Dr Jo Science Solutions

Your Future Body – Build a Robot Hand Grabber - KS2

The Festival of Tomorrow blends the creative arts with research and innovation to explore the ideas that will shape our shared future.Our  free Schools Programme aims to support teachers in inspiring and engaging young people with STEAM subjects through an exciting range of interactive sessions, talks and workshops.These programmes are available to book for Swindon  Schools and have been made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners and sponsors.

Festival of Tomorrow Schools Programme

An interactive livestream where pupils become bone detectives and build their very own working model hand!

Get ready for Your Future Body – build a robot hand, an interactive livestream where pupils become bone detectives and build their very own working model hand! In this informative and exciting session, children dive into the incredible world of the human skeleton, discovering how bones protect us, support us, and help us move. They’ll learn why joints bend, how fingers grip, and what makes the skeleton such an amazing living structure.The highlight of the workshop is a hands-on engineering challenge: pupils will create a paper-and-straw hand grabber to explore function and movement, revealing how bones and tendons work together every time we pick something up. With clear, step-by-step guidance and simple materials, every child can build, test and improve their model.Packed with discovery, problem-solving and science in action, Your Future Body – Build a Robot Hand brings learning to life and gets pupils thinking like real scientists and engineers. Perfect for KS2 classrooms looking for a memorable STEM experience!Recommended for: KS2This livestream workshop introduces (or reinforces) KS2 pupils’ understanding of the skeleton, its functions, and how joints enable movement. The session focuses on simple, hands-on investigation and a guided construction task using everyday resources. Activities are suitable for completion at desks and require no specialist equipment.Pupils will begin by exploring the functions of the skeleton, including protection, support, and movement. Through guided observation and simple actions, they will identify key bones and joints and consider how different parts of the skeleton work together during everyday movements – as well as a brief look at other types of skeletons in other animals. The presenter will lead pupils in locating major bones (e.g., spine, ribcage, skull, femur) and recognising the role of joints in bending, gripping, and rotating.The main activity involves constructing a simple ‘robot’ model hand using paper, straws and string. This demonstrates how bones, tendons, muscles and joints interact. Children will follow step-by-step instructions to assemble a simple model. The task encourages problem-solving, careful manipulation, and discussion about how the human hand achieves fine motor control.A short comparative investigation will allow pupils to test how their model moves compared to their own hand, supporting the development of observational vocabulary. Additional prompts will encourage pupils to predict how design changes (e.g., straw length, number of joints) affect movement.Throughout the session, the presenter will provide clear cues for teacher support, classroom safety, and resource management. A basic kit list and optional printable template will be supplied in advance.The workshop aims to develop scientific skills such as identifying and naming bones, observing mechanisms, making predictions, and evaluating models, while building pupils’ understanding of how the skeleton enables movement. It is ideal for introducing the Animals Including Humans objectives in Years 3–4 or for revisiting and applying structural and mechanical concepts (forces) in later KS2.JOINING THIS VIRTUAL EVENTOnce you have registered your class for this show, you will be emailed a few days before the event with all the information you need, including links to join the live online show.

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Your Future Body – Build a Robot Hand Grabber - KS2

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Your Future Body – Build a Robot Hand Grabber - KS2

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