Linden students build recycled robots

Linden High School science teacher Teressa Bolden gave her juniors an interesting and fun homework assignment that resulted in an opportunity to enjoy some friendly competition as they experimented with a wide array of recyclable household items to fashion a “recycled robot.”

“I hope this project was an effective way,” Bolden said, “to get these juniors to think about the importance of recycling. Obviously, this project was meant to result in a fun robotic creation rather than a functional one. The point of the homework challenge was to give the students one day to find items at home and at school that could realistically be recycled rather than just thrown into the trash and to then use those recyclable items to create a robot. I was really pleased with the entire class’s creative approach to designing and building a ‘recycled robot.’”

Alexis Johnson won first place; Challis Compton won second place.

Alexis dubbed her robot Mahogany. The judges (a secret panel of three teachers) loved this recycled robot’s true to form robotic look. The eyes definitely have it — not to mention the feet! Challis created a pair of recycled robots, Crimson Tide robotic cheerleader Kristi and her robotic dog Crimsie.

The class’s robotic creations were displayed throughout the school with posters reminding LHS students and teachers to make recycling an automatic action (or robotic response).