Build-It-Yourself inspires kids to build their own toys, robots, puppets and other inventions.

Smart Pencils:
Any builder worth his or her salt should have a "Smart Pencil."

Build a critter, or decorative sign or sculpture. See if you can make it move when you write.

Try wrapping a pipe cleaner around a pencil like a spring. Slip the pipe cleaner spring off the pencil. Cut a piece of 1"x2" of Foamie (foam rubber). Lay a strip of hot glue along one 1" edge. Press the bottom 1" of the pipe cleaner spring on the hot glue strip. After the glue dries, wrap the Foamie around the bottom part of the spring. Hot glue the Foamie so it wraps tightly around the spring.

This makes a removable cap so you can mount your invention on several pencils.

Glue your smart pencil critter or decoration to the other end of the pipe cleaner spring and watch it move as you write!