What You’ll Need

• Tissue box
• Cardstock
• 4 short cardboard tubes
• Scissors
• Craft gems
• Tape
• Velcro dots

What to Do

1. For the body, cover a tissue box with cardstock, leaving half of the tissue opening uncovered. (This will be the back.)
2. For arms and legs, cover four short cardboard tubes with cardstock. Cut holes in the body for the arms and legs, and a coin slot in the top of the robot. Insert the tubes in the body.
3. From cardstock, cut out hands, feet, a face, buttons, and a belly. Glue them on. Add craft gems for eyes.
4. Cut out a cardstock flap to cover the opening in the back. Tape the top edge to the robot. Add Velcro dots to hold the bottom edge closed.
5. Insert coins and bills in the top slot. To get money out, open the flap in the back.

Extend the Fun

For younger kids: Talk with your child about determination, persistence, and achieving goals. What’s worth saving for—a trip to the ice-cream store?  A new basketball? A book? Mark today’s date on the bottom of the bank. See how long it takes to achieve the goal. Literary assist: read and discuss the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

For older kids: Instead of a bank, turn your robot into a gift box, and fill it with inspiring notes to make someone’s day: “You’re great!” “Have a happy day!” “Do something nice for yourself today.” Or start a thankfulness bank: Write down good things that happen and insert those notes into the bank. Open the bank at the end of the week, month, or year and notice what a good time you’ve had.

Craft by Elle Vee; text by Mary Sears