Elementary Studio Lesson
Jan Navah
Kids love to build robots, letting their imaginations run wild with
thoughts of what
they might look like
and what they could
be programmed
to do. Yet when
students use cereal
boxes and found
objects to make robots,
often the projects look
too similar and tend to
fall apart. This alternative
allows students to “build”
robots in a different way, along
with creating a futuristic environment where their robots might live.
Starting with Printmaking
In this lesson, students use an assort-
ment of found objects (potato mashers,
meat tenderizers, spools, etc.) to print
their robots onto pieces of 12 x 18"
black construction paper, using white
tempera paint. Dipping the objects
into paper plates of white paint, stu-
dents soon realize that a gentle touch
and less paint works well, and the
robots quickly begin to take shape.
When the paint is
dry, students cut out
the robots, being
careful to leave a
small amount of the
black paper showing
around the edges.
Students should
carefully examine
their robots and
decide upon a set-
ting in which they
can “live.” Futuristic
comic books, video
games, and cartoons can
be perused for ideas, or
students can work solely from
imagination.
Students place the cutout
robot figures on pieces of 18 x 24" white
paper, and use pencil to draw lightly
around them. Remind students that
the robots will be glued on last, so the
drawings should look as though they
are coming from behind the figures.
Students then trace the pencil lines
with black permanent marker.
