Giving children a kit start with electronics
Creating a buzz for young children around electronics is easier said than done. Components can be fragile even in adult hands, while health and safety regulations have made teachers even more conscious of the need to protect their pupils.
When Steve Jones founded BrightSparks4Kids in 2010, his aim was to produce a safe, fun and stimulating resource which would bring electronics alive for primary school children. Something that could be used by teachers and children to create simple electronic circuits, as well as being strong and durable enough to last year after year. From the beginning BrightSparks wanted a product developed with teachers, for teachers.
"I knew the kit had to move past classroom hazards associated with teaching Electricity", says Steve. "For example, the easy to remove and break glass bulbs were now replaced by shatterproof bulb covers. Tricky crocodile clips were replaced by a much easier 'plug & socket' style connection. In turn each component was carefully looked at and improved on where possible." In developing the product, BrightSparks sourced many of their components from Rapid.
Bringing the spark back to electronics – without the sparks!
The result was the 'Electricity Starter Kit', an exciting, simple to use and hard wearing resource which introduces children to a range of components and electrical principles. The original kit includes ABS enclosure units for batteries, bulbs, buzzers, switches, LEDs and motors, with each unit brightly coloured featuring the component name, circuit symbol, familiar picture and connection sockets. Each kit includes connection leads and an accompanying Simple Circuits Examples CD, and packaged in a Gratnells storage tray, so keeping classrooms tidy is quick and easy.
The 'Electricity Starter Kit' was trialled in various schools, and received an excellent reaction from teachers. Steve found that the kit had applications from early years through all Primary key stages. Perhaps the most touching piece of feedback came from special needs teachers, who found the kits ideal for use with children who had fine and gross motor control difficulties. Primary and special schools are among the principal customers for BrightSparks4Kids products, but the kits are also supplied to science centres, teaching resources centres, power companies, STEM ambassadors, home tutors and the general public.
