ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

This is something I did a few years back when I was with the museum here in Austin.  We mounted various "devices" on 1/2" sintra and used banana clips and sockets for the combinations.  Wire was a stranded heavy gauge for strength.  Generally it worked well but there were a bunch of details that I would have loved to work out better solutions for.  In the end we had at least two full sets of wires, boards, batteries, etc. that were always in some state of maintenance and repair.  But we had limited resources so it was what it was.  And apparently five years later it is still what it is.

There have been so many versions of this done over the years and I have yet to see one that was perfect, or at least "perfect-enough" to warrant copying outright.  I would love a chance to really figure this one out.  Determine both the kinds of circuits that are informative AND fun to assemble. And make it from as much off the shelf parts as possible (=easy maintenance) and as durable as possible.  

Maybe if a few museums got together they could combine resources, knowledge and experience to develop a set that can be reproduced by everyone.

Erich Rose

Erich Rose Design
807 The Living End
Austin, TX 78746
512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichrose/




On Aug 24, 2012, at 8:10 AM, Daniels, Alissa wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> I'd think it would be easy enough (and possibly cheaper) to go to your local Radio Shack or electronics store and stock up on batteries, bulbs/buzzers, wire and such. That would also make it simple to restock later. We have a floor kit like this, and it stands up just fine.
> 
> 
> good luck! happy circuit-making!
> AD
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
> Boston Children's Museum
> 617 426 6500 .342
> "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..."  " --Isaac Asimov
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Heather Norton
> Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 5:28 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Circuit Kits for Elementary Labs
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Has anyone found a really good circuit kit that is good for elementary students but also survives the daily use of field trips?  We have been looking at Snap Circuits and other plastic kits but don't think they will stand up.  Our ultimate goal is to give students a chance to design their own unique circuits given a set of given materials or objects.
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> 
> 
> Heather Norton
> 
> Senior Director of Education
> 
> Orlando Science Center
> 
> 407.514.2097
> 
> 407.514.2067
> 
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
> 
> 
> 
> Inspire Science Learning for Life
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
> 
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask]
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
> 
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
> 
> The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
> http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.
> 
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]