ELECTRONIC KITS

Zivko the Robot. 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+.

Looking to upgrade and build a more advanced robot with more programming options? Try the Tobbie II!   https://www.sciplus.com/tobbie-ii-diy-coding-robot-kit-65185-p

His name is Tobbie II, and although he stands only about 6-7/8” tall, he does sport (6) actual feet, which is why he has such an agile, 360-degree, free-rotation body. You build him yourself (easy-peasy if you’re over 10) and program him on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Comes out of the box pre-programmed with Assembly Checker and Program #1, so the fun starts right away. Use him as a light tracker or thermometer, or to play rock-paper-scissors or bowling, or as a notice board, calculator or compass, or as a pet who will follow you. He’ll do other things, too. Includes a 36-page manual, and all you add is a quartet of “AAA” batteries and some common hand tools.

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.

Learn and build your own FM radio kit - it's easy, it's fun, it's safe and best of all it's solder free! Tune in your favorite FM radio stations: receives 88 - 108MHz band. Easy-to-read illustrated operating manual included. Ages 8+

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.

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 the case measures 11"x 5"x2-1/4". 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+.

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+.

if you want to sound like a steam engine, and who among us doesn't? This Velleman® steam-engine sound generator kit comes with circuit board, components, battery connectors, speaker and instruction sheet. You add solder, a soldering iron and a 9V battery. Volume and (implied) speed are adjustable and there's a horn button, so it'll go both choo-choo and whoo-whoo. Great for train hobbyists or people bored with their doorbell. Ages 10+.

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!

Actually, robots are electrovores, so they're all green. But this robot kit is an award winner from Green Science® and it's solar, so it gets its nourishment from the electricity generated by the solar panel on top of its head, like we all will eventually. Includes a solar panel, motor, gears, arms, legs and instructions. Punch out the cardboard template to turn it into a cardboard T-Rex, or use a coffee cup to make it a cute critter. For ages 5+.

We don’t altogether understand the name, but we like this beginners’ electronics kit. Has (4) pairs of blue LEDs and a Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC) to cycle through various patterns on a 2-3/8” octagonal PC board with decorative wire coils to give it a steampunkish look. Lights change pattern in a circle, like a certain superhero arc reactor. You add (2) CR2025 batteries. Should take under an hour to wire up, and has immediate results.

Without the whistles. From Logiblocs™ e-building systems, this kit lets you build more than (10) projects, including a doorbell fridge alarm, a light-activated alarm, and a Morse code machine. Color-coded for ease of construction. Blocs hold printed circuit boards, and connecting them in different combinations results in creating circuits and virtually writing your own simple programs. For ages 5+.

When is a toy not a toy? When you can have fun with a kid, and build a digital voice recorder at the same time. If the young Tom Edison had had one of these kits, your grandparents' lives would have been a lot easier. Elenco's Pro Model SC-750 is a Dr. Toy winner, from their Snap-Circuits" series. Has over (80) parts to snap (no soldering) into a grid and learn electronics while building an AM or FM radio, digital voice recorder, burglar alarm, doorbell, and electronic games, among over 750 experiments, including solar, electromagnetism, and computer-interfaced applications. For ages 8 up to adult, it includes a well-written, graphically illustrated instruction manual. AWARDS: The National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval, Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products, Dr Toy Best Educational Products.

Just what can solar power…power? Find out with Teach Tech's Solar Fun 6 kit that comes with one solar module and one gearbox, and an assortment of snap-together plastic parts. Sunshine and a diagonal cutter required, safety glasses, of course, highly recommended. Build and easily reassemble (6) different STEM education solar-powered models (windmill, revolving plane, airboat, plane, car, solar puppy) or one of your own. Assembled units are roughly 4" across, in varying heights. For young engineers age 8 and up.

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.

Snap Circuits® kits are perennial faves here at the home office, and this 47-piece kit is an electronic honey. The most fun you can have without a soldering gun, and it’ll teach you about electricity and magnetism. You’ll learn how the electricity in your house works, and specifically how light switches control electricity, among many other things. Leads to more than (90) projects, and includes a 68-page profusely illustrated manual and a large base grid. The manufacturer, Elenco®, says it’s made for ages 8 to 108, but we’ve never tested it on anyone over 94, so we can’t verify that. You add a trio of “AA” batteries, which, conveniently, we can include in your order.

Tossing the ball into the cup has been around since forever, but this version uses electrical-mechanical energy to save your wrist. The kit comes with a 5-3/8" plastic base, a pivoting cup, LED housing with a microswitch, battery holder, power switch, (2) balls and parts for a fulcrum/launcher. Snaps together with springs for wire hook-ups, and lets you launch balls into the cup with no danger of carpel tunnel syndrome. You bring (2) "AA" batteries.