From a CANVAS Facebook post

*******************************************

When you hear the word “robot,” what kind of robot comes to mind?
Maybe a humanoid robot? Or a robot that carries things?

This time, we all built a robot that can draw!
We used everyday items like motors, batteries, an eraser, a cup, a pen, and tape—
combining them to create our robot.

We attached the motor, added the legs, and it was time to test it! Switch on!
Huh… I turned it on, but the robot isn’t moving!
That’s right. This is where an essential item for power comes in—
it’s time for Mr. Eraser to make his appearance.

When you stick the eraser onto the end of the motor and move it…!
Depending on where it’s placed, it makes all sorts of clicking sounds as it starts moving and drawing lines.
Broken lines, smooth lines, jagged lines
The kids looked at each other’s lines and shared their thoughts.

“Who drew that perfect circle like a compass? That’s amazing!”
“It’s a really fast squiggle!”
“It looks like it’s stopped, but it’s actually moving!”

We took a moment to let the robot rest,
and asked everyone to write down their “perspective” on sticky notes.
When we told them they could use words, drawings, or even sounds, the children got completely absorbed in writing.
Each of them conveyed their thoughts clearly through their own unique expressions.

“It was moving slowly, so I drew a turtle.”
“It was spinning around and around—my eyes were spinning, and the robot’s eyes were spinning too!”

Amidst the familiar routine, there were something different—the expressions on the children’s and teachers’ faces, and the words they shared.
For the children, the teachers, and us alike,
this was a precious time that led to new discoveries and insights.

Once again, it was a wonderful space filled with smiles. Thank you very much.

◎ About the After-School Creative Project ◎
To enrich the after-school hours for as many children as possible,
we hold workshops at after-school facilities to nurture children’s creativity and imagination.