• By Jeffrey Cates
• Posted Monday, June 13, 2022

Junk Drawer Robotics

Engineering for Today and Tomorrow: In an online workshop use household items, to build sketch and write like an engineer.

This 4-H Curriculum is developed by seasoned educators and is research based.

Arm in arm are the big ideas for this 3 part lesson. We will be designing & building a robot arm. We will look at the traditional design approaches and think like an engineer in XYZ coordinate directions.

Why should you take this class? It will be fun to see who's model will use levers and can pick up a weight. You are an inspiration: sharing your creation with others inspires their next design. Building a small model will allow us to experientially learn concepts in physics and engineering.

Part 1 on June 14 -10:30am-11:30am -Designing & build a robot arm.

Part 2 on June 15 - 10:30am-11:30am- Add a power source to the robot arm.

Part 3 on June 16- 10:30am-11:30am- Build a gripper out of

Hands-on materials are common household items.

• Assortment of items from your household junk drawer. (any grouping will be appropriate)
• Paper for note-taking, (graph paper is cool!)
• Cardboard base
• Popsicle sticks (larger ones make it easier - ie paint sticks)
• Paper brads
• Small bolts
• paper clips
• Rubber bands
• Scissors
• Pencil & paper
• Glue gun
• Syringes
• Tubing that fits onto the syringe
• Ping pong balls OR Easter eggs OR toy blocks
• Drill