Super Cool, Easy-to-Make Scribble Draw Bot

Looking for a super cool kids activity that combines art and science? This super cool drawbot is as fun to make as it is to play with. The scribble bot is quick and simple to put together with things you have laying around the house.  Then make some really cool art projects with the help of your scribble robot. This electronics experient is fun for kids of all ages from preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th graders too. We’ve included instructions to make this summer activity for kids or use it in your school as an electricity experiment for kids.

Scribble Bot

Whether you are looking for a fun summer activity for your summer bucket list for kids or a fun STEM Project to round out your classroom, this super fun and easy-to-make scribble bot is sure to fit the bill. I’ve seen similar projects circulating around for a while, but honestly was intimidated to try it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long! This drawbot it outrageously fun to engineer, design, and create art with. This is such a gentle, but meaningful introductiong to electricity for kids. Use this electronics experiment with preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6 students, and up! Whether you are a parent, teacher, homeschooler, or planning a STEM summer camp – this project is a MUST!

Drawbot

Start by gathering your supplies. Some of these things just use your best judgement and use what you have on hand. That’s the idea of this STEM activity, allowing kids to create and design their own robot, but here is what we used to get you started:

• Small motor 1.5 -3 V
• thick elastic band 2 in x ½ in,
• AA Battery
• Pringles can or other small container
• cork
• 2 leads or electrical wires (I prefer to use leads, but we had leftover electrical wire on hand so we used that)
• Paper
• Felt tip pens
• painters tape
• electircal tape

As this project uses a battery, please use common sense and always do it under the careful supervision of a responsible adult.

Scribble robot

We started by decorating the outside of our drawing robot. We kept it simple and covered it the green painters tape, but you could attach constructin paper and make it super pretty, cool, and unique!

Now turn the can upside down and use electrical tape to affix the battery to the side of the flat bottom of the can. Put the rubberband on top to hold in place.

Scribble Bot Instructions

Attach the two leads to the motor so that one side of each wire is wrapped around the handle. You may have to carefully trim the covering so you can get to the wires.

Electronics Experiment

Attach the motor to the top of the container on the opposite edge as the battery. The edge of the mtor needs to be close to the edge so the arm can spin freely off the edge.

Electricity Experiment for Kids

Press a cork, glue gun stick, or plastic into the motor as an arm. You can experiment with different length glue sticks, or other items such as corks or even plasticine.

Stem project for kids

Now put the other end of the leads into rubberband so it is held at the terminal ends of the battery.  YOu are testing that it works. If it doesn’t, cross the wires, no biggie.  Still not working? Try a different battery.

Kids Activity

Attach 4 felt tips pens around the sides.

Summer Activity for Kids

When you are ready to let your drawbot loose to make some art, remove the lids and put the leads back on the battery. Your Scribble bot will aggitate around and make crazy lines.

Isn’t that so cool!  It’s not so much about the art you make, it is that you made a ROBOT who made the artwork! How impressive is that! Try to modify your robot and see if the markers all need to be the same height, different colors, different items on the arm, etc.

Science activity for kids

We decided to cut our science artowork into shapes. You can use it as wrapping paper, an evelope for a local penpal, etc.