Tinker Nest

From switching a light bulb in our house On and Off to sending and receiving signals to the Mars rover, electrical circuits are ubiquitous in our day-to-day lives and Ohm's Law (V = IR) is as fundamentally important in electronics as Einstein's Relativity equation (E = mc²) is to physicists. Ohm's law is the basis of all electrical systems. Electrical engineers use this equation to guide the design of electrical systems. Students need a strong foundation in Ohm's law while designing circuits on their own but it is observed that students often get confused between Voltage(V) and Ampere(I). As a teacher, I have always been an advocate of Montessori education. I always try to include hands-on activities, role-plays, and games in my lesson plan to amplify the engagement, understanding, and learning of my students. So, here  I'm sharing an activity that my students love doing while understanding the difference between Volt and Amps . Things We Need 4 Large balloons Elect...

I love to study ancient civilizations and architecture. Last summer I attended a 3D printing workshop, "Tinkering with Tinkecad" at my school. At the workshop, I learned how 3D printing is not only revolutionizing STEM learning but also aiding other streams like Geography and History. I learned how I can print out historical artifacts to examine and understand them much better. Here, I'm sharing how I used Codeblocks to create the Rose Window of the Abbey of Fiastra. Things We Need Computer Internet 3D software (Tinkercad) Computer mice, 3D printer, and filaments for printing(optional) Division For convenience, we will divide the Rose Window into 2 parts,  Inner Shell  and  Outer Shell . Inner Shell: Division and Identification The Inner shell of the Rose Window can divide it into 3 parts: Central Part:   made up of a solid cylinder at the center with hole cylinder with 12 cylindrical holes with the base pointing towards you. Middle Part:   is made up of 12 cyli...

Circuit bugs are a simple and fun way to introduce children to electricity and circuitry and tie them with a STEM-based curriculum. This cute bug incorporates a great fine motor and creative crafting skills, working with electricity and circuits that will keep your kids enthralled and challenged. Things We Need 1) 2 LED Lights. 2) Insulated PVC coated wire. 3) Batteries – CR2032  3V. 4) Electrical Tape. 5 Clothespins. 6) Pipecleaners/chenille sticks 7) Wirestripper. 8) Plier. Cut and Remove End to End Coating If you have a thick wire you can use wire strippers but if you have a thin wire you can cut the wire using scissor. Cut your wire in equal lengths. Cut after measuring the length of the wire equal to the length of the clothespin. It is recommended to cut it a bit long and trim it later to the final length. You want enough length for a good connection but not too much that you raise your risk of circuit interruption. Have students cut their wire into four equal pieces. Show stu...