Do you have a child who likes robots, or even have a child you would like to inspire to like robots??? Build the Robot by Steve Parker might be just the kit for you. :)
A book with robots to build!
A book with robots to build!
The first part of this book/kit is loaded with information about robots, from what they are to what they have been used for to possibilities for the future. The information gave us ample opportunity to discuss ideas such as what it would have been like to perform surgery from 3800 miles away using a robot...and therefore saving a person's life.
It gave me ideas for doing a class on robots with children for my co-op.. would just be fun to do some different things with them (making a robotic hand and what not)
It gave me ideas for doing a class on robots with children for my co-op.. would just be fun to do some different things with them (making a robotic hand and what not)
At the close of the book there are three robots that one can make, a wiggle bot, a walk bot and a wave bot. All pieces are cut out heavy board that just needs to be punched out.
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Three motors are included which unfortunately for us were not well labeled. The instructions called for motor A to be used, but the motors looked so similar to each other, we ended up using the wrong motor and had to take the whole thing apart again. (I would really recommend these motors be clearly labeled). It was a bit frustrating, but in the end we managed to get it to work.
Interestingly enough, since the robot tended to fall over abit, it got my lad to thinking (based on knowledge gained)... if we could give it a knee, do you think it would work better? How do you think we could do that? What if we made it have heavier feet so it was slower, think that would work? What if it had to work harder? or we could slow it down???
We did manage to try out the following
1. adding weight to the feet... it was hard to secure and seemed to not make any difference.
2. running it on carpet (didn't work)
But it was a fun activity and got my lad talking and thinking, so I'd be calling this a successful book.
We have, as of yet, not found time to make the remaining two robots... perhaps next week when Dad is away for a few days.
The build a robot kit contains a 32 page book, three wind-up motors and the pieces to make three robots.
The material to make the robots is a very heavy cardstock? Bookboard? not quite sure what to call it, but it's quite sturdy and can take some abuse. Some of the cutouts required the use of a toothpick to get the smallest pieces out.
We did manage to try out the following
1. adding weight to the feet... it was hard to secure and seemed to not make any difference.
2. running it on carpet (didn't work)
But it was a fun activity and got my lad talking and thinking, so I'd be calling this a successful book.
We have, as of yet, not found time to make the remaining two robots... perhaps next week when Dad is away for a few days.
The build a robot kit contains a 32 page book, three wind-up motors and the pieces to make three robots.
The material to make the robots is a very heavy cardstock? Bookboard? not quite sure what to call it, but it's quite sturdy and can take some abuse. Some of the cutouts required the use of a toothpick to get the smallest pieces out.
We thoroughly enjoyed the end result of making this robot, my lad has brought it out a couple of times since making it to test it out. We've learned it runs best with NO cats around, on the hardwood floor in the living room, with a relatively clean running area.
He walks, he tumbles a bit, but we made him and it's all good. :)
Reviewed for Raincoast Books. A great book made by Steve Parker and published by Silver Dolphin Books. Get it, inspire your children to be creative and think more about robots... it'll be fun! :)
He walks, he tumbles a bit, but we made him and it's all good. :)
Reviewed for Raincoast Books. A great book made by Steve Parker and published by Silver Dolphin Books. Get it, inspire your children to be creative and think more about robots... it'll be fun! :)
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