{"id":15904,"date":"2015-05-07T16:00:02","date_gmt":"2015-05-07T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=15904"},"modified":"2015-05-07T06:37:44","modified_gmt":"2015-05-06T23:37:44","slug":"lightup-possibilities-in-your-childs-mind-lightup-edison-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/lightup-possibilities-in-your-childs-mind-lightup-edison-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"LightUp Possibilities in Your Child’s Mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LightUp<\/a><\/p>\n

We are excited to tell you about a hands-on STEM learning engineering toy, the LightUp<\/a> Edison Kit. \u00a0As you know, we are big fans of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) \"popupproducts for kids at WellConnectedMom. \u00a0Anything that\u00a0helps\u00a0kids better understand how any of these subject areas can actually be fun and thought-provoking are an A+ in our book.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of cause-and-effect toys out there. \u00a0Remember the one where you turn a dial and a panda bear\u00a0pops up? \u00a0Or push a switch\u00a0and an elephant\u00a0appears? \u00a0Toys like this stimulate curiosity and strengthen the learning of pushing buttons and flipping switches though repetition.<\/p>\n

LightUp Projects<\/span><\/h2>\n

The LightUp Edison Kit provides the same cause-and-effect stimulation as the baby pop-up toy, but with electricity currents instead. \u00a0Using LightUp’s magnetic blocks, kids can connect circuit blocks and rectangular wire blocks together to make projects like…<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Making a LED light turn on or vary in brightness<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Sounding a buzzer and making it very soft or super high pitched<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Using a light sensor to turn on a light or buzzing sound<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0See how electricity can flow through other conductive items such as a fork<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Learn about the positive and negative elements and why grouping them together is important for something to work<\/p>\n

\"LightUp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Edison LightUp Kit is their starter kit. \u00a0It contains:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Battery<\/li>\n
  2. Light Sensor<\/li>\n
  3. 50k Variable Resistor<\/li>\n
  4. Momentary Switch<\/li>\n
  5. Red LED<\/li>\n
  6. Buzzer<\/li>\n
  7. 4 wire magnetic blocks<\/li>\n
  8. USB cable<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"LightUp<\/p>\n

    What’s interesting about LightUp is their innovative free mobile app<\/a>. \u00a0As you work on putting the pieces together, you can open the app and use its “Lens” to view your creation. \u00a0Using augmented reality, it will view your circuit blocks and label them in real time on your phone. \u00a0After you click the next arrow, it will show you an electricity current flowing through your circuit blocks to indicate that you built it correctly. \u00a0If it is not correct, it will give you hints about what you need to change to get it right.<\/p>\n

    LightUp Edison Kit<\/span><\/h2>\n

    \"LightUp<\/a><\/p>\n

    We tried out the Edison Kit while waiting for my daughter during her\u00a0volleyball practice. \u00a0My son, his friend, and I opened the box and began to work. \u00a0I found it interesting that there were no instructions included in the box, just a printed link to go to in order to download the app. \u00a0I downloaded it for my Android Note 4 phone. \u00a0We tried building some circuits and then used the app to view the circuits. \u00a0The app would then identify our\u00a0circuit blocks and tell us if we\u00a0successfully built a circuit or give suggestions on how to fix it.<\/p>\n

    There were no projects to try within the app, so we learned about the importance of connecting positive connections\u00a0to positive connections\u00a0through cause-and-effect. \u00a0We also learned about using the light sensor and variable dial switch just by experimenting. \u00a0I couldn’t help but wonder if this is what LightUp had in mind – to give us no instructions and let us come up with solutions or not.<\/p>\n

    \"LightUp<\/a>Later, I downloaded the iOS app on my iPhone 5S and was greeted with a lot more information. \u00a0The iOS app had projects they walk you through, one project at a time. \u00a0This app was very helpful, though we had already learned everything through trial and error in the Android app.<\/p>\n

    \"LightUp<\/p>\n

    That being said, if you have an older child, let them try LightUp using the Android app first. \u00a0Their curiosity will truly lead them through understanding how the blocks are used. \u00a0If you have a younger child, say ages 4-8, use the iOS app to help teach them the concepts before exploring the circuits on their own.<\/p>\n

    LightUp was created by a Stanford teacher and electrical engineer while running educational workshops at Stanford. \u00a0They wanted a product to excite kids while teaching them the skills and concepts important to know before becoming scientists or engineers. \u00a0LightUp is great at capturing kids interests and stimulating their curiosity as they try\u00a0different combinations for various effects.<\/p>\n

    \"LightUp<\/a><\/p>\n

    Features:<\/h3>\n