Glidebot

We're creating climbing robots. Here's a chance to watch a robot glide and come up with all kinds of predictions and theories on how and why the robot can move this way.

Supplies

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Tape
• Ruler
• Drinking straw cut into 1 1/2" pieces
• String, fishing line, or thin yarn
• Two pony beads in any color
• Colored cardstock
• Optional: Brass Fasteners

Step 1: Optional: Print Template

Here's the template to print for easy cut and color. Tip: Printing on cardstock keeps your robot sturdy.

Step 2: Gather All Materials

Step 3: Cut the Bot Body Shapes

Take the colored cardstock and begin to cut out the body of the robot. Follow the measurements below:

Head
1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Neck
1" x 2/8"

Arms (2)
1 1/2" x 1/2"

Body
3" x 3 1/4"

Legs (2)
1 1/2" x 3/4"

Step 4: Assemble the Bot

Place all the bot body pieces where they should be. Then tape the all the bot pieces together to assemble the robot.

Step 5: Bring the Bot to Life

Color the robot with markers, crayons, or colored pencils. For more of a creative flair, add other items like paper clips, toothpicks, smaller pieces of paper, beads, tacks, pom poms, or whatever can be found in the house.

Step 6: Add Straws to the Back

Take the two 1.5 inch pieces of straw and tape them onto the back of the robot. Make sure they're a good equal distance apart.

Step 7: Thread the String

Take a piece of string about 4 feet long and thread both ends through the two straw pieces so that a giant loop forms above the robot.

Step 8: Tie a Bead

Tie a pony bead onto each end of the string to keep the string from coming out of the straw pieces.

Step 9: Hook the Bot

Hang the gliding robot onto a doorknob or from the ceiling.

Step 10: Watch It Glide

Grab one bead in each hand and pull out and away from the robot.