Kids or adults making junk robots need junk to use. The materials available at home or in school influence the type of robot being made. Plastic forks, shoe boxes, old CDs, paper towel rolls, lids, empty bottles and pipe cleaners all make good materials to start with. Kids and adults also need materials to make the junk look like robots. Aluminum foil is a common choice, as are basic craft materials, such as tape, glue and paint. Adults supply tools, such as scissors and glue guns, and can also supply odds and ends, like bolts, nuts and buttons as accessories.
After everyone examines what types of materials are available they can decide what type of robots they can make. Adults should encourage kids to draw their designs on paper before building. Kids can make dinosaur robots out of plastic forks, empty spray bottles and metallic paint. They can make human or animal robots out of shoe boxes and foil and decide if they want it to be a male or female robot. Adults may want to bring the robot to life and decide to install basic electronics that will animate the robot. They can install RC motors to propel a robot on CD or foam wheels or hook up LED lights that flash off and on.
Once the kids know what kind of junk robot they want to make, they have to figure out how to put it all together. Kids can construct most elements of a junk robot using scissors and tape. Adults might need to supervise some construction steps depending on the age of the children involved. Some kids might be too young to use a hot glue gun or spray paint. Adults might need to cut up tough plastic junk if the kids cannot do it.
Once the robots are complete, it is common for the parents and educators in charge of the project to educate kids about recycling or science. The lesson of recycling permeates the entire activity since old objects are being reused to make new objects. Parents and teachers can talk to kids as they build about how recycling works and why it is important. When the kids are finished, they have tangible proof that recycling works. Adults can also use the junk robot as a tool for teaching kids about real robotics. It can be a good activity for sparking a child's interest in science and math.