Snap Circuits Light
| Lower Age: | 8 |
|---|---|
| Upper Age: | 108 |
| Price: | $95.00 |
| Year Added: | 2021 |
| Amazon URL: | https://bit.ly/snapcircuitlight |
Included in the kit are 55 snap circuit parts, including everything from lights to fans to resistors. In order to use Snap Circuits Light, users will need to provide four AA batteries. Additionally, younger children may benefit from adult assistance to ensure they are using the kit safely.
Snap Circuits are, as the name implies, a system of circuits that snap together. The included manual explains what each part is and how it works. In addition, the manual teaches how to avoid short-circuiting and other safety practices for circuit design & assembly. Also included in the guide are 101 projects that are buildable with only the provided parts. These projects increase in difficulty, starting with a switch and battery and moving all the way up to a contact alarm. To offset the complexity, the instructions are straightforward to follow and do a great job of explaining how each project works. The sky's the limit for Snap Circuits; users do not necessarily have to follow the book's recommended projects. Once users understand the basics of circuitry and circuit safety, they can attempt an unlimited number of different projects. The creativity this kit provides while teaching is genuinely astounding.
Using Snap Circuits Light, children not only learn processes of design and iterative design, but they learn to think like an engineer. They do so by applying their previously learned knowledge in new places. For example, the Snap Circuits Light manual does not always give the exact instructions for building the following circuit. Instead, it challenges users to use their previous knowledge of different components to consider how parts can go together to accomplish a goal. Users practice iterative design every step along the way. By playing with Snap Circuits Light, children learn design processes and how to apply engineering knowledge to creative projects that make learning circuitry fun.
Framework Categories
Engineering Thinking (EThink)
Apply SEM Knowledge (SEM)
Processes of Design (POD)
Moore, T.J., Glancy, A.W., Tank, K.M., Kersten, J.A., Smith, K.A., & Stohlmann, M.S. (2014). A framework for quality K-12 engineering education: Research and development. Journal of Precollege Engineering Education Research, 4(1), 1-13.