tronics for 6 y/os

[N. Thornton]

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

 

[Bob Stephens]

On 18 Dec 2003 13:04:08 -0800, N. Thornton wrote:

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

When my daughter was little I used to keep some bar magnets lying around on
my bench. She had an amazing amount of fun determining what was and was not
magnetic, studying magnetic field patterns with iron filings and small
parts etc.

 

[Walter Harley]

"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...

I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

I don't think I was much older than that when I first started playing with
batteries and light bulbs. If you can figure out how to connect wires while
dealing with relatively limited manual dexterity, you can have fun with
things like how incandescent bulbs get dimmer or brighter if you hook them
in series, parallel, whatever. Of course, you'll blow out some bulbs if
you're not careful...

 

[Active8]

[This followup was posted to sci.electronics.design and a copy was
sent to the cited author.]

On 18 Dec 2003 13:04:08 -0800, bigcat@meeow.co.uk said...

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

When I was 6, I had a box of Captain Crunch with instructions on

how to use the box to make a microphone.

You cut a square (or close) sound hole the thickness of the box
just below the flap


----------------------
/ / |
--------------------- | <== hole
| | /|
| |/
| |

the flap gets closed with tape

the box lays flat and you attach aluminum foil or some conductive
metal folded into an angle like angle iron and attach wires.

___________________ <== pencil lead
| |
__| |__ <== contacts
---------------------------------------- <== box

nuff said.

Wrap a bunch of insulated wire around a framing nail and connect it
to a lantern battery. I used my Grandfather's ancient dry cells (2)
which were only 1.5V IIRC. My lantern batts (the dry cells died )
were 6V and didn't have those cool brass nuts to attach the wires.

But I'm older now and still have brass nuts.

Get one of those glass spice bottles with the plastic seal on the
lid/plug. Put some vinegar in it. Add sodium bicarbonate, close,
and shake if you have time.

Weren't you ever a kid

Mike

 

[Genome]

"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

Yes!!!!

I'd go for a wiggly wire thing... I'm an old bastard and they are so knob
off cool that I want one. Major fun and a challenge for all involved. Who
gives a toss if there's some sort of electronics type arse in there.

I'd fix up a base thing that goes 'buzz perling flash' and has a couple of
terminal things that you can plug any bit of bendy stuff into it. Then I'd
supply a basic bendy thing to plug into it.

I'd also supply some unbent bendy things so they can bend them and plug them
in the base thing themselves.

Then I'd wander about the place and say things like.

'See, when your hooky think completes the circuit to the bendy thing it goes
buzz and lights its light. That's because the 'circuit' has been completed
and the electrons are flowing'

Then I'd not be offended when they said,

'Sure, Grandad..... that's why I plugged the four millimeter pluggy thing
into the hooky thing'.

DNA

 

[Rick]

When I was 5 or 6 I made a telegraph from a nail wrapped with wire and a
metalic bandaid can. When you closed the switch on a 1.5V dry cell, the
nail/wire electromagnet would flex the side of the bandaid box, making a
popping sound. I never really learned code with it, but I wired it from my
room to a tree "fort" in the backyard and had some secret messages I would
send to friends.

pretty simple to explain and construct, yet technology that changed the face
of the world.

I think I made an electric motor at age 7 or 8, and I got my first laser (a
1mW HeNe) at age 9 (ok, so I was spoiled

Rick




"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

 

[Ian Stirling]

In sci.electronics.design Genome <genome@nothere.com> wrote:

"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...
Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

Yes!!!!

I'd go for a wiggly wire thing... I'm an old bastard and they are so knob
off cool that I want one. Major fun and a challenge for all involved. Who
gives a toss if there's some sort of electronics type arse in there.

I'd fix up a base thing that goes 'buzz perling flash' and has a couple of
terminal things that you can plug any bit of bendy stuff into it. Then I'd
supply a basic bendy thing to plug into it.

5V 20A power supply, galvanised wire, nice sparklies when they touch.
(Ensure adequate ballast resistance.)

 

[Genome]

"Ian Stirling" <root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:BCqEb.2600$tQ6.34201@wards.force9.net...

In sci.electronics.design Genome <genome@nothere.com> wrote:

"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...
Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

Yes!!!!

I'd go for a wiggly wire thing... I'm an old bastard and they are so
knob
off cool that I want one. Major fun and a challenge for all involved.
Who
gives a toss if there's some sort of electronics type arse in there.

I'd fix up a base thing that goes 'buzz perling flash' and has a couple
of
terminal things that you can plug any bit of bendy stuff into it. Then
I'd
supply a basic bendy thing to plug into it.


5V 20A power supply, galvanised wire, nice sparklies when they touch.
(Ensure adequate ballast resistance.)

I was being serious. You are being a poofhole.

DNA

 

[John Popelish]

"N. Thornton" wrote:

Hi

I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

Have them build the buzzer. A coil of wire around a nail, a piece of
tin can as the armature, and nail or screw as the contact point, all
tacked to a piece of wood. It moves, it makes noise, it sparks (and
tingles if you touch across the contacts while it runs and makes
enough voltage to light a neon light) and it generates radio
interference that can be used as a code transmitter from room to room
by listening between AM stations with a pocket radio. Hours of fun
and experimentation. You will get sick of hearing it before they get
tired of playing with it.

