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Switch On! Electronic Circuit Activity Set Review by Heidi Shaw

PO Box 705
Bellevue Washington 98009
(425) 747-7766


From turning on a lamp to building a karaoke machine, your kids will be amazed that electricity can be so much fun and much easier to learn than commonly believed.

This kit is full of great plastic components that snap together much like building blocks, combined with awesome real size templates and great instructions that free children as young as 8 to build their own circuits and working models. Similar in method to the popular electronic toys available today, Switch On! is a step up because there are no bare wires or alligator clips to contend with. My four year old even understood that power from the battery went around the path and lit the light bulb. Everything is color-coded and labeled to match the well laid out circuit diagrams so there is no worry about short circuits or danger at all.

This kit turns the science of electronicsinto a fun and adventurous activity. The really great thing (well, 2 things) about this kit is: a) the clear plastic template that the components lay over is sized to fit over the circuit diagrams in the book. You simply match the color and symbol, start with #1 and snap them on in order. Voila! A completed circuit. The other great thing is a set of awesome lesson plans so you can actually learn 'why' the circuits work as opposed to just playing with them.

This program meets many outcomes in all elementary science requirements. Even if you don't have to keep track of what your kids are learning for science, this kit is just plain fun! I discovered this kit at our local homeschool convention and watched them sell out in just one day. It is bright, colorful, engaging, and interactive. My 16-year-old son will be responsible for 'teaching' this program to my 9-year-old son; really he will be enjoying it just as much! The lesson plans are well written, easy for even the complete lay person to understand. We are building a vocabulary booklet as we encounter new words. This is made easy as well because all the important words are underlined as they are defined in the notes. There are also several critical thinking questions provided to stimulate reason and problem solving abilities. The models start out simply and build in complexity yet the lesson plans corresponding to every new level make sure understanding is taking place.

New components are introduced as you progress and the kids will practice with each. I didn't even know what a 'light emitting diode' was, but I do now. This set is the perfect precursor to an electronics course in junior high or high school and will have your students familiar with the process and vocabulary of electronics. In today's environment, this is almost mandatory. Computer circuitry and household circuits as well as almost any electronic gadget all employ the same principles. My husband is a refrigeration technician and deals with circuits all the time. His job often requires him to source where a 'short' has occurred and so he was excited about our sons learning these tasks early on. He knows that there are so many occupations that will take advantage of their knowledge in this area and Switch On! makes the learning fun.All the parts you will need are included in the kit except batteries. You will be fine with four double A's. The light bulbs, diodes, and switches are all included. As the understanding of circuitry grows, youcan use more and more real wires and parts found in any electronics shop. Simply place them where the matching component would have gone, the extensions and possibilities are almost endless. Eventually your kids will be equipped to design and build their own circuits-this kit is the perfect place to start.
Highly recommended, and tons of fun!



--Product Review by: Heidi Shaw, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine

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