Bristle Bot Kits – A Fun Alternative.
Meet the Critter Bot.
A better way to build a buzzing robot.
All the excitement of a bristle bot—designed to be easier to assemble, sturdier for little hands, and a whole lot more creative. Perfect for elementary STEM projects, classrooms, and clubs.
Watch it build. Watch it move!
See how Critter Bot comes together—and how its vibrating motor brings a decorated robot to life. A quick look at the fun before you choose your kit.
Shop Critter Bot Kits →Small robot. Big possibilities.
Traditional bristle bots are a fun introduction to vibrating robots. Critter Bot builds on that idea with a classroom-friendly design and more room for imagination.
Easier to build
Simple components, approachable assembly, and step-by-step instructions for beginners.
Sturdier design
A stable cup-based robot body, rather than a tiny toothbrush-head platform.
Made to customize
Color, cut, decorate, and transform every robot into a one-of-a-kind critter.
Great group value
Bulk packs and free curriculum make classroom activities easier to plan.
Not just a robot. Their robot.
Kids don't have to build identical little machines. They can turn their Critter Bots into animals, characters, seasonal creations, or entirely new inventions.
Use printable paper templates, crayons, markers, stickers, googly eyes, and other craft supplies to give every robot its own personality.
Make it your own! Browse our free downloadable decoration templates, or ask us about custom templates for your school, event, or organization.
More robots. More creativity. Better group value.
Planning a STEM night, Girl Scout activity, science class, library workshop, or after-school program? Critter Bot comes in group-friendly quantities, with free teaching resources to help you get started.
Schools and institutions: Purchase orders and quote requests are welcome.
Affordable STEM Projects for the Whole Classroom
100 Critter Bots for $199.95 — approximately $2 per student.
Make hands-on robotics accessible for your entire class. Each kit includes the components needed to build and customize a moving robot, plus free STEM lessons and printable resources.
AAA batteries sold separately. Pricing based on the 100-pack; check the product page for current prices.
Tested by educators.
Loved by young builders.
“We used the 100 pack Critter Bots package for our elementary school’s annual Robot Week for grades K-2 last spring. The package was well organized and the kids had an absolute blast customizing their critters and building them. I was impressed by the quality and simplicity of the project. The kids were able to complete the project with minimal guidance. Highly recommend for this age group!
As an extra perk, the team at Barnabas has been so helpful in guiding us as we continue Robot Week going forward, with lots of new ideas and project options. Thank you!”
— Elementary school educator, grades K–2
Explore more customer reviews and teaching resources on our Critter Bot product page.
Read reviews →Just press play and teach STEM!
Turn Critter Bot building time into a guided learning experience. Play these free STEM videos for your class, club, or homeschool group—no need to create a lesson presentation from scratch. Watch together, pause for questions, and let students explore the science behind their moving robots.
STEM Lesson 1: Design
Press play to introduce creative design, then invite students to plan and personalize their own Critter Bot.
STEM Lesson 2: Electricity
Press play to introduce electricity and circuits, then connect the lesson to the battery and motor that make Critter Bot move.
Easy for educators: Set up the kits, press play, and guide students as they build, test, and customize their Critter Bots.
Questions about bristle bot kits?
What is a bristle bot?
A bristle bot is a small vibrating robot, often built from a toothbrush head, a motor, and a battery. The vibration makes it move across a surface.
Is Critter Bot a bristle bot?
Critter Bot uses the same basic vibration-powered movement concept but replaces the tiny toothbrush-head base with a larger, customizable cup-based robot body.
Is Critter Bot easier for elementary students?
Critter Bot is designed for beginner builders, with a larger body, simple components, and guided instructions. Younger children may still need adult assistance.
Is Critter Bot cheaper than other bristle bot kits?
Critter Bot offers bulk pack options that can make group activities economical. Exact savings depend on the competing kit, pack size, and current prices.
Does the Critter Bot kit include batteries?
The AAA version includes a battery holder, but AAA batteries are not included. Check the selected product version for its complete contents.
Can I use Critter Bot for a STEM class or Girl Scout activity?
Yes. Critter Bot is designed for elementary STEM/STEAM activities and has been used by schools, clubs, and Girl Scout troops. Free lessons, worksheets, and printable templates are available.
Ready to build a Critter Bot?
Give young makers a robot they can build, decorate, and proudly call their own.
Shop Critter Bot Kits →Let customers speak for us
We used the 100 pack Critter Bots package for our elementary school’s annual Robot Week for grades K-2 last spring. The package was well organized and the kids had an absolute blast customizing their critters and building them. I was impressed by the quality and simplicity of the project. The kids were able to complete the project with minimal guidance. Highly recommend for this age group!
As an extra perk, the team at Barnabas has been so helpful in guiding us as we continue Robot Week going forward, with lots of new ideas and project options. Thank you!
Our girls had an absolute blast! They were super engaged and loved following the steps to build their robots. We can’t wait to try more in the future!
I just finished an after school club session with 22 4th and 5th graders and we built this kit. It was very engaging and fun for them to learn how to code it.
Our troop of girls absolutely loved this lesson and enjoyed seeing their robot come to life! Great lesson and video in explaining how robotics work and how they are made, all with putting that knowledge to work! Thank you from our girlscout troop!
We used this for the brownies robotics badge and the girls loved it! Highly recommend!
My Brownie/Junior Troop had a blast putting these together. The free curriculum and tutorials were a great resource! Will definitely be purchasing more from this company.
We had a fun robot build to relieve some stress in our Girls in STEM club. We had so much fun coloring and and building the bots and then playing with them in class!
I highly recommend Barnabas Robotics Kits. We purchased the Dancing Shamrock kit for ages 11 and up. We all learned a lot putting this kit together, adults and kids! The kids followed a video for instructions on the build. Edward Lee was quick to respond if I had any questions and I had several. We will try other kits in the future! Great Company and great product.
I did this with Kindergarten through 3rd grade. The kids loved the ability to make them into what ever creature or person they wanted. Everything was in the kit. I did add google eyes to them. All that was needed was coloring makers, pencils, or crayons. For Kindergarten and 1st grades I did stick down the motor for them, but they did everything else. For putting the body on the cup I told them to have the body oriented so it made a smile (ends curved up) not a frownie face.
Great product!! Easy to follow instructions, everything needed was included except the batteries!! My Girl Scout troop enjoyed doing these as part of their robotics badge.
Contains everything needed. My grands enjoyed making these! (Ages 5-10)
Theses little bots are amazing! My son had so much fun making theses little bits and it was such a fun activity to do as a family! I highly recommend theses for your bot loves or even something to do on a rainy day.
Looks like a great project to do with the grandchildren.
Oh my goodness. We just got these out last night for our grandkids to put together. We had a blast with them. They put them on the floor, on a ramp, in a box with a cutout door ( to see whose would go out the door the fastest. ). Today my daughter texted me and said “how many things can we put these in” with a picture of them hopping around in muffin tins! Definitely worth the cost for all the fun they’ve had.
My son enjoyed putting it together and learning about an open and closed circuit. He has been sharing his invention with everyone! It was so much fun and we both learned from the activity
I am so impressed with the Barnabas-Bot: Arduino-Compatible 3-d Printed robot kit and highly recommend it. The Bot was easy to assemble and the lesson plans were very easy to follow. I love how easy it was to teach fundamental engineering skills to younger students, and how this company was eager and available for any help or guidance needed.