Incredible Art suggests teaching children the importance of recycling while also giving them a lesson in art. Students should gather materials such as cardboard, old computer parts, clean washers, nuts and bolts, buttons or old jewelry. Using only recycled products, have children design their robot on a large rectangle cut from cardboard. Secure items in place with glue or tape.
The Enchanted Learning website describes a fun paper tube robot project. Wrap aluminum foil around the tube from the center of a toilet paper roll. Using designs students make on construction paper, cut out parts that would typically go on a robot, such as buttons or switches. Draw eyes and a mouth on the robot's face. Attach two pipe-cleaners either on the robot's head as antennae or on it's sides representing arms.
Gather materials such as tin foil, an empty shoe box, tape, construction paper, a paper plate, Slinky toys, a stapler and a magic marker to make a fun craft described on Education.com. Cover an empty shoe box in tin foil, stapling Slinky toys onto the bottom or small side of the box as legs. Using the marker, draw a face on the paper plate and attach the plate on the top of the box. Decorate your robot with any other accessories like metallic buttons or watches for added flair.
There are many options online created for finding patterns for art lessons, including robot patterns. Consider printing out these designs and having children color in the robots on their own. Encourage students' creativity by having them glue buttons onto their pictures or draw dials on the patterned robots. Clean up is easy and no-fuss with this activity.