Hands On Options

Arduino Uno

The Arduino UNO is the best board to get started with electronics and coding. If this is your first experience tinkering with the platform, the UNO is the most robust board you can start playing with. The UNO is the most used and documented board of the whole Arduino family. I suggest doing the virtual version of this first (or at the same time), I have a whole video series on it here. If you use these in person (which is awesome), you'll need to get your set up approved by me before powering them (so components don't burn out). Websites to use: arduino.cc and tinkercad.com

3Doodler 3D Pen

A 3D pen is a pen that extrudes heated or warm plastic from the pen’s nozzle. You don’t need any software. There are no files to transfer, and no difficult tech to master. In the words of a teacher we work with, “whatever you imagine, you can draw. It goes from your brain, to your hand, right there.” Please don't try to fix these yourself, they end up jamming and then they don't work. If there is a problem with one, be sure to ask me.

Drone Simulator

While it's not truly a drone (since it isn't automated flight) TinyWhoopGo is an AWESOME FREE quadcopter simulator to learn the controls for flying RC. It doesn't use a lot of system resources, and you can compete with others online. You need to sign up for a login (but it's free). If you are one of my students, I have already set up accounts on my computers.

Do you want to fly a real drone? I offer the opportunity to fly real drones in my STEM Club (you must show your skills on Tiny Whoop Go first).

Edison Programmable Robot

Edison is a programmable robot designed to be a complete STEM teaching resource for coding and robotics education for students from 4 to 16 years of age. I have a lot of these. Website to use: edscratchapp.com

K'Nex

K'Nex is a building system consists of interlocking plastic rods, connectors, blocks, gears, wheels, and other components, which can be assembled to form a wide variety of models, machines, and architectural structures.

Lego Mindstorms

A hardware and software structure which is produced by Lego for the development of programmable robots based on Lego building blocks. You may only use Lego Mindstorms if you have shown Mr. Duda that you can use the Edison Robot's effectively. I only have a couple sets of these. Websites to use: Scratch and Lego Mindstorms

littleBits

Our magnetic “Bits” snap together to turn ideas into inventions, transforming the way kids learn about electronics so they can grow up to be the creators of tomorrow.

Magna-Tiles

Let your imagination take over and build cool 2D and 3D structures!

Makey Makey

Connect the world to your computer! I only have one of these, please be especially careful with it. Websites to use: Scratch and Makey Makey How-To

Micro:bit

Get creative, get connected, get coding! The pocket-sized computer transforming the world. Website to use: MakeCode

Origami

Learn to make things with just paper and folding.

Origami Guide

Paper Airplanes

Make some paper airplanes, fly them, compare, and compete. FOR MY STUDENTS: Please make sure all paper is taken with you or recycled.

Fold-n-Fly

Paper Airplanes HQ

Sphero SPRK+

This little robot is a lot of fun! I do not have devices to control these with anymore, you may use your phone to do so (you'll have to install the app). I have a couple of these. If you are not a member of my physical class, you can control them via chromebooks, we just don't have the app approved yet.