Teaching a children's group about electronics

[ptricks]

I have started teaching a local children's group electronics, there are some teenagers in the group as well.  I have just finished teaching about batteries and resistors , moving on next to diodes and capacitors. What I need is a project idea that would be suited for absolute beginners and at the same time it has to hold the interest of the kids. I was thinking about doing a crystal radio, but radios are everywhere and the idea of listening to a radio using the type of headphone crystal radios require I don't think will be interesting enough.

I was thinking about doing one of those persistence of vision LED things, but not sure.

I plan on using low temp solder when we get to that part to minimize any finger burns and no AC mains projects, sticking with batteries. 
Has anyone done this sort of group before ? Ideas ?

[G7PSK]

What about a bat detector or a metal detector, both of which would provide some interest on completion as well being of interest in the construction and theory. Flashing led's very soon loose their appeal.

[smashedProton]

Make an ellectronic clapper circuit!  its simple:
condenser microphone--->amp--->peak detector--->comparator--->led

[Bored@Work]

Low temp solder? Skin burns start at around 60 to 80 degree C. You'll have problems finding such solder. And many soldering stations can't be adjusted that low. Teach them proper handling and use normal solder.

Yes, some kids will probably get burned. Touching the wrong end of an iron happened to all of us. Check with the parents before, and explain that this can happen. Have some first aid and cold water ready. To calm the parents a bit ensure the kids wear safety goggles.

As for experiments, why not grap one of those electronic experiments kits, and redo some of the experiments in the group. No need to get kits for the group, it should be possible to get the parts and do the experiments on some breadboards.

[Neilm]

You could use no solder bread boards. Easy to use no solder required.

Neil

[grumpydoc]

You could use no solder bread boards. Easy to use no solder required.

Your earlier comment "there are some teenagers in the group as well" suggests that the majority are pre-teen. In which case I'd also advise a project which can be built on solderless breadboards.

Not only will it be easier because mistakes in building the circuits can quickly be remedied but also because I tend to agree with B@W - "Yes, some kids will probably get burned" but their parents will probably be along with lawyers soon after 

[hanndoddi]

Yeah i'd go for the breadboard idea if your doing this often buying a breadbord kit might be a good idea.

But learnig soldering for the kids is allso problably interesting for them how old are they?

If you have gone over the safety i think it could work out and do it in a well ventelated room

I am a teacher my self my students are from 17-99 years old

plz share how your class works out

Good luck.

[ptricks]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.
 I have breadboards and will use them in the lessons but I want to have them make something that they can take home and keep.  I have about 3 hours time each group and I spend about 20 minutes of those teaching, groups are only 1 day of the week over about 8 weeks. I informed everyone about the chances of getting burned and the adults all seemed okay with it, one questioned how bad a burn, worse than cooking ? I told them it would be very unlikely to get burned as bad as someone could cooking a meal.  Ages are from 11 to 16 so no real little kids.

I like the metal detector idea, it would be something they might get more use out of, I just need to figure up a parts cost and build time to see if it is doable. Need to decide fairly early because I intend to have the  boards made so they can take them home. Budget isn't great, about $150 for 10 kids , but I don't think that will be a problem I have enough junk in the parts bin to cover a lot of different projects so main cost is the boards themselves.

  I'm really out of my element teaching but people knew I worked in electronics and told me about the class I volunteered to teach ! I promised the group that I wouldn't bog them down in math so keeping math on the multiply , add, divide level.

Anyone have any ideas on how to explain the relation of volts to current to a 10 year old ?

[Bored@Work]

Anyone have any ideas on how to explain the relation of volts to current to a 10 year old ?

I guess you could drag the age-old water analogy out of the closet.

[notsob]

Visual aids help at that level, a block of wood with light sockets (small ones and a selection of bulbs) a few resistors mounted, a few large  torch batteries and an analogue meter - they can see the changes in intensity, view the analogue meter, change bulbs, rewire resistors - leads to V=IR

[buster7]

I don't think you can bet flashing led's or noise makers
I did a Christmas tree with some cub's with lots of supervision i did most of the fine work before hand so not so much learning electronics
but getting them interested yes there was some burning of fingers   
i also did some with scouts and i used the dick smith system with the wood and screws this work well and the keener kid where able to experiment a bit buy adding different values etc

[4to20Milliamps]

Anyone have any ideas on how to explain the relation of volts to current to a 10 year old ?

I guess you could drag the age-old water analogy out of the closet.

Baseball:

if a small child throws a ball at a window what happens? It still goes through the window but it's force is reduced.

Ball=# of electrons that pass a certain point in a certain period of time
window=resistance or opposition to the force based on material type
person throwing ball= electromotive force

I taught apprentice classes for several years and this analogy always seemed to help turn the light on. 

[Hydrawerk]

I plan on using low temp solder

What do you mean? Bi52Pb32Sn16? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder
Is it possible to buy it?
BTW about ten years ago I burned my finger with a soldering iron.  Since then I hate the smell of burned skin.  Well, my finger was OK in a week. 

[buster7]

here is the link to the Christmas tree we made kids loved it
http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/projects/xmastree.htm

[8086]

Hi ptricks

How did you get the group together? Was the group already established and you are coming in for this specific activity?

I'm trying to start a similar group but I am not sure how to get people in.

[hanndoddi]

Show them this photo



http://www.sengpielaudio.com/ohms-law-illustrated.gif

[c4757p]

Show them this photo

I rather like that.

[vk3yedotcom]

I don't think you can bet flashing led's or noise makers

While their parents will never thank you, I think an electronic noise maker is the best choice.

A flashing LED just - well - flashes - and kids have probably already seen them on equipment.

Whereas a noise maker encourages further use - for instance in making your own music and driving people mad.

I would suggest one whose tone can be varied with either a potentiometer and/or skin resistance (say tapping onto two screws or plates).    The simplest audio oscillator that will drive a speaker would do.

A month ago I was at a radio demonstration put on at a school fete by a nearby radio club.  The display was away from the main arena so didn't get that many visitors.  One kid didn't care much for the radio stuff but was engrossed in the drone machine I brought - making odd tones on it for 10 - 15 min solid (including sounds I'd never got).