In this project, students will assemble a small motor and solar cell with reused materials to create a wobble bot.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This is a hands-on project that will help students problem-solve and innovate.
Additional Prerequisites
The materials required for this project should be available without purchasing new items. However, you may need to ask students if their parents or guardians have any of the materials available to borrow.
Maker spaces may also have some materials to borrow and thrift stores or ReStores may have items as well.
Differentiation
Students could experiment with other materials and light sources or different colored lights to see if it changes the activity of the bot.
Solar rechargeable batteries (powered by the sun) could also be used to demonstrate the ability to store solar energy when the sun isn't shining.
Scientist Notes
This resource provides instructions for the construction of a fun and simple "Wobble Bot" which uses solar energy (harnessed through a recycled solar light) and reused materials. While this activity requires the use of hot glue and wires, it is well-described and provides some troubleshooting tips. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
MS-PS2-3 Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
3-PS2-2 Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.