Drawbots

Time Needed
30-45 minutes
Grade
Designed for learners in
2nd - 8th grade.

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What are Drawbots?

Drawbots are small, vibrating machines that learners build using repositionable foam components, a motorized weight, and markers to create unique doodles that act as a record of their motion. The project introduces mechanical vibration, iteration, and engineering design while emphasizing creative exploration and working through challenges.

Learners start by following a core build, then redesign, experiment, and iterate—creating their own versions to explore movement, balance, and artistic output. Drawbots can also be combined with others to create more complex builds.

Learner Goals

Learners must
  • Build a structure that stands on marker legs, holds a battery and motor, and uses an imbalanced weight to make the Drawbot move.
  • Connect and disconnect the wires from the battery to open and close (stop and start) the motor circuit. 
Leaners should
  • Identify how changes to the position and secure fit of legs, motor, battery and unbalanced weights contribute to movement.
Leaners could
  • Collaborate with other learners to explore multiple iterations, test different builds, and design Drawbots that move in new ways.

Essential Vocabulary

Term
Definition
Iteration
Rebuilding something in a new way
Troubleshooting
Solving problems when something doesn’t work
Mechanical Vibration
Mechanical Vibration
Circuit
A path for electricity to flow, including the battery, motor, and wires
Unbalanced Weight
A foam piece attached to the gear that creates movement

Practice Time

 Essential questions to ask when you're practicing
  • Is this the only way to make this work?
  • What other parts could I use? What parts can I leave out?
  • What's confusing, and how can my learners support each other to solve confusing steps?

Basic Build

What’s Included in the Kit?

  • 3 primary-colored markers (legs)
  • Pre-cut foam sheet with components
  • 1 AA battery
  • 1 jumbo rubber band
  • 1 motor with attached gear and wires
  • Instruction sheet
  • Resealable storage bag

What You Need to Provide

  • Projector and screen - for presentation slides
  • Optional - Large sheets of paper (for the Drawbots to have a drawing “dance party” on)
Step 1: Build the Base
Question: How can you combine a piece and markers to create a body that stands on three legs?
  • Try the circular foam base to start.
  • Slide the back ends of the markers into three holes to form a stable tripod.
Step 2: Secure the Markers
Question: How can you keep the markers connected so they're more stable?
  • Use the three-hole foam connector to stabilize the legs.
  • You can try other components that have multiple holes as well - they combine well!
Step 3:  Assemble the Battery Pack
Question: The motor and the battery will need to connect to make a circuit that makes the motor spin - how can we use the rubber band to hold wires to the ends of it?
  • Stretch the rubber band around the AA battery lengthwise.
  • Pro Tip: Stretch the band multiple times, loosening up the elastic.  It will make it easier to stretch onto the battery. 
Step 4: Attach the Battery to the Base
Question: Where can we attach the battery to our Drawbot body so it's held firmly in place?
  • Slide the battery into the center hole of the base.
  • It can also be placed elsewhere, using other foam components to hold it in place! Where else could it go?
Step 5: Build the Motor Assembly
Question: Where can we insert the motor so it's held firmly in place, and it can spin?
  • Identify the L-shaped and straight foam motor mounts. They have rectangular holes that hold the motor firmly and long tabs that fit into holes in other foam pieces.
  • Overlap the pieces to align the rectangular holes and form a Y-shape.
  • Insert the motor's gear through the rectangular overlapping opening. It should be firmly held in place and not keep the gear from turning.
  • Insert the tabs of this new foam motor holder you've built into holes into the circular piece! Where else could they go?
Step 6: Create the Unbalanced Weight
Question: What parts can we add to the end of the motor to make the motor vibrate?
  • Use foam pieces to create an off-center shape that adds weight.
  • Attach the weight to the motor gear.
Step 7: Connect the Circuit
Question: How can we connect the motor wires to the battery so the motor spins? Note: The colors of wires are not important right now - you can experiment with where which color wire goes later and see what changes!
  • Insert one motor wire under the rubber band on the battery’s positive end, being sure to touch the metal bump!  The wire might bend, so take your time and go slowly.  If it bends, you can unbend it!
  • Insert the other wire under the rubber band on the other end of the battery.
  • The motor should start spinning, and your Drawbot should start vibrating!  If it doesn't, check the troubleshooting section below.
Step 8: Make It Draw!
  • Flip over your Drawbot build guide sheet and use that as a Drawbot dance floor, or place it on a large piece of paper
  • Uncap the markers and let it go!
Clean-up and storage
  • Store all parts in the resealable bag with the learner’s name on a slip of paper.
  • Remove wires from their batteries - they will lose power if they stay connected, even if the imbalanced weight isn't spinning!
  • Encourage learners to take their Drawbot home to continue experimenting!
Extensions & Iterations
  • Speed Challenge: Adjust the weight and component placement to see if the Drawbot moves faster or slower.
  • Size Challenge: How few parts can you use to make your bot go?
  • Pattern Challenge: Modify the structure to create different drawing patterns - it will move in lines, circles, and random patterns based on the build!
  • Collaboration Challenge: Combine two Drawbots to see what happens!

Troubleshooting & Pro Tips

Common Issues & Solutions
Issue
Solution
Motor is not moving
Check wire connections—each metal end must touch an opposite end of the battery.
Motor moves, but bot doesn’t move
Adjust foam weights, reposition the motor, or change marker angles.  Most importantly - is anything keeping the imbalanced weight on the motor from spinning? Is it stuck on something? 
Bot falls over
Bot falls over
Weight isn’t spinning, or Drawbot isn't moving much
Ensure foam weight is correctly attached to the motor gear.  If it's stuck or hitting another part, adjust your pieces to allow it to spin freely.   If your motor is connected in a "floppy" way, tighten how it's being held.  Motors that are tight to the body make bots that vibrate and move more!

Pre- and Post-Activity Questions

Pre-Activity Questions
Grades 2-3
  1. What do you think will make the Drawbot move?
  2. What materials could you use make the Drawbot stand up?
Grades 4-5
  1. How do you think the motor will make the Drawbot draw?
  2. This is designed and built to move. What makes it move?
Grades 6-8
  1. What forces do you think are acting on the Drawbot as it moves?
  2. What might happen if we changed the position of the motor or battery?
Post-Activity Questions
Grades 2-3
  1. What part of the Drawbot made it move? Why?
  2. If you changed the position of the markers, what happened?
  3. How do you think a Drawbot could be used in real life?
Grades 4-5
  1. If you made changes to your Drawbot’s design, how did it impact its drawing pattern?
  2. If you could describe the mechanism that makes a phone or game controller rumble or vibrate, how do you think it works? 
Grades 6-8
  1. What did you notice about how the forces interacting in your drawbot?
  2. If you changed the Drawbot’s design, how did it impact its speed, or the kinds of marks it made?  How would you describe the changes to that system in terms of forces? 

Comprehensive Standards Alignment

CASEL Social-Emotional Learning Standards

  1. Self-Management: Learners develop perseverance by troubleshooting issues. Example: When their Drawbot doesn't move as expected, learners analyze and adjust connections and placement rather than giving up.
  2. Social Awareness: Collaboration and problem-solving support communication skills. Example: Learners explain their ideas and problem-solving steps to peers while testing different Drawbot configurations.
  3. Responsible Decision-Making: Learners iterate on designs, evaluating and improving structures. Example: Learners discuss what modifications improved movement and how small changes impact overall function.

Common Core ELA Standards

2nd-3rd Grade
4th-5th Grade
Grades 6-8

Common Core Math Standards

2nd Grade
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th-5th Grade
6th-8th Grade

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