Circuit blocks are used in school programs for kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The previous circuit block activity was very prescribed. The bland wooden blocks were also expensive, purchased by an outside vendor. When a motor shorted or a light broke, the entire block had to be thrown out! I also observed circuit blocks as an open-ended activity in a large museum. Many people abandoned the activity without even making a circuit. Excited to try something different – I redesigned circuit blocks using color-coding and different fabrication techniques.

Fabrication:

For the most commonly used parts – like lights, motors and buzzers, I created 3d-printed housings that could be screwed down. I laser-cut and painted the blocks, soldered wires to motors and lights, and added resistors to buzzers. Now the blocks can be made in-house and repaired easily!

Learning:

We are now able to give visitors simple instructions and let them make their own discoveries. Different power sources are various shades of blue. Outputs (like lights, buzzers, and motors) are warm colors. Controls (like switches and potentiometers) are shades of green. With this simple color-coding, visitors are able to ask and answer their own questions and are much more engaged in the activity.