Make a Robot!
We use robots everywhere in our world! Robots in medicine help doctors perform surgery, robots in factories help make cars or package candy bars, and robots in our homes answer the phone or vacuum the rugs. Most robots don’t look anything like people, but it’s fun to pretend they do (and some really do!).
Make an artistic robot and have some fun!
What you need:
Heavy paper or cardstock
Scissors
Scrap paper – anything metallic is great!
Glue stick
Markers or crayons
Optional: Good metal “junk” like washers, gears, paper clips – ask your parents to help you find some.
What you do:
1) Draw or trace a robot shape on heavy cardstock and cut it out. TIP: We cut ours with a diecutting machine. If you draw your own, look at the template below and think of it as different shapes stuck together: a trapezoid for feet, a square for the torso, circles for shoulders, etc. What other shapes do you see?
2) Trace two small shapes on the robot’s head and cut out holes where the eyes will be. TIP: After you trace, punch a hole in the center of each eye shape with a pencil point, then use scissors to cut inside the shape.
3) Glue assorted bits and pieces of scrap paper to decorate the robot. TIP: Find metallic paper if you can. Sometimes it’s used in wrapping paper or greeting cards or even food packaging. TIP: Older students may want to add metal “junk” and even old newspaper pieces to make it a collage. Sometimes cleaning out the junk drawer or kitchen drawer reveals lots of things that were put aside that no one needs anymore. When gluing junk, be sure to use a strong white glue and let it dry completely before lifting the robot.
4) Glue the eyes BEHIND the eye openings for added effect!
Learn more about robots: We have lots of books in nonfiction if you want to see what they can do – look on the shelves at E 629.892 – or read fiction about robots: Try the House of Robots series by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein or The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. For picture books (and art inspiration) look for Spare Parts by Rebecca Emberley and Junkyard by Mike Austin. If you can’t wait to get to the library, download the Hoopla app and borrow ebooks for free – there are lots about robots for all ages in fiction and nonfiction.
