Read card position 2.

Clue 5 of 6

Stage

Stage desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.

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Columns: A, B, C, D. Rows: 1, 2, 3. 1 W N H U 2 Q T W O 3 V S B E SHOW = 4 GEAR = 7 RAIL = 0 READ COORDINATES IN ORDER: B3 > C1 > D2 > A1

Clue 6 of 6

Final

Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.

Robot Talent Show: Use the five results to select five pulse cards. Start at the recorded dial states. Add all selected turns for each dial and follow its loop: 0, 1, 2, then 0 again. Report the final state of dials A through E.

Read this clue in text

Control panel Dial order: A, B, C, D, E. States: 0 > 1 > 2 (loop). Start: A2 / B0 / C1 / D2 / E0. Pulse cards (turns in dial order) Signal: LEFT-HOLD=(2,1,0,0,0); HOLD-RIGHT=(1,2,0,0,0) Record: EAST=(0,2,0,1,0); NORTH=(0,1,0,2,0) Song: 0=(0,0,1,2,0); 7=(0,0,2,1,0) Program: 3=(2,0,0,1,0); 7=(1,0,0,2,0) Stage: 7=(2,0,0,0,1); 4=(1,0,0,0,2) Setting rule Add every chosen pulse. Move around each dial loop. Report dial ID + state, in order, with hyphens.

Start after: Signal, Record, Song, Program, Stage