Lesson Focus
Develop a robot arm using common materials. Students will explore design, construction, teamwork, and materials selection and use.
Lesson Synopsis
Participating teams of three or four students are provided with a bag including the materials listed below. Each team must use the materials to design and build a working robot arm. The robot arm must be at least 18 inches in length and be able to pick up an empty Styrofoam cup. Teams of students must agree on a design for the robot arm and identify what materials will be used. Students will draw a sketch of their agreed upon design prior to construction. Resulting robot arms are then tested and checked for range of motion and satisfaction of the given criteria.
Age Levels: 8-18
Objectives
Learn design concepts.
Learn teamwork.
Learn problem solving techniques.
Learn about simple machines.
Anticipated Learner Outcomes
design concepts
teamwork needed in the design process
impact of technology in manufacturing
Lesson Activities
Students design and build a working robotic arm from a set of everyday items with a goal of having the arm be able to pick up a Styrofoam cup. Working in teams of three or four students, the students explore effective teamwork skills while learning simple robot mechanics.
Resources/Materials
-3" wide and approx. 22" long strips of cardboard-- 5 or so
-Binder clips (different sizes)-- 8 or more
-Brads-- @10
-Clothespins-- 6
-Craft sticks--10-15
-Fishing line-- 3-4 feet
-Hangers-- 1 or 2
-Paper clips (diff. Sizes)-- 10-15
-Pencils-- 3-4
-Rubber bands (different sizes)--15
-Tape-- clear and masking (partial rolls should be fine)
-Twine-- 3-4 feet
-Various size scraps of cardboard--10 assorted
How To Build Your Own Robot Arm
You are a member of a team of three or four students, all working together to design and
build a robot arm out of the following materials which are provided to you. The robot arm
must be at least 18 inches in length and be able to pick up an empty Styrofoam cup. Your
team must agree on a design for the robot arm and identify what materials will be used.
Your team should draw a sketch of their agreed upon design prior to construction.
Part of the teamwork process is sharing ideas and determining which design your team
will go with. Trial and error are part of the design process. There is no "right" answer to
the problem - your team's creativity will likely generate an arm that is unique from the
others designed in your class.
Internet Connections
TryEngineering (www.tryengineering.org)
Design Your Own Robot (www.mos.org/robot/robot.html)
FIRST Robotics Competition (www.usfirst.org)
ITEA Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology
(www.iteaconnect.org/TAA)
NSTA National Science Education Standards (www.nsta.org/standards)
NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (http://standards.nctm.org)
Robot Books (http://www.robotbooks.com/)
Develop a robot arm using common materials. Students will explore design, construction, teamwork, and materials selection and use.
Lesson Synopsis
Participating teams of three or four students are provided with a bag including the materials listed below. Each team must use the materials to design and build a working robot arm. The robot arm must be at least 18 inches in length and be able to pick up an empty Styrofoam cup. Teams of students must agree on a design for the robot arm and identify what materials will be used. Students will draw a sketch of their agreed upon design prior to construction. Resulting robot arms are then tested and checked for range of motion and satisfaction of the given criteria.
Age Levels: 8-18
Objectives
Learn design concepts.
Learn teamwork.
Learn problem solving techniques.
Learn about simple machines.
Anticipated Learner Outcomes
design concepts
teamwork needed in the design process
impact of technology in manufacturing
Lesson Activities
Students design and build a working robotic arm from a set of everyday items with a goal of having the arm be able to pick up a Styrofoam cup. Working in teams of three or four students, the students explore effective teamwork skills while learning simple robot mechanics.
Resources/Materials
-3" wide and approx. 22" long strips of cardboard-- 5 or so
-Binder clips (different sizes)-- 8 or more
-Brads-- @10
-Clothespins-- 6
-Craft sticks--10-15
-Fishing line-- 3-4 feet
-Hangers-- 1 or 2
-Paper clips (diff. Sizes)-- 10-15
-Pencils-- 3-4
-Rubber bands (different sizes)--15
-Tape-- clear and masking (partial rolls should be fine)
-Twine-- 3-4 feet
-Various size scraps of cardboard--10 assorted
How To Build Your Own Robot Arm
You are a member of a team of three or four students, all working together to design and
build a robot arm out of the following materials which are provided to you. The robot arm
must be at least 18 inches in length and be able to pick up an empty Styrofoam cup. Your
team must agree on a design for the robot arm and identify what materials will be used.
Your team should draw a sketch of their agreed upon design prior to construction.
Part of the teamwork process is sharing ideas and determining which design your team
will go with. Trial and error are part of the design process. There is no "right" answer to
the problem - your team's creativity will likely generate an arm that is unique from the
others designed in your class.
Internet Connections
TryEngineering (www.tryengineering.org)
Design Your Own Robot (www.mos.org/robot/robot.html)
FIRST Robotics Competition (www.usfirst.org)
ITEA Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology
(www.iteaconnect.org/TAA)
NSTA National Science Education Standards (www.nsta.org/standards)
NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (http://standards.nctm.org)
Robot Books (http://www.robotbooks.com/)
