Method

Step 1

Collect shape templates to draw around.

• These could be cups, jar lids or anything else that has a square, rectangular, circular or triangular shape.
• Or you could cut out shape templates from cardboard.

Shape templates

 

Step 2

Think about what sort of robot you are going to make. (It could look like a person or be an animal robot. It could be sitting, standing... or running!)

• Look at your shape templates and think about which shapes would work best for the different bits of the robot (the head, the body, the arms, the legs).
• Draw around your shape templates.

Plan your shape robot

 

Step 3

Paint or colour the shapes in…

Shape robot

...Ta-dah – your robot is finished! (What are you going to call it?)

 

More ideas…

Robot variations

Have a go at making another robot figure. Try using different shapes for different bits of the robot.

Artist Ithell Colquhoun made a sporty robot... What about a robot in action?

Shape robot in action

 

... or a dog robot?

Dog shape robot

 

Be inventive, have fun and make your robot as surreal as possible!

 

Robot collage

Instead of drawing around and painting or colouring shapes to make your robot picture, cut them out of brightly coloured paper and make a robot collage.

Collage shape robot

 

Shape robot print

You could also use the shape templates to print your robot.

• Paint one side of the template (or the edges of the template if it is a cup or jar lid).
• Place the shapes paint-side-down on the paper to make your robot. (You may need to press hard to make sure the paint is transferred onto the paper.)

Printed shape robot

 

Giant shape robot collaboration

Make a giant robot as a group or class.

• Draw some big 2D shapes on coloured paper and cut them out. (If you don't have coloured paper, draw the shapes on plain white paper or brown wrapping paper and paint them.)
• Then have fun as a group arranging them in different ways to make your robot figure.

Children at a Masterpieces in Schools event