Transforming STEM to STEAM is easy with littleBits. These electronic LEGOs snap together and teach kids key concepts, like magnetism, circuitry, inputs, outputs, and engineering while they play! With a model based on progression, students can start learning with littleBits as early as first grade and create a foundation for eventually inventing devices they can control with code! In this post, we’ll highlight some of littleBits' best kits and direct you to our store to see all the ones we carry, including individual sets and classroom sized packs!
The most important and useful thing about littleBits is that the kits offer students a progressive approach to learning about STEAM and circuitry. With one of their basic kits, like the Synth Kit or the Gizmos & Gadgets Kit, students can build simple circuits and really start to learn about the functions of inputs and outputs as well as the different kinds of inputs and outputs they can use as they invent with littleBits.
What are some of those inputs and outputs? Some of the common inputs include a slide dimmer, light sensor, button, delay, keyboard, pressure sensor, proximity sensor, and more! On the other hand, some of the outputs students can control with those inputs include LED lights, servos, an LED matrix, speaker, vibration motor, and more! Once they get more proficient, they can use the Bluetooth Low Energy Bit to create circuits they can control remotely. As long as the inputs come before the outputs and after the power sources, students will quickly begin to see how they can invent miniature circuits with easy-to-control behaviors!
Among littleBits’ most exciting educational kits are the Code Kit, STEAM Student Set, and Inventor Kits. Their three Inventor Kits (Base, Space Rover, and Electronic Music) are among their newest offerings and only available in individual units at the moment. The Code Kit and STEAM Student Sets, however, are available as individual units and in classroom packs of 18, 24, and 36, making them ideal for fulfilling classroom or makerspace goals!
The three different Inventor Kits empower students to design and build circuits that they can then control with the free littleBits app, which is a new wrinkle from previous kits. Within the app, students can also access step-by-step instructions for building projects and even read about real-world inventors to get more inspired! With the Base Inventor Kit, students can build projects like the Stuff Protector, Robo-Arm, Navigator, and more.
With the Space Rover Kit, they can learn more about other areas of the universe by constructing projects like the Rock Crusher, Probe Launcher, and Solar Seeker. Finally, using the Electronic Music Kit, students can truly bring STEAM full circle and build tech-enhanced musical instruments, like the Keytar, Dance Guitar, and Magic Guitar.
Besides the Inventor Kits, the Code Kits are a great way to boost student learning in the classroom or at home. Building on the skills they’ve learned while using other littleBits kits, students can construct circuits they can then control with the Code Kit desktop app using block coding. Now, instead of building circuits that carry out functions based on the way they are constructed, the order of modules is still important, but now kids can control the actions of their circuit with code from the Web! The Code Kit comes as a single unit or in classroom packs of 18, 24, or 36 units, which can all be found on our store!
If you really want to enable inventive learning for students, the STEAM Student Sets or the littleBits Workshop Set are additional options. The STEAM Student Sets also come in sizes of 18, 24, or 36 units, which are perfect for classes of just about any size. They come with the STEAM Student Sets and tackle boxes for transporting and storing the kit’s pieces, which include Bits and accessories.
Finally, the Workshop Set is a large bin of many different littleBits modules that educators can use on its own or to enhance the littleBits kits they already have. It includes 160 different littleBits modules and truly promotes collaboration as kids work together to design and construct all kinds of new circuits!
To check out all the options for purchasing littleBits from us, click below to visit our store. If you have any questions about this engaging line of EdTech, feel free to reach out to us by email as well at support@eduporium.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram as well and we encourage educators to share any littleBits inventions their students have made with us!