The Art of Making with LittleBits: A Hands-On Approach to Prototyping and Learning
As Bob from "I Like to Make Stuff" shares, making something fun and interactive with his kids is an excellent way to engage them in hands-on learning. In this article, we'll explore the world of LittleBits, a company that offers snap-together circuits for anyone looking to prototype quick projects or learn about electronics.
The First Steps: Unpacking and Understanding the Kit
When LittleBits sent us a kit, Bob and his kids were excited to dive in and figure out what all the pieces were. The kit included a branch servo, wire pieces, lights, sound trigger, pulsing light, slider, and tiny magnets. As they examined each component, they discovered that the fan would make it run if snapped on the power, but turning it on also turned on the light. With another light available, they decided to add double lights to their project.
The Importance of Trial and Error
After getting familiar with the various pieces, Bob and his kids went through the book that comes with the kit, which included sample projects. One project in particular caught their attention: making a bubble flute. To start, they needed only a plastic cup, some tape, and something to hold everything together. Bob began by cutting the bottom out of the plastic cup and then taped on the fan.
Snap-together Circuits: The Power of LittleBits
As Bob and his kids continued with their project, they discovered that the sound trigger activated the power of the fan and turned it on. They attached this to a banana just for fun and taped everything together. Once completed, they dipped the ring in some bubble stuff or soap and blew on the sound trigger. The result was an impressive display of bubbles as everyone sang or blew on the sensor.
The Benefits of LittleBits: Not Just for Kids
While Bob's kids had a blast making their bubble flute, these circuits are actually great for anyone who wants to prototype quick projects or learn about electronics. Even though the pieces in this kit may seem simple – including just a light and a fan – there are other modules available that can add wireless capabilities and programmable features. LittleBits' Arduino shield is another option for those looking to expand their project.
The Personal Aspect: Engaging Kids with Hands-On Learning
For Bob, the summer break provided an opportunity to engage his kids in hands-on learning and make something fun together. He was thrilled to see his children so excited about building something and now fighting over who gets to play with it. This experience has shown him that LittleBits are not just for kids but a great tool for anyone looking to prototype quick circuits.
Conclusion: Getting Started with LittleBits
If you're interested in learning more about LittleBits, you can visit their website at littlebits.com/makestuff. Don't forget to use the code "make stuff" when checking out to receive $20 off your first kit. Bob invites his viewers to share their own projects and ideas with him on social networks like Instagram or YouTube.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey I'm Bob but I like to make stuff today me and my kids are going to show you how to make a bubble flute with a banana little bits makes these really awesome snap together circuits they sent us a kit so the first thing we had to do is figure out what everything was so sir their branch servo we got some wire pieces lights sound trigger pulsing a slider little bits have tiny magnets so they can attach together if we snapped the fan on the power it would make it run but it turns on the light there's another light so we can put on double lights we're going to put the Pulsar right here right there and then look okay so after he got used to what all the pieces did we went through the book that comes with it there's a bunch of sample projects in here and I couldn't pass up the bubble flute all you really need for this is a plastic cup and some tape and then something to hold it all together I got started just by cutting the bottom out of the plastic cup then we taped on the fan he snapped together the power to the sound trigger and then to the fan the sound trigger activates the power of the fan and turns it on and we attached it to a banana just because it was funny and then taped it all together then you just dip the ring in some bubble stuff or soap and then blow on the sound trigger now they had a great time with this they were singing or blowing on the sensor everybody was making bubbles they had a lot of fun so these things are actually really great it's awesome to see my kids so excited and have so much fun building something and they're now fighting over who gets to play with them not only they good for kids but actually they're good for anybody that wants to prototype a quick circuit and even though the pieces in this kit are kind of simple you know a light and a fan there are other modules you can get that are programmable that add wireless capabilities there's an Arduino shield that goes on the system little bits can actually be a really good prototyping tool for anybody that's making a circuit but for me personally right now school is out for the summer so this is a way for me to engage my kids and get them doing something hands-on and learning which is just really great to me I'm really excited about that part of it so if you want to find out more go to little bits comm slash make stuff you can use the code make stuff when you check out I'll give you $20 off your first kit so thanks to little bits for sponsoring this video and for giving my kids something really fun to do this summer if you've already got some little bits share the projects with me I would love to have some more ideas to build with my kids you can do that at I like to make stuff calm or on any of the social networks I've got more playlists here for you to check out a projects you might be interested in don't forget to subscribe thanks for watching everybody see you next timehey I'm Bob but I like to make stuff today me and my kids are going to show you how to make a bubble flute with a banana little bits makes these really awesome snap together circuits they sent us a kit so the first thing we had to do is figure out what everything was so sir their branch servo we got some wire pieces lights sound trigger pulsing a slider little bits have tiny magnets so they can attach together if we snapped the fan on the power it would make it run but it turns on the light there's another light so we can put on double lights we're going to put the Pulsar right here right there and then look okay so after he got used to what all the pieces did we went through the book that comes with it there's a bunch of sample projects in here and I couldn't pass up the bubble flute all you really need for this is a plastic cup and some tape and then something to hold it all together I got started just by cutting the bottom out of the plastic cup then we taped on the fan he snapped together the power to the sound trigger and then to the fan the sound trigger activates the power of the fan and turns it on and we attached it to a banana just because it was funny and then taped it all together then you just dip the ring in some bubble stuff or soap and then blow on the sound trigger now they had a great time with this they were singing or blowing on the sensor everybody was making bubbles they had a lot of fun so these things are actually really great it's awesome to see my kids so excited and have so much fun building something and they're now fighting over who gets to play with them not only they good for kids but actually they're good for anybody that wants to prototype a quick circuit and even though the pieces in this kit are kind of simple you know a light and a fan there are other modules you can get that are programmable that add wireless capabilities there's an Arduino shield that goes on the system little bits can actually be a really good prototyping tool for anybody that's making a circuit but for me personally right now school is out for the summer so this is a way for me to engage my kids and get them doing something hands-on and learning which is just really great to me I'm really excited about that part of it so if you want to find out more go to little bits comm slash make stuff you can use the code make stuff when you check out I'll give you $20 off your first kit so thanks to little bits for sponsoring this video and for giving my kids something really fun to do this summer if you've already got some little bits share the projects with me I would love to have some more ideas to build with my kids you can do that at I like to make stuff calm or on any of the social networks I've got more playlists here for you to check out a projects you might be interested in don't forget to subscribe thanks for watching everybody see you next time\n"
