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TinkerLab DrawBot: Simple STEM Fun for Kids!

June 26, 2014 by notjustcute Filed Under: Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Draw Bot

This may be my “Cool, Mom!” highlight of the summer!

And it only cost about $5 in parts!

After reading about the Draw Bot in Rachelle Doorley’s inspiring book, TinkerLab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors(*affiliate link), I knew that needed to by my boys’ first stop on this TinkerLab ride!

The parts were much easier to come by than I had anticipated.  All it took was a quick trip to our local Radio Shack and a few dollars.  Sitting down with my parts, reading over the instructions before gathering my brood, I wasn’t totally sure how everything would come together.

Then I realized:  That’s the point.  As Rachelle explains with this and other activities, once the basic framework is in place, the rest is open for experimentation.  And experiment we did!

Here’s our first DrawBot, following the basic directions:

Close on the heels of amazement was curiosity.  You’ll hear one of my boys say, “I wonder what would happen if we use the other three (markers)?” Meanwhile, I was also wondering, “What if we attached this battery pack so it’s not tethered to me?”

So we did some tinkering!  We had nine markers on hand, so we added all of them, and also attached the battery pack.

Behold, DrawBot 2.0:

And the tinkering goes on and on:

“What if we remove the weight from the motor?”

“What if we tap the DrawBot?”

“What if we change the marker placement?”

“What if we try to draw a picture with the DrawBot?”

“What if the motor is more securely attached or more loosely attached?”

This is the stuff tinkering is made of!  Curiosity, wonder, amazement, and hands on fun!  I can’t recommend Rachelle’s book enough! 

Be sure to pick up your copy today(*affiliate) and read this interview with Rachelle Doorley to learn about the brilliance behind the book!

(Click image below to read Rachelle’s interview!)

Tinkerlab take two

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  1. TinkerLab Book Blog Tour: Q&A with Rachelle Doorley | Not Just Cute says:
    June 26, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    […] to basic wiring projects (like the drawing robot we’re getting ready to do at our house – done!  Check it out here!).  In addition to the project instructions, this book also does a spectacular job of explaining […]

    Reply
  2. 10 Powerful Life Lessons from Tinkerlab - says:
    July 10, 2014 at 6:41 am

    […] Artful Parent / Toddler Approved / Creative with Kids /  Red Ted Art / Not Just Cute / Kids Activities Blog / Rookie Moms / Peanut Blossom /  Modern Parents, Messy Kids / The […]

    Reply
  3. TinkerLab Book Blog Tour Highlights - TinkerLab says:
    July 24, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    […] Morgan, mom to four boys and author of Not Just Cute, shared her kids’ DrawBots. Click over to her page and you can see videos of how they […]

    Reply
  4. Books Plus! Literacy Inspired Gifts for Kids of All Ages | Not Just Cute says:
    November 26, 2014 at 4:16 am

    […] Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors:  Love this book!  Perfect  gift for kids, parents, or teachers!  Find the book review here.  My favorite activity is the drawing machine! Find that activity on pg 127 and load up the necessary items with your gift! (It has a few basic electronic components that can easily be obtained at your local RadioShack.) Watch the DrawBot in action! […]

    Reply

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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