This kit allows participants to explore circuits with activities fit for a diverse age range. Patrons can even make art with their robots and learn about circuits.
This kit includes:
Activity Binder
- Introduction/Instructions
- Introduction/Book list
- Inventory Sheet
- Pictures of trunk organization
- Questions to Extend Discoveries
- Scribble Bots that Draw Activity Guide
- Sand Sketching Scribble Machines Activity Guide
- Circuit Blocks Activity Guide
- Energy Stick Activity Guide
- Consumable and Restocking List
- Using a Digital Multimeter to Test Voltage
- Art Bots Supplement
- When It All Comes Together
- What Children Gain by Learning Through Inquiry
- Making for STEM Success
- Background information for teaching electricity at the primary-school level
- Curiosity: The Force Within a Hungry Mind
- The right question at the right time
- Parent Surveys
- 4 laminated activity sheets
Books
- Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman
- Clink by Kelly DiPuccio
- Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle
- Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors by Jane O’Connor
- How Machines Work: Zoo Break! by David Macaulay
- Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman
- Oscar and the Bird: A Book about Electricity by Geoff Waring
- Robots, Robots, Everywhere by Sue Fliess
- Switch On, Switch Off by Melvin Berger
- The Robot Book by Heather Brown
Energy Stick/Ball
- Energy Stick
- Energy Balls
Scribble Bots that Draw/Sand Sketching Scribble Machines
- Small 1.5v motor with leads attached
- Battery holders with leads attached
- Clothespins
- Corks
- Binder clips
- Buttons/Button-like objects
- Half sheet size metal tray
- Doodling robots
Circuit Blocks
- Lightbulb blocks
- Motor block
- LED block
- Bi-color LED block
- Buzzer block
- Knife switch block
- Rocker switch block
- Push-button block
- Potentiometer (dimmer switch) block
- Photo cell block
- Battery blocks
- Alligator clip wires
- Motors with battery packs
To Be Provided by Borrowing Library*
- White butcher or craft paper
- AA Batteries
- Markers/crayons/pencils
- Masking tape
- Cardboard cylinders
- Salt
- Variety of small plastic containers (Minimum 15)
- Dowels/Craft sticks
*Some of these materials are provided in the kit but may be recommended to purchase as they will not be restocked by NMSL in the future.
Please see the attached user manual for larger images, manuals, and inventory.
Each trunk contains an activity binder as well as activity materials. Some materials will be up to you to provide but most of the materials have been included; please read through the activity binder and user guide to determine which materials you’ll need to provide.
Also included in the activity binder is a complete inventory of the activity trunk.
Please verify inventory is correct when you return the trunk and sign and date the inventory. If any materials are missing, please notify us as soon as possible, and make note of it on the inventory.
There are also parent/caregiver surveys we would like you to provide after each program using the trunk. Please make additional copies as needed.
Your completed inventory and any completed surveys should be placed inside the trunk and returned with the trunk to the New Mexico State Library.