ELECTRONIC KITS

Zivko the Robot is back in stock! Our best selling STEM kit ever! Just call her (or him--it’s unclear and we don’t like to ask) “Zivko” because “the Robot” is her last name. Using just a screwdriver and side cutters, you build Zivko from this 107-piece S.T.E.M. kit. Set the mode for “Follow Me” or “Explore,” and Zivko will, yes, track you, or evade obstacles, respectively, via an infrared sensor and micro-controller programming. Interactive LEDs and sounds abound. Measures approx 5" x 5-1/2" x 6-1/2" when assembled with all (6) legs. You add (4) “AAA”s for power, which is the least you can do for someone this cute. Ages 10+.

Everything you need to build a little DC motor is included in this kit (except sandpaper, screwdriver, scissors and, of course, an AA battery). The instructions are simple and explain the theory as well as assembly. Fun and educational for ages 12 and up.

Electronics fans, musicians and budding Sci-Fi sound engineers will love this little starter electronics kit for making a mini version of a theremin, the venerable capacitance-based instrument that’s synonymous with eerie sounds. This one skips the volume antenna, but has a quantization mode as well as a continuous swoop via the pitch antenna. You add a 9V battery and some minimal soldering skills. Includes all parts, including IC sockets. Measures 2” square, and includes excellent instructions. You might want to get a little project box for it. Made in the USA for Madlab/Velleman.Ages 10+.

It doesn't get much cooler in the robotic-arm-kit game. The assembled STEM educational arm is 15" tall x 9" long x approx 3-1/2" wide. It's 2-pronged hand opens to 1-3/4", lifts up to 3.5 oz (100g), swings 120 degrees at the wrist, pivots 300 degrees at the elbow, and sits on a base that swings 180 degrees up and down and rotates 270 degrees, like, well, an arm. Controlled by (5) 2-axis joy-sticks and powered by (4) D-Cell batteries that you provide. Includes a hand-mounted search light and over-torque and gear-breakage alarms, which is more than your arm has. Requires a diagonal cutter and Philips screwdriver for assembly of its 200+ pieces and is made for ages 12 and up.

with our best selling electronics kit. Build 100 or more electronic projects from a Reflection Detector to a Simple Salt Water Alarm with Snap Circuits Jr. The Elenco kit, a Dr. Toy Winner, has a grid base and a selection of conductors, resistors, switches, integrated circuits and more, for a total of (30) color-coded snap-in parts. For ages 8 to 108, the easy-to-use components and well-designed instruction manual make this a perfect way to spend some quality time with a bright young child! AWARDS: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products. Ages 8+. See our full line of Elenco Snap Circuits here!

Or at least understandable. Motors & Generators is a Parents' Choice Silver Award winner kit from Thames & Kosmos that teaches how kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and back again—and why. Includes (12) pieces, (25) experiments, and a (48)-page manual. You'll build an electric motor, generate electricity with a hand crank to power a light, and build simple circuits. You add some common household items like paper clips and (2) AA batteries and you’re good to go. Ages 8+.

Our electronic MadLab bagpipe kit will slip into your shirt pocket or sporran. No plaid lower garments required, and, as usual, undergarments are up to you. This nice starter electronics kit has a transistor-based oscillator and 8-position stylus-activated “keyboard.” Output is via a piezo disc. Minimal soldering skills needed, and assembly should take under an hour. Add a 9V battery for power and you’ll be thrown out of class, or recruited into battle, within the first six notes. Ages 10+.

An advanced kit compared to the others, a little more deluxe and a little more complicated. It is an AM/FM radio kit from Elenco with over 80 pieces divided into lesson groups. PC board shows component placement to help learning and to minimize errors. It has (14) transistors and (4) diodes and measures appx. 11"x 5". Ages 12+, as considerable soldering is required.

Our robotic kingii dragon (Chlamydosaurus kingii, or frilled-neck lizard) is better than a puppy because you don't have clean up after it and it won't chew the furniture. This STEM education kit has (2) motors and digital control via IR sensors to activate LED eyes, motorized mouth and pop-out neck frill, plus "Escape" and "Chase" modes, which make it retreat and follow you using IR sensors, respectively. You'll need (4) "AAA" batteries and some patience, as this kit is delightfully challenging. Finished dragon will be 13-1/2" long x 8-1/4" x 5". For ages 10+.

