How to Make a Turkey Robot

A few years ago, we made turkey drawbots – robot turkeys that can draw. This year we we decided to make turkey robots again – this time without the markers. The turkey is trying to disguise himself as a robot. Use your imagination to create a costume for your turkey and then add a HEXBUG to turn your turkey into a robot. This is such a fun Thanksgiving STEM or STEAM idea. I get commissions for purchases made through the affiliate links in this post.

Supplies Needed for the Turkey Robot

Paper cup, cardboard tube, or something similar
Colored paper
Tape and/or glue
Scissors
Wiggly eyes (optional)
Feathers (craft feathers or you can color and cut your own)
Mounting putty
HEXBUG

How to Make the Turkey

Build your turkey body with a paper cup or cardboard tube as the base. Cover with paper. (Lightweight paper like construction paper will work better than cardstock.)

Create the turkey’s face.

Add feathers. You can use colorful craft feathers. Or just draw your own.

Use your imagination to disguise the turkey in whatever costume you want. Add a mask to make your turkey a super hero. Add hair or ears to make your turkey into another animal. How will your turkey hide from Thanksgiving dinner?

See the HEXBUG costumes we made during our Second Grade Robot Party for more inspiration.

Turn Your Turkey into a Robot

Use a HEXBUG to power your turkey robot. Add some mounting putty to the top of the HEXBUG and press it into the side of the cup. The vibration of the HEXBUG will cause the cup to scoot on the table.

Where you place the HEXBUG will change the motion of your cup. It might spin around in circles, or it might move in a straight. Experiment with the placement and see what happens.

Troubleshooting: If your turkey doesn’t move, it’s likely your creation is too heavy for the HEXBUG. Using a lightweight paper cup and thin paper decorations should help this problem. The HEXBUG nano flash move twice as fast as the original nanos, so I would assume they could handle a little more weight.

Also check out our turkey drawbot.

Subscribe to the Inspiration Laboratories newsletter. Each issue has exclusive hands-on science explorations for children, a recap of our latest activities, and special resources selected just for you!

This post was originally published on November 17, 2020.