SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

March 11, 2014 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Take 5: Small Robots and Science Projects

March 11, 2014 by Karen Jensen, MLS   Leave a Comment

As part of our Teen Summer Reading Challenge, we are looking for ways that we can make some small robots with our teens. In part, because I am robot obsessed. And we’re all looking for fun ways to involve more tech it seems.

Bristle Bot

You can make a small robot using a toothbrush. It looks really quick and easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8IjkG79oU8

The Delaware County District Library (Ohio) recently did a program on the bristle bot and you can see their tutorial video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAjWU2vTZTk

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAjWU2vTZTk?rel=0]

You can make a slightly larger one using a shoe brush: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rd0-H8cG3A’

An Electric Car

There is a simple electric car, which is slightly more involved: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEPU4hRB9l8

You need: Sheet of cardboard;  4 milk bottle tops; 1 smaller bottle top; 1 drinking straw; Thin garden cane or bamboo skewer; Cheap vibrating toothbrush or a small electric motor and a battery

For some simpler science projects, check out the Nick and Tesla’s books from Quirk Books

The book Nick and Tesla’s High Voltage Danger Lab has instructions for:

Low-Tech Bottle Rocket and Launcher

Mints and Soda Fueled Robocat Dog Distractor

Christmas is Over Intruder Alert System

Do-It-Yourself Electromagnet and Picker-Upper

The book Nick and Tesla’s Robot Army Rampage has instructions for:
Do-It-Yourself PC Leftovers Wander-Bot
Do-It-Yourself Semi-Invisible Bottle Bot
Homemade Robo-Bug (which is the Bristle Bot shown above)
Replacement Robo-Angel Hoverbot
Totally Improvised Super Soaker Bot Blaster

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The books are middle grade mysteries, but the activities would definitely work to do a hands on science maker space with teens of any age.

Other Fun Ideas:

Much more involved, it would take a series, but you can combine Raspberry Pis and Legos to build a Remote Control Lego car: http://www.aoakley.com/articles/2013-09-19-raspberry-pi-lego-robot-part1.php

 
Solar Cockroach Virbobot: http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Cockroach-Virbobot/

Robot Racer: elastic band car http://www.instructables.com/id/Robot-Racer/

For more teens and tech, go here! 

And if you have more fun ideas for us, please share them in the comments.

Filed under: Makerspace, Robots, Science, Technology

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

November 2021

Turning Voice Recordings into Sound Wave Art and QR Codes

by Karen Jensen, MLS

February 2019

A Tale of Three Printers, portable photo printers that is (Tech Review)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

October 2017

MakerSpace Mondays: The Silhouette Cameo - a review

by Karen Jensen, MLS

August 2015

MakerSpace: Green Screen Tips

by Karen Jensen, MLS

August 2015

MakerSpace: Making Movie Magic with Tweens and Teens in the Library

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Who’s In Rabbit’s House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Akim Aliu Dreamer | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

I Spy Something Awkward, a guest post by James Ponti

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Fun and Games: Capitalize on Olympic Excitement with These Titles

2020 All-Star Read-Alikes: Three Teen Rom-Coms for Fans of 'Never Have I Ever' on Netflix

16 YA Novels That Keep It Real | Summer Reading 2021

16 YA Novels That Reenvision History | Summer Reading 2020

Hi-Lo & Mighty Reads: 15 engaging and ­accessible series for ­reluctant and striving readers

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023