Here’s how you get started in the electronics game. First, you get the Flying Saucer, which is the simplest of the Elenco® Snap Circuits kits. Following the instructions, you build a simple circuit with motors and fans to make the saucer. Next, you add (3) “AAA” batteries and put the model through the included (14) experiments. The final step is, you get ready to buy more Snap Circuits kits since you now know first-hand how addictively fun they are.

These robotics kits from Tree of Knowledge® are simple-assembly DIY kits with no soldering required. You pick: the Treasure Finder Robot that looks sort of like a yellow ladybug and discovers metal, or the Robotics kit that allows you to build (3) different robots, each with its own electronic circuit and body, which are insect-like, in red, green and purple, and controlled by light, radar and TV remote. Both require (2) “AA” batteries, which you provide. Ages 8+

And you can help budding scientists get a leg up on a green career with these Red-Dot Design award-winning kits from Green Science®. For ages 5+. You pick: the salt-powered robot uses specially designed battery cartridges, and includes a motor, gears, a body ready to assemble and detailed instructions. You add salt, water, teaspoon and screwdriver. Or: the multifunction mini-observatory weather station with terrarium experiments on the greenhouse effect, and devices to measure temps, rainfall, wind speed and direction. Includes a daily weather chart. You add a soda bottle, dirt and plants for the terrarium, and a screwdriver.

Looking for an easy-to-understand introduction to the world of open-source Arduino coding? Snapino™ from Elenco’s Snap Circuits® line is for you or your favorite gift receiver. Fully-compatible with Arduino UNO boards, standard shields, common components and other Snap Circuits® sets, your projects can grow as your knowledge and skills do, too. Includes (20) projects advancing in complexity to gradually familiarize you with coding and building projects. For use with Windows, Mac or Linux systems, you'll need to download the latest Arduino application and Snapino programs. Includes various modules, LEDs, resistors, jumpers, USB cord and a battery holder for the 9V battery that you’ll add.

Yet another great Snap Circuits® kit, this one based on lighting and optics, with a bonus 3-dimensional circuit board. Includes (50) parts and over (150) projects. Special components include an infinity mirror; red, green, blue and white LEDs; 6-way gel wheel; photoresistor; and a diffusion lens. Parts compatible with all other Snap Circuits® kits, too.

Electronic fun with just a hint of soldering from Madlab. This little lie detector kit comes with a PC board and components, diodes and transistors. You should be able to assemble your kit in under an hour with a little light soldering. You add a 9V battery. For ages 10 and up. Soldering iron not included. But we have one, and it’s item #88242 click here. Click

Cool kit to introduce the beginner (age 10+) to the fabulous world of electronics. You will learn the basics of putting together circuits through over 50 projects building actual devices like an alarm, a radio, a metal detector and much more. The simple but complete instructions explain voltage, current resistance etc. This kit from Elenco is a giant "breadboard" with wires that can be connected to form the circuits as explained in the instructions…and all without soldering! A fabulous educational item at a fabulous surplus price!! For ages 10+.

For pre-soldering-age kids with electronic interests (and maybe an artistic bent), this swell kit has hunks of conductive clay in orange, black, green and blue plus some ordinary white clay for insulation. Includes (20) assorted blue, yellow, green and white LEDs, a battery holder and a 52-page book for making (15) projects, although they’ll just be a start. You add a quartet of “AA” batteries and an inventive kid at age 8 up.

Bells, whistles, sirens, rain and metal detectors, amps, timers! Instructions on how to build the circuits for a burglar alarm, light dimmer, tone-mixing amplifier, logic tester and a whole bunch more. The Elenco® Electronic Playground 130 & Learning Center" by Elenco® has 130 projects using a control center with a built-in breadboard with contact springs. The perfect intro to electronics for ages 12 and way up, it includes a 164-page instruction book and all the parts you need except (6) "AA" batteries. No experience necessary. Build these exciting kits also! Electronic siren, LED strobe light, light dimmer, sound amp, winking LEDs, sound machine, pencil lead organ, tone mixing amp, burglar alarm, first-aid siren, voice-activated LED, logic tester, sound alarm circuit, voice level meter, delayed timer, AM Radio station, crystal radio, metal detector, water level alarm and many more!