icon-background-square
New
New
Year 3

Sculpt a robot using recyclable materials

I can create a robot using recyclable materials and explain my choice of materials.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 3

Sculpt a robot using recyclable materials

I can create a robot using recyclable materials and explain my choice of materials.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Using a maquette as guidance helps in selecting materials and determining how to assemble a sculpture.
  2. Select recyclable materials based on strength and flexibility for different parts of a sculpture when assembling it.
  3. Securely joining using methods like tape, tabs, slots, and flanges can connect parts securely based on their needs.

Keywords

  • Maquette - is a small, rough model of a sculpture used for planning

  • Sculpture - a three-dimensional piece of art made by shaping or combining materials

  • Assemble - to fit together the parts of something

  • Recyclable material - leftover or discarded materials that can be reused for creative purposes

Common misconception

You can choose recycled materials randomly without considering your robot's purpose or the material's properties.

Encourage children to focus on the robot's main purpose first, like its key features (e.g. arms for cleaning). Once those are in place, they can add extra details. Remind them to refer to their maquettes to stay focused.


To help you plan your year 3 art and design lesson on: Sculpt a robot using recyclable materials, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson can be completed over multiple sessions, allowing time for planning, creating, and refining the robot sculpture. Prioritise the stability of the robot by reminding them to test their design regularly and make adjustments to ensure the robot stands securely.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Cardboard, newspaper, magazines, milk cartons, small boxes, pipe cleaners, string, scissors, gum tape, mark making tools, tissue paper, fabric scraps, foil, beads, buttons and bottle caps.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
What is this an image of?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: a robot maquette
a drawing of a robot
a toy robot
Q2.
What makes a robot useful?
Correct answer: It can clean.
Correct answer: It can build things.
Correct answer: It can help people.
It has different colours.
Q3.
A maquette must be perfect.
True
Correct answer: False
Q4.
Which joining resources can you use when making a robot maquette?
Correct answer: masking tape
paint
Correct answer: glue
scissors
Q5.
What should a mood board include?
Correct answer: inspirational images
scientific data
mathematical equations
Q6.
An is a skeleton frame that gives the basic shape and holds a maquette together.
animal
artist
Correct answer: armature

6 Questions

Q1.
Toilet roll is a recyclable material.
Correct answer: True
False
Q2.
A is a model for planning a design.
toy
Correct answer: maquette
robot
Q3.
Which of these are ways to join parts together?
Correct answer: slotting
Correct answer: flange
tearing
Correct answer: gluing
Q4.
What is the definition of assemble?
to break apart
Correct answer: to fit together the parts of something
to mix and combine together
Q5.
Why must a maquette be quick and simple for artists?
Correct answer: so they can test shapes, forms and proportions before creating a final piece
so they don’t waste time
It has to be detailed to show exactly how the final sculpture will look.
Q6.
Put the process for using gum tape in the correct order.
1 - Cut the gum tape to size.
2 - Dampen the adhesive side with a wet sponge.
3 - Press it firmly onto the join.
4 - Smooth it down to secure.