Bamzooki is showing on CBBC at the moment. Competitors build "zooks" and take part in challenges, in a virtual environment.. The robots are built using a downloadable toolkit: www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bamzooki/

The series has been enormously popular at Whitfield Primary, where pupils have been building zooks as a computer club activity. With a CBBC logon, they can save the zooks to load at home.

Anyone can download the Zook kit:
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/bamzooki/make/zook_kit.shtml

The manual is essential for adults! At Whitfield, pupils quickly picked it up themselves after an introduction by the ICT Manager.

For a quick start, load the toolkit and select then open a zook from either "Examples" or "Website zooks". To see it move, click on Test. The zook moves towards a red target. Keep moving the target by clicking anywhere on the 'floor'. 
       To zoom out, press -
       To zoom in, press +
Drag with the right button to rotate the view.

If you accidentally click the zook itself, it appears in mid air. This is for testing during building. Click the zook again to place back on the floor.

There are various challenges in the different environments (click the drop-down list next to Box). The Edit tool enables adjustments. Click the Add tool to add a body part. Parts such as legs can be 'mirrored' to the other side of the body.

What does Bamzookis offer children?

Bamzookis offers exciting possibilities for extending learning in simulation and control in ICT at Key Stage 2. It promotes collaboration and communication and serves the creative curriculum. I saw a wonderful moment at Whitfield where a pupil discovered what the right button does - you could see the news being passed round the room!

Anyone can download the software and make and test a zook, but sending to CBBC or participating in the message board are strictly open to children only!