
It’s widely used and there are a ton of courses and activities built around it. It is designed and maintained by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and has been used by educators for decades. Scratch is a programming language and a safe online community where children can program and share interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world.
#Pinbox 3000 top designs software
The only special part you need is a solar-compatible DC motor.Įven if you don’t have any hardware, your kids can learn technology concepts with some of the free online educational software available.

#Pinbox 3000 top designs plus
However, kids can make their own electronics projects – everything from low-tech robotic systems to sensor-driven wearables that light up and play music - using just everyday stuff, plus a few inexpensive electronics parts.Īs the author of several books of low-tech/no-tech activities that teach kids about electronics and programming, I have a preference for STEM resources that encourage kids to design and build their own circuits into creations they make by hand, from materials around them.įor example, these Solar WobbleBots from my book BOTS are made from dollar store garden lights, old CDs, and the top of a slurpy cup. They range from pre-built models that you program with an app, to kits that let you design, build, and program your own robot from scratch. You’ve probably noticed that the number of robotics and electronics sets has exploded over the past decade. As always, keep in mind that these activities and supplies can be used to touch on a variety of subjects.

Build anything from a water powered rocket to working robots to become a super engineerĬontinuing with my series about teaching STEM subjects without a curriculum, here are some hands-on ideas to introduce your kids to concepts in technology like robotics, other electronics, and software. They include how-to books as well as books about feats of engineering that can inspire your kids to start building on their own!Ĭrazy Contraptions: Build Rube Goldberg Machines that Swoop, Spin, Stack, and Swivel with Hands-On Engineering Activities by Laura Perdewīackyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices by William Gurstelleīuild It! Make It!: Makerspace Models. Here are just a few titles that my family has enjoyed. The group OK Go has a whole educational website called OK Go Sandbox devoted to their Rube Goldberg music videos, with activities kids can do themselves! My book Musical Inventions includes a musical marble run inspired by the hand-cranked Wintergatan marble machine that used Lego, wood, and steel marbles to play real instruments.īut there are million variations on this theme.
#Pinbox 3000 top designs how to
They’re great for teaching not only building techniques, but also physics and math as you calculate how to make parts swing or drop accurately and get the right balance of weights. Outside, they can make their way through the backyard and incorporate swings and other sports equipment.

Indoors, they can fit on a counter or sprawl around the room or around the house. Rube Goldberg machines and marble runs can be as big or small as you like.
