Kids & Family

Arduino kid’s toy prototype

Kirsten Halterman writes in: “My First Robot” is a book for young children (ages 1-3), intended as an introduction to sensory input and output. I created this book to excite children about small electronics and robots. Using an Arduino, buttons, and an IR sensor, I programmed the robot (named Isbot) to sing a song for […]

NOVA teaches teachers

NOVA teaches teachers

Image from NOVA on PBS Looking for some great resources for your classroom? You may want to check out some of the fantastic tools provided by NOVA on PBS. You can check out their offerings by subject also. They have a weekly feature, which right now is showing Car of the Future. Activity Summary Student […]

In the Maker Shed: Stepping Into Science

In the Maker Shed: Stepping Into Science

The Stepping Into Science kit from the Maker Shed is a great way to start a lifetime of scientific investigation and understanding with 25 fun experiments in five key areas: nature, physics, chemistry, air, and water. With a 48-page guidebook, Stepping into Science teaches science fundamentals with step-by-step, hands-on experiments, while also introducing children to […]

A nice little local dragon

A nice little local dragon

Photo from The Boston Globe A few years ago a dragon turned up down the street. Chuck Nudd had spent some winter months concocting a behemoth animatronic dragon from some cast off steel junk. It started out as a dinosaur, but morphed into a dragon as the design came out. Draco is both wildly popular […]

Quarter Schools concept in Melbourne

Quarter Schools concept in Melbourne

Image from VEIL VEIL, a design initiative in Victoria Australia, has an innovative proposal of reorganizing city schools. It does not appear that the plan has been implemented, but the description presents a positive view of their proposal to solve some of the educational and environmental problems facing school systems. Students from all quarters meet […]

Bots4Tots

Bots4Tots

Bits4Tots is a charity that seeks to bring a hands-on learning experience about making and robotics to kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity. A $25 donation buys a robot kit and a child’s participation in a bot-building workshop at Robot City, a robot store (that’s right, a robot store!) in Lakeview, IL. Bots4Tots