click image to see larger view elenco circuit maker basic 40

But, in attempting to be very scientifically accurate in their descriptions, their documentation is too high level for the intended user (kids age 7 and up). Short circuits can damage components or drain your batteries.)Įlenco, the company which makes Snap Circuits, has been making kids’ electronics sets for many years – they were founded in 1972. (If a child uses wire blocks to connect the two terminals of the battery, either directly with one wire block, or with a circuitous path of wire blocks, it will cause a short circuit. There are also jumper wires which allow more flexibility.Ĭircuits need to always include: a battery block and at least one component that limits the current through a circuit, such as the speaker, lamp, motor, or resistor.

These are just used to connect other components to transport electricity. Wire blocks of different lengths, ranging from one snap to six.Lamp blocks, motors, music blocks, speakers.Switch blocks – slide switch and press switch.They are plastic “building blocks” with metal snaps that click together. Here is a photo of a basic configuration with a switch and a light. Then you connect them by snapping on wire modules to close the circuit. You first lay out the configuration you want by snapping components onto a base plate – this helps keep things evenly spaced. What are Snap Circuits? Modular electronic components that snap together. (Note: I’ve also added some thoughts on Cubelets at the bottom of this post.) Snap Circuits We used both in the session of our Inventors’ Lab class where we talked about Electricity. This post is a comparison of two modular electronics kits aimed at young children.

Click image to see larger view elenco circuit maker basic 40