Do you ever wish that you could make all the toys your kiddos have outgrown somehow become new again? I’ve got a closet full of them, waiting to be upcycled into something different. Including a bag full of Hot Wheels, all ready to become these creative and educational Upcycled Toy Car Marker Bots. It’s a sneak peek into our super fun Bot Book filled with 19 cool builds!
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Upcycled Toy Car Marker Bots Supplies Needed (1 set per car)
Here’s what you need to make one of these cool cars. You need 1 set per car.
- Hot Wheel or other small race car
- Skinny washable marker
- AAA battery
- 1.5V hobby motor (and a dime if it doesn’t have a counterweight)
- Electrical tape
- Wire if the motor doesn’t have it already attached
- Craft or art paper
- Hot glue gun
Bot Safety Note:
Adult supervision is required when working with electric components and hot glue guns. Ensure that batteries are disconnected when not in use. The exposed ends of wires with a battery connected can shock you and/or heat up and smoke. The fast-moving rotor also poses a safety risk. keep away from eyes and hands when THe motor is running.
Build Your Toy Car Marker Bot
Let’s get building! The build portion is great for somewhat older kids because it’s a little challenging and uses a hot glue gun. For younger kids, I recommend making the car together and then having them do the art portion on their own.
- Attach a positive and negative wire to your hobby motor by feeding them through the contact holes/loops and taping them with electrical tape. If your motor doesn’t have a counterweight, hot glue a dime to the rotor at about halfway between the center and the edge. You want it to be off-balance.
- Tape or glue the motor to the top of the car ensuring there is clearance between the motor rotor and any part of the car surface. You can play around with the motor placement as the alignment controls the movement of the car.
- Tape or glue your marker (or markers!) to the car so that the tip of the marker is level with the bottom of the wheels.
- Connect your battery to the motor by placing the red wire on the positive terminal end of the battery and securing it with electrical tape. Repeat with the black wire on the negative battery terminal. Then tape the battery to the car.
- Lay down your craft paper and let the cars loose! Be sure to disconnect the battery when you’re done playing with the car.
Here they are in action!
More Bots!!
This toy car marker bot is a sneak peek into The Bot Book.
Inspire your kids to create and build with an action-packed ebook all about bots! It includes 19 fun bots and bot activities perfect for builders of all experience levels. Plus extras make working with electricity easy and educational. Get a peek at all of the bots!Love Upcycling?
Got some more trash to play with? Check out these upcycled projects that inspire the engineer in your kiddo:
- DIY Recycled Suspension Bridge
- Tinkering Station for Young Engineers
- CD Case Travel Geoboard
- Balloon Car Derby
These are soooo brilliant Anne – can’t wait to give them a go :-)
Thanks so much Alice!!! Be sure to share a pic when you do.
These are fabulous! I love the artwork the cars do as well. #client
Thanks Carolyn! Me too. We’re turning it into wrapping paper for birthdays and Christmas.
Hi! I love this idea and want to try it with my kindergarten class. Where did you get your 1.5v hobby motors? I am looking on Amazon and don’t see any like the one you used… Thanks!
Hi Erica! So glad you like the marker cars. I got my motors from a few different places. You can use this kind from Amazon http://amzn.to/20EKtVM {affiliate link} or get them from vibrating toothbrushes with wide bottoms. Often the kid versions have these motors. The rest I got at Radio Shack. The micro-vibrating motors that I’ve used in our brush bots didn’t have enough power/torque/speed/? to move the cars.
great – thanks!
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This is a great idea but I’m having trouble getting it to work. I can’t seem to get the electrical tape to hold tight enough to keep the motor running. Any suggestions?
I would give regular clear tape a try (like Scotch tape). I find that sometimes that works better than electrical tape. I also find that thin electrical tape works better than thick. No idea why…
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