Recycled Robot

STREAM Activity: Recycled Robot

Happy America Recycles Day!
Activity best for children ages four and up

American Recycle Day, on November 15th, educates people around the country on the importance of recycling. It teaches them how to be more mindful of what they eat and how to properly recycle. Recycling is when we take old things, like paper, plastic, or metal, and turn them into something new. It gives our used items a second chance to be useful instead of throwing them away! Today, let’s tinker a special robot with recycled materials you can find around your home.

VOCABULARY

  • Repurpose: When finding new ways to use something.

  • Recycle: When you take something and make something new.

GUIDING QUESTION

  • How can you repurpose some of your recycled materials?

MATERIALS

  • Cardboard boxes

  • Tape

  • Glue

  • Scissors

  • Markers

  • Other recycled materials you have around your house

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Your recycled robot can look however you want, but here are the materials and steps we used to make ours!

Tinker materials

STEP 2

Start by wrapping the boxes in aluminum foil.

Wrapping cardboard boxes in aluminum foil

STEP 3

Now glue one of the boxes on top of the other to give your robot a head and body.

Gluing two foil boxes together

STEP 4

Next, use any material you might have around your house for the eyes. You could use buttons, bottle caps, or even draw your own eyes. We will be using wheels for the eyes.

Designing our robot

STEP 5

Once you have added your eyes, create any other details you would like your robot to have! We drew a mouth and a button panel.

Drawing extra details

STEP 6

For the arms, we will be using paper towel rolls wrapped in aluminum foil. Once you create those, tape them to the sides of your robot.

Paper towel roll arms for robot

STEP 7

Now, your recycled robot is complete! Happy America Recycles Day!

Recycled Robot