Robot Racers [1]
What You’ll Need
Empty tissue boxes with tops cut off
Duct tape or foil
Tape
Wiggle eyes*
Chenille stems
Stickers
Tennis balls
What to Do
1. Cover the boxes with duct tape or foil on all sides
2. With the open end facing down, decorate the boxes to make robots.
3. Place a tennis ball inside each robot.
4. Race the robots! Cardboard and blocks work great as a ramp for the racers to slide down.
Extend the Fun
Younger kids: Want to see your child’s imagination gears turning? Encourage pretend play by using cardboard or construction paper to make a separate control board for the robot. Add miscellaneous craft supplies to create switches, timers, and knobs.
Older kids: Make this a learning activity, too! Mark how far the robot rolled, then use a measuring stick to quantify the distance. You can also let them explore how altering the ramp angle produces different results. The steeper the slope, the speedier the robot!
*Reminder: Small materials, such as wiggle eyes, can be a choking hazard for small children, so close adult supervision is a must.