Create a Robotic Hand
Build a simple robotic hand from cardboard, straws, string, and tape to learn how joints and levers make movement through hands-on experimentation.
About this activity
Build a simple robotic hand from cardboard, straws, string, and tape to learn how joints and levers make movement through hands-on experimentation.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Place your hand on the cardboard and trace around it with the pencil.
- 2
Step 2
Cut out the traced hand shape from the cardboard using the scissors.
- 3
Step 3
Use the ruler to draw two straight lines across each finger to divide them into three segments.
- 4
Step 4
Cut the drinking straws into short pieces about the length of each finger segment.
- 5
Step 5
Tape one straw piece over each finger segment along the back of each finger.
- 6
Step 6
Make a small hole at the tip of each finger and one hole at the base of the palm using the tip of the scissors.
- 7
Step 7
Thread a piece of string through the fingertip hole then back through the straw pieces toward the palm for each finger.
- 8
Step 8
Tie a small knot at the fingertip end of each string so the string cannot slip back through the straw.
- 9
Step 9
Gather all the loose string ends at the palm and tape them securely to a short straw or stiff paper tab to make a pull handle.
- 10
Step 10
Pull the handle to make the cardboard fingers curl and adjust tape or knots if any finger does not bend smoothly.
- 11
Step 11
Share your finished robotic hand on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I build a simple robotic hand from cardboard, straws, and string?
To build the robotic hand, trace a child’s hand on cardboard and cut out a palm and five finger strips. Cut small straw sections for each finger joint and glue or tape them onto fingers. Poke holes through the palm and thread string through the straw joints, tying the string at fingertip ends. Anchor string inside the palm, then pull to make fingers curl. Adjust tension and tape joints securely; adult help is needed for cutting.
What materials do I need to make a cardboard robotic hand?
You will need: cardboard (from a cereal box or similar), plastic straws (cut into short joints), strong string or twine, scissors, tape (masking or duct), a ruler and marker, and a craft knife for adults. Optional: hot glue, beads or buttons for anchors, and colored paper or paint to decorate. Quantities: one box of cardboard, 5–10 straws, about 1–2 meters of string, and basic tape.
What ages is this cardboard robotic hand activity suitable for?
This project suits ages roughly 6–12. Younger children (6–8) can assemble and thread with close adult supervision for cutting and knotting; adults should handle craft knives and hot glue. Ages 9–12 can work more independently, learning about levers and joints. Teens can scale up complexity with more materials or mechanisms. Avoid small parts for under-3s to reduce choking risk.
What are the benefits of making a cardboard robotic hand?
Making a cardboard robotic hand teaches basic engineering, physics and problem-solving: children see how levers, joints and tension create movement. It boosts fine motor skills, patience, planning, and spatial reasoning. The activity encourages creativity and iterative testing — modifying straw lengths or string tension to improve motion. It’s an inexpensive, hands-on STEAM project that builds confidence and introduces design thinking through playful experimentation.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of drinking straws if I can't find any?
If you don't have drinking straws, use empty pen barrels or tightly rolled strips of cardboard cut to the length of each finger segment and tape them over the finger segments as in step 6.
My fingers don't bend smoothly when I pull the handle—what should I check and fix?
If a finger won't curl when you pull the handle (step 11), make sure each straw piece taped in step 6 is aligned over the segments, tighten or remake the fingertip knot from step 9 so it won't slip back through the hole, and reinforce the straw tape joints where needed.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For preschoolers have an adult trace and cut the hand (steps 1–2) and make the holes (step 7) while the child tapes straw pieces (step 6) and pulls strings (step 11), and for older kids let them measure with the ruler (step 3), cut the straw pieces (step 4), and tie the knots (step 9) by themselves.
How can we improve or personalize the robotic hand after it's working?
To enhance and personalize the hand, decorate the cardboard before cutting (steps 1–2), add elastic bands across the back of the palm for automatic finger return, and glue small beads to the fingertip knots from step 9 for smoother pulls before sharing on DIY.org (step 12).