Pool Noodle Art Bots: Simple Drawing Robots For STEM

Like doodling? Then why not see if you can create your pool noodle robot to draw for you! There are tonnes of fun things to do with pool noodles, now use your engineering skills to come up with a cool pool bot that can do art too! All you need are a few simple supplies, an electric toothbrush and a pool noodle for this fun robot art activity.

HOW TO MAKE A POOL NOODLE ROBOT

ROBOTS FOR KIDS

What is it about robots that is fascinating for kids and adults alike? Now make your own simple pool noodle bot that can draw with markers! The mechanism for this simple STEM project is an inexpensive electric toothbrush.

An electric toothbrush is a tool that uses electricity from a built in battery to automatically move the bristles on the brush head. Normally, that’s what helps you clean your teeth. Instead, the vibrations from the toothbrush cause the pool noodle and the attached markers to move. You have your own doodling pool bot!

POOL NOODLE ROBOTS

YOU WILL NEED:

1 pool noodle, cut to the length of the toothbrush
1 electric toothbrush (We used one from the Dollar Tree.)
Wiggly eyes, for decorating
Glue dots
Chenille stems, for decorating
2 rubber bands
3 markers
Paper (We used white poster board)

HOW TO MAKE A NOODLE BOT

STEP 1. Insert the electric toothbrush into the middle of the pool noodle.

STEP 2. Using glue dots, attach the wiggly eyes.

STEP 3. Attach the markers using the rubber bands. Do not glue the markers to the pool noodle as they may need to be adjusted from time to time to keep the robot moving.

STEP 4. Twist, curl, and/or cut the chenille stems to decorate the robot.

STEP 5. Uncap the markers and turn on the toothbrush. Place the robot on the paper. Adjust the markers if needed to get the robot moving. We found that keeping the length short and having one “leg” longer helped.