Crayola Markers STEM Challenge

I made scribble bots with my students during the last days of school.  It was a GREAT activity with high engagement and interest among students.  Not only that, it is a great way to use your almost dried up markers–the ones that still make a mark, but may not be so good for coloring.  All of the other materials are available at the Dollar Tree except for the small motors and items from around the house.

For each scribble bot you will need:

• a small motor (from Amazon)
• a clothespin
• tape (I used masking)
• a AA battery
• a cup (I used styrofoam)
• a popsicle stick
• Old Crayola markers (at least 4)
• old Christmas light wire (we used this instead of alligator clips)
• bulletin board paper large enough for the bot to travel a little way

First, I showed this video to my students.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUpcV4NnnuE[/embedyt]

Next, I reiterated a few parts of the video such as make sure your motor is perpendicular to the popsicle stick and make sure the motor is all the way on the end of the stick.

This will probably take your students the better part of an hour, but your really smart kids may finish earlier.  These students can still be challenged by trying to find a way to make a different pattern with their bot, or using their materials and motor in a different way.  Notice the scribble bot with lots of markers all around…my little over achiever made this one.  His bot actually made a fabulous pattern!  Notice some of the different patterns that are being made on the paper by different students’ bots.

I hope your students enjoy this as much as mine did!