MetaPet Field Mode — Australian Schools
Lesson 1: Meet the System
Students give a digital system one input and describe what changed.
- Years
- 3–6
- Suggested time
- 15 minutes
- Use
- Teacher-led
- Records
- Alias-only, local device
Learning intention
I can explain that a digital system takes an input and changes what it shows.
Learning areas: Digital Technologies · Oral language
Success criteria
- I can name one thing the system shows me.
- I can give the system one input.
- I can say what changed after my input.
Teacher opening
Open with one idea only: this is a system, not a video. It waits for something from us, then it changes. Everything else in the sequence builds on that one sentence.
This is a system. It is not a video and it is not playing on its own. It waits for us to do something, and then it changes. Let's watch it, do one thing, and see what happens.
Five guided steps
1. One sentence to start
- Teacher says / does
- Say only this: "This is a system. It waits for us, then it changes."
- Student task
- Look at the screen.
- Expected outcome
- The class is looking at the shared screen.
2. Watch before touching
- Teacher says / does
- Give ten seconds of quiet watching. No input yet.
- Student task
- Watch. Pick one thing you notice.
- Expected outcome
- Each student has one observation ready.
3. Give it one input
- Teacher says / does
- Do one action on the shared screen. Just one.
- Student task
- Watch what changes.
- Expected outcome
- The class has seen one input cause one change.
4. Say what changed
- Teacher says / does
- Take three answers to "What changed after your input, and how do you know?"
- Student task
- Tell your partner what changed.
- Expected outcome
- Students describe a change and their evidence for it.
5. Stop here
- Teacher says / does
- Say that Session One is finished and nothing carries over.
- Student task
- Remember the change you saw.
- Expected outcome
- Session One is recorded on this device.
Support option
Point to one thing on the screen and say one word about it.
Extension option
Draw the system before and after your input, and label the change.
Discussion prompts
- What did you notice first?
- What changed after your input?
- How is this different from watching a video?
Teacher notes — aliases only
Do not record student names, contact details or identifying information.