Tinker Crate is a subscription box that inspires kids to learn about science, engineering, and technology, all while having lots of fun. Each month, the box explores a field of study within a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) discipline. Kids practice their problem-solving skills and learn how to engage in both structured and open-ended exploration and investigation. Most boxes walk the tinkerers through the construction of fairly complex mechanical devices.
This is a review of the new KiwiCo Electronics Pack. There are 3 crates available, Light-Up Speaker, Hand-Crank Flashlight, and Geometric Laser Projector. We’ll be reviewing all three, but this is a review of the Hand-Crank Flashlight!
The KiwiCo Electronics Pack is more advanced than the typical Tinker Crate project and is recommended for ages 14+. I agree with this assessment – even if you have an advanced kid, they’ll need near-adult levels of dexterity to wire everything up.
Hand-Crank Flashlight Ages 12+ ($34.95)
Assemble your own hand-crank flashlight, great for outdoor adventures, emergencies, or just battery-free fun. Follow the hands-on experiments in the instruction set to learn how capacitors, stepper motors and diodes work. Recommended for ages 12+.
DEAL: You can also subscribe to the regular Tinker Crate and save 30% on your first month! Use this link to save 30% on your first month of Tinker Crate!
Some trivia on the box!
Everything for the Hand-Crank Flashlight box!
The instructions and other project info are printed in a mini-magazine.
The mini-magazine does a great job of explaining the technology and introducing it in a way that is interesting for kids. Here’s a page that shows what’s inside the mag!
Here are the list of materials you’ll be needing to make a hand-crank flashlight work!
Meanwhile, another page shows a diagram of how and where each component will be wired up.
The activities have easy to follow illustrated instructions to start building right away!
The booklet includes clear explanations on how components work.
Aside from the page of how breadboard works, this mini mag also included information on how every other component worked. Loved this design!
Every detail of every step was clearly laid out.
It also makes sure that what you are doing will work, and if not, you can always go back to the previous steps and check out what went wrong and fix it.
The kit includes all the materials needed to construct your own flashlight.
I didn’t have a hard time assembling this one.
The motor and capacitor are now in their rightful place. Can’t wait to put this project into work!
All that’s left to do is to put the cover and we’re ready!
And here it is! It’s working! The kids were very much delighted when the flashlight lit up!
From the covers, we can still see the connections inside, and it’ll be easy to tell if something went wrong… Hopefully, there’ll be none.
We now have an emergency light companion. We enjoyed doing this project, and I couldn’t be happier that the final product is very functional.
Tinker Crate projects are always interesting and well-designed. There is always some tinkering, experimentation, or other use of the project once it is built. It is a superb activity for evenings, weekends, and school vacations! In particular, I loved that the super-complete booklet walked us through the purpose, principles, and application for every component!
This set is a wow item for any teen ready to take Tinker Crate to the next level with a more advanced electronics project!
Are you getting the KiwiCo Electronics Pack?
Comments
I will try to have my son use compact keychain flashlights from fenix store, the ones they can put in their bags.