--
John Popelish

 

[Michael]

bigcat@meeow.co.uk (N. Thornton) wrote in message news:<a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com>...

Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

You could use a compass next to a wire to show current flow,

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Ian Stirling
<root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote (in <BCqEb.2600$tQ6.34201@wards.force9.ne
t&gt about 'tronics for 6 y/os', on Thu, 18 Dec 2003:

5V 20A power supply, galvanised wire, nice sparklies when they touch.
(Ensure adequate ballast resistance.)

Exposing the little dears to all those zinc oxide fumes! What can you be
thinking of? (;-)

ISTM, the batteries and laps thing is a very good idea. It's how I
started at about that age. You can add LEDs now, of course, which adds
greatly to the fun.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk
Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to
http://www.isce.org.uk
PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL!

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Genome <genome@nothere.com> wrote
(in <beqEb.494$h97.274@newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net&gt about 'tronics for
6 y/os', on Thu, 18 Dec 2003:

Then I'd not be offended when they said,

'Sure, Grandad..... that's why I plugged the four millimeter pluggy
thing into the hooky thing'.

Oh, you know some kids like that, too, do you.

I told a 3-Y-O that he was holding a 'screwdriver' and he said 'Yes, a
Philips screwdriver'.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk
Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to
http://www.isce.org.uk
PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL!

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

thing is a very good idea. It's how I
started at about that age. You can add LEDs now, of course, which adds
greatly to the fun.

--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk
Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to
http://www.isce.org.uk
PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL!

 

[Ian Stirling]

In sci.electronics.basics John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

And gemstones.

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Ian Stirling
<root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote (in <k5HEb.2914$tQ6.35769@wards.force9.ne
t&gt about 'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

In sci.electronics.basics John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:
I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

And gemstones.

And races, of course.

--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk
Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to
http://www.isce.org.uk
PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL!

 

[Bob Stephens]

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:36:30 +0000, John Woodgate wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote (in <k5HEb.2914$tQ6.35769@wards.force9.ne
t&gt about 'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:
In sci.electronics.basics John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:
I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

And gemstones.

And races, of course.

Not to mention Finns.

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Bob Stephens <stephensdigital@eart
hlink.net> wrote (in <1wgrvobzibbdl.fnppsnkd8uv0.dlg@40tude.net&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:36:30 +0000, John Woodgate wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote (in <k5HEb.2914$tQ6.35769@wards.force9.ne
t&gt about 'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:
In sci.electronics.basics John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:
I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

And gemstones.

And races, of course.

Not to mention Finns.

Those Lapps have two p's. The cold weather, you know.(;-)
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only. http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk
Interested in professional sound reinforcement and distribution? Then go to
http://www.isce.org.uk
PLEASE do NOT copy news posts to me by E-MAIL!

 

[N. Thornton]

Hi

Well, a whole bundle of ideas - thanks to eevryonefor contributing. A
wiggly wire thing it shall be!

Regards, NT

 

[Active8]

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 19:00:41 GMT, stephensdigital@earthlink.net
said...

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:36:30 +0000, John Woodgate wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Ian Stirling
root@mauve.demon.co.uk> wrote (in <k5HEb.2914$tQ6.35769@wards.force9.ne
t&gt about 'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:
In sci.electronics.basics John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:
I read in sci.electronics.design that John Woodgate <jmw@jmwa.demon.cont
raspam.yuk> wrote (in <P8HWJ+AoGu4$EwmU@jmwa.demon.co.uk&gt about
'tronics for 6 y/os', on Fri, 19 Dec 2003:

ISTM, the batteries and laps

Not 'laps' but 'lamps'. Laps are for cats and messets.

And gemstones.

And races, of course.

Not to mention Finns.

And titty dancers.

 

[YD]

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 22:57:06 -0000, "Genome" <genome@nothere.com>
wrote:

"N. Thornton" <bigcat@meeow.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a7076635.0312181304.1e0b8be6@posting.google.com...
Hi


I need some ideas for one session projects with some 6 year olds. I
cant think of much, only those wiggly wire games where you try and get
the loop round the bent wire or it goes bzzz.

Maybe thats the thing to do?

Following the one session one there might be some longer ones too.

Regards, NT

Yes!!!!

I'd go for a wiggly wire thing... I'm an old bastard and they are so knob
off cool that I want one. Major fun and a challenge for all involved. Who
gives a toss if there's some sort of electronics type arse in there.

I'd fix up a base thing that goes 'buzz perling flash' and has a couple of
terminal things that you can plug any bit of bendy stuff into it. Then I'd
supply a basic bendy thing to plug into it.

I'd also supply some unbent bendy things so they can bend them and plug them
in the base thing themselves.

Then I'd wander about the place and say things like.

'See, when your hooky think completes the circuit to the bendy thing it goes
buzz and lights its light. That's because the 'circuit' has been completed
and the electrons are flowing'

Then I'd not be offended when they said,

'Sure, Grandad..... that's why I plugged the four millimeter pluggy thing
into the hooky thing'.

DNA

I too had something like that. A board with some lamps, a motor, a
rheostat, a buzzer and some switches all interconnectable with pluggy
and wiry things. One switch was one of those brass strip with brass
knobs so you could actually see which way you steered the current. It
also had a real telegraph key, for some reason it was more often
connected to the motor.

- YD

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