Keep Your Kids Or Yourself Entertained At Home With These DIY Projects That Use Raspberry Pi And Arduino
So the kids are home. And, with schools closed basically everywhere, it looks like that may well be the case for at least the next few weeks. It’s a blessing and a curse, all rolled into one.
So now what? There are only so many hours you can turn them loose on Netflix and Playstation before you start feeling like a crummy parent. Instead, get them working on fun projects they’ll actually enjoy. You don’t have to tell ‘em they’re educational. Or that the fun will set them up for a STEM career.
To the kids, these DIY tools and projects will just be 100 percent fun.
DIY electronics
Basic electronics are the start for many burgeoning scientific minds, and the offers the building blocks for deeper exploration. By putting plain printer paper over a steel sheet, kids can map out basic circuits to create blinking lights, beeping buzzers, and whirling motors.
Of course, electronics and coding go hand in hand, so the is the perfect introduction for that discipline as kids grasp the basic fundamentals of programming to build a handful of sample projects.
takes the learning further, using a pocket-sized computer to create sensors, control lights and build small objects from robots to musical instruments with almost no coding knowledge.
Build a robot
Once kids understand the basics of circuits and programming, trying to build a robot of their own can’t be far behind. With the , any inquisitive kid can start unlocking the basics of robotics, and they’ll also have access to an accompanying app to offer extra guidance in these formative projects.
That sets the stage for the with components like a SunFounder Nano board or an Arduino board to start constructing a unique robot of a child’s own. The kit even includes a pair of robot legs that kids can program to walk, kick, or even dance.
Since every R2-D2 needs a C-3PO, the robot creations can continue with the . With the open-source MCU Arduino UNO and a servo expansion board, kids can control the four axes of the arm, make them move with a computer, memorize those movements, then repeat them over and over.
Finally, show us a kid who DOESN’T want their own including all the pieces to craft your mini Godzilla, program its movements, change its gestures and make it act just like the real thing.
Build your own phone…and a Gameboy…and more
Robots are undeniably awesome, but they only scratch the surface of what’s possible. With the help of a single board, kids can assemble the and control when and how often the robot services the fauna.
Plant watering is fun and all, but what kid wouldn’t want to build their own handheld video game device? With the , that’s the mission. With just five hours of work assembling, kids can be playing a working, fully customizable game device.
The doesn’t focus on building one cool piece of tech. Its chock-full guide book includes detailed lessons to build all kinds of neat stuff from various sensors to a rainbow light to a functioning laser pointer.
If you’re tired of your kid asking to use your phone, the is your chance to tell them to go build their own. Yep, by sticking to the directions, this kit comes with all the parts to construct a mobile phone that can support calls and texts, play games and work on virtually any of the popular mobile networks worldwide.
And while a kid may not be demanding their own Tesla coil, the lets them create one of the most visually gripping musical instruments you’ve ever seen.
Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is one of the most powerful DIY electronics components out there these days. And with the , kids will have a thorough guide to everything this single-board mini-computer can do. This kit includes a Pi 3B+, an LCD touchscreen, WiFi adapter and other components to craft a working computer with internet access and a galaxy of amazing new project options.
For the next step in Pi knowledge, the Kickstarter-created is a full-service Pi collection that can get a kid rolling in a million new directions. There’s a motor, buttons and a bunch of extra pieces (even a camera) to not only build all kinds of Raspberry Pi hybrid devices, but start exploring the world of Python programming, one of the cornerstones of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
3D printing
It’s already been around for a few years, but the magic of 3D printing is only just now starting to filter its way to the general public. So, there’s no better time to get your kid on board.
The is a great introductory printer for a young creator. A user-friendly desktop unit, SparkMaker comes with five different resins to complete all types of 3D printing projects. Just download a design online to an SD card, pop the card into the printer, push the button and watch your object starting springing to life.
The 3Doodler is the perfect kid-version of a 3D printer. This tool uses heated plastic that hardens in seconds, allowing you to quite literally draw in the air. The 3Doodler comes in two models: the and the more advanced .
Each variety also comes as part of a more expansive or a , including extra plastic, additional shaping tools and project books to take full advantage of the 3Doodler’s power.
And finally…
Just like the 3Doodler, the straddles the line between tech and art as kids find the intersections between science, robotics and free expression.
And for every project where you know glue just won’t be enough, this has your back. Bondic is actually a liquid plastic that hardens under UV light, so you can craft and shape it to repair or even replace broken or missing pieces, then set it with the light to work as good as new again.
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