Robot activities are a great way to mix art and engineering. Drawing a robot teaches kids to build with shapes, and designing a robot that solves a problem is a first step into engineering thinking. Add a cardboard robot build or a blueprint, and you have a full STEAM activity for home or class.
Why robots work so well
- Simple shapes. Squares, rectangles and circles. Easy for beginners. See drawing with shapes.
- Endless variety. Every robot can be different.
- Function. Robots do things, so kids think about purpose and design.
- Cool factor. Kids of all ages like robots.
Robot drawing activities
- Box robots. Stack squares and rectangles, add circle eyes and antennae.
- Robot animals. A robot dog, a robot T-rex, a robot cat. Free lessons in the robots hub.
- Robot feelings. A happy robot, a confused robot, a robot with a low battery. See cartoon expressions.
- Grid robots. Copy a robot square by square. See grid drawing and math.
- Robot in action. Draw it cooking, cleaning or flying.
Design challenges (engineering thinking)
- Solve a problem. “Design a robot that helps with a chore you hate.” Label each part and what it does.
- Robot blueprint. Front view and side view, with labels and measurements.
- Robot for another planet. What does it need to survive?
- Improve it. Swap drawings with a partner and suggest one improvement.
This mirrors the engineering design process: ask, imagine, plan, create, improve.
Build it
- Cardboard robot. Boxes, tubes, bottle caps and tape. Use the drawing as the plan.
- Paper robot. Cut out robot parts and assemble them on paper.
- Robot costume. Decorate a box to wear.
Robot stories
Write and draw a comic about a robot who gets a strange job. See make a comic with kids.
By age
- Ages 3 to 5: trace and color robots; build with blocks.
- Ages 5 to 8: draw robots step by step, then invent your own.
- Ages 8 to 12: blueprints, grid drawings and design challenges.
Earth Day twist: draw a robot built from recycled junk. More space-age ideas: space activities for kids.
The book that helps
Cartoon Robots comes as a tracing book, a step-by-step book and a grid book. Baby Robots adds cute little bots for younger kids.
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Robots
How to Draw: Cartoon Robots
Draw by Grid: Cartoon Robots
How to Draw: Baby RobotsAs an Amazon Associate, FirstArtBooks earns from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
What are good robot activities for kids?
Drawing robots from shapes, designing a robot that solves a problem, robot blueprints and building a cardboard robot.
How do you draw a simple robot?
Stack a square head on a rectangle body, add rectangle arms and legs, circle eyes and an antenna.
How do robot activities teach STEAM?
Designing a robot that solves a problem follows the engineering design process and mixes art with technology.