in collaboration with

SCRIBBLE
MACHINES
A Guide from the Creativity Lab

Authors
Claire Tiffany-Appleton
Anna Milada Grossi

Based on
An activity from the Tinkering Studio

Lighthouse Community
www.lighthousecreativitylab.org
Public Schools
444 Hegenberger Road 1
Oakland, CA 94621 www.makered.org
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 About This Project Materials & Tools
MATERIALS
Scribble machines are a low-barrier/high-ceiling
project, which integrates art and design with basic
● Berry Baskets
● Plastic/Paper Cups
science. Students use commonplace items to
● Markers
create a small “bot” that draws as it wiggles about.
● DC Motors
● AA Batteries
Building a scribble machine is an exercise in
● Broccoli Bands
design, experimentation, persistence, and ● Masking Tape
observation. Students will incorporate basic ● Large Paper
circuitry into their machines and have the ● Hot Glue Sticks
opportunity to be creative in their exploration. This ● Assorted Craft Materials
project is structured such that teachers provide
minimal instruction, and students learn through TOOLS
the process of design, test, and redesign. We
encourage you to customize this project to the ● Scissors or cutting tools
needs of your class, but maintain the idea of ● Hot Glue Gun
keeping students engaged through inquiry, and
giving them ownership of their learning through For a detailed list of materials:
exploring. lcl.how/ScribbleParts

Learning Targets
Our Story ● I can create a simple circuit.
● I can track and analyze data.
This project is based on a Tinkering Studio activity ● I can explore playfully without a
at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. preconceived plan.
● I can learn from mistakes and follow
Our students in the Creativity Lab explored the unintended paths.
questions: what shape will my machine have to be
to make a particular kind of mark on the paper? TIME: 45-60 minutes
How can I get it to go in a certain direction? Do I
want it to draw something irregular or linear? And
Motor
so forth…..
Markers
Our students in the Middle School were given
enough freedom to experiment with different
materials and enough time to iterate their designs.
The activity is structured so that they figure out
their own scribble machine with minimal
guidance. This guide offers a design for a basic
scribble machine, then provides methods for Butcher or
extended learning through data tracking and newspaper Machine body
testing variables. (plastic cup)

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 Context: Before we make…
This activity is a good example of a low-tech project that
works well on its own, but can be made more complex
and interactive utilizing the microcontrollers and
sensors. Scribbling Machines explore notions of physics
that involve acceleration, “stick-slip” friction, center of
mass and forces.

Different tutorials can be found online, and are all mainly

Maker Education resources for Scribble Machines a derivation from the Exploratorium one.

Further connections can be made to generative, robotic

and kinetic art:

Colossal Drawing Machines

Art Making Robots
Programmed Drawing Machines

The Physics of Scribbling Machine

Material Management
Because creative design is an important element in building a scribble machine, we give students very
limited instructions. Introduce students to their project by challenging them to build a machine that scribbles
as it moves. Then stand back and let them tinker on their own. Small groups are okay, if students wish to work
together.

Cover a large work surface to be drawn on. We often use easel pads, though cardboard and newspaper are
cheap alternatives. Place materials at each workspace, so students can easily access and experiment with
them.

How to Introduce New Tools & Tech SAFELY

To avoid burning yourself with hot glue, try these kid-invented tips
● Use low heat guns
● Use popsicle sticks, instead of fingers, to push pieces together
● Put glue on the big piece instead of the small piece

This activity doesn’t include the use of any dangerous or sensitive materials or tools. Just remember that
being organized and having clear systems builds a culture of the respect and care necessary to ensure
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longevity of the equipment.
Step-By-Step Guide
1. Prepare your Space: Cover a large
work surface with paper to be drawn
on.

2. Build a Base: Use tape or rubber bands

to secure markers to a berry basket or
plastic cup.
1. 2.
3. Create a Cam: Cut a hot glue stick to
roughly one inch long. Stick the axle of
the motor into the hot glue stick, but
keep it off-centered.

4. Prepare a Battery: Wrap a broccoli

rubber band around a battery.

5. Construct the Machine: Add the

battery and motor to the base. The hot
glue must move freely.

6. Turn on the Machine: Fit the wires of

the hobby motor into the battery, such 3. 4.
that each wire touches one of the
battery’s terminals. This will cause the
motor to rotate, and the scribble
machine to move. Uncap those
markers, and watch it go!

Notes
● This is only one version of a scribble
bot - consider not providing strict
instructions or examples to allow more 5. 6.
creativity from students.
● Keeping the piece of hot glue
off-center creates a cam. As the glue
stick rotates, the weight distribution
constantly changes, which causes the
scribble machine to wobble.
● It doesn’t matter which wire connects
to which terminal of the battery.
Reversing the wires will cause the
motor to spin in the opposite direction.

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 Looking Closely
Throughout the class, you may encourage students to walk around the
classroom and look at other students’ designs, or to pause their work to
come together for a discussion. Ask students what they are discovering with
their designs, and how they are overcoming any problems. Write their
observations on a whiteboard for everyone to see.

A nice feature of scribble machines is the fun, visual data they create. As
students’ machines begin drawing, have students describe their machine
designs by writing directly on the paper beside their scribblers’ drawings.
After students have recorded one pattern and design, encourage them to
try new designs, and see how it alters their scribbles. Then have them
record and compare this new data to the old.

Scribble Machines with Older Students

If you have the time and equipment, consider this
option for taking your scribble machine lesson plan
further:

Ask students to design their own, customized

scribble machine. Have them plan out their design
on paper with drawings and measurements. They
should strive for sturdiness and efficiency of design.
Have students build their customized scribblers
using CAD software. (We use Tinkercad, free
software available online.) Then let them print out
their machine, for experimentation. (Tip: Have
students print out test pieces for each component.
For instance, if they want to create a shaft for the
markers to sit in, have them prototype the shaft
first, to test its size.)

Guiding Questions
● Has anyone figured out how to make the motor run?
● What happens when you swap which end of the battery each wire touches?
● What is the purpose of the glue-stick? How does off-centering it make a difference to the motion of
their scribbler? Why would this be?
● What will adding a second motor do?
● Can you change your design so that it scribbles without the glue stick?
● Can you make your scribbler draw a perfect circle?
● How did everyone attach the different pieces of their scribble machines? Can you make it sturdier?
Can you make it more aesthetically pleasing?
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