The Maker Movement makes me happy. To me, it’s the culmination of everything learning is about. And when this little package arrived on our doorstep? The possibilities of what we could make were endless. I would like to say that this was my project, but my daughter, and 11 year old maker in training, was the mastermind behind our collaboration. We started off our fun with Little Bits by opening the Base Kit package. I will warn you, I was more than a “Little Bit” inspired…
Literally, in 30 seconds you can power up something that does something. It’s about thinking beyond the basics. I can remember I used to ask my students to doodle a circuit diagram on paper to learn about how circuits work. It’s all I knew. I needed a grade. They needed to know the terms. But, looking back, it wasn’t learning. I bet many of them, right now, have completely forgotten that lesson. But this? It’s something that would stick. The kind of learning that means something.
I loved that it was all ready to go, simply open the box and there is a “30 second Quick Start Guide.” Proof that innovation in the classroom doesn’t have to take time. 30 seconds. That’s faster than a trip to the copier or than reading a textbook chapter. 
I initially thought, Little Bits are great for young learners, such as 3rd or 4th graders, because they snap together with magnets. No soldering, no glue, just snap it in place. This is perfect because kids can try it themselves… one of the most powerful parts of inquiry. You can encourage them to play, explore, and make to their hearts content. While they are discovering, they’ll also get a lesson in the north and south poles of magnets, repelling and attraction, completing currents… and that’s just the science of it.
They’ll also get a lesson in cause and effect. ”What happens if…?” is a powerful question that peaks their curiosity and makes them want to know more. Best of all? It’s authentic. I’m going to admit it, I couldn’t wait to power something up, so I used the diagram. But my daughter was eager to play and manipulate the pieces, and dove right in. These would be amazing for differentiation in the classroom, too. A photo diagram that you snap with your camera could support struggling learners and allow practice for building and following a model. A simple question about “What if…” could inspire advanced learners.
But, I also thought about older students. Students with no experience in building circuits. Students who enjoy creating. I realizing the product just doesn’t have an age and that’s exactly why the box says “Ages 8 to infinity.”
We used the blue power module, the pink button module, an orange wire module to extend our reach, and a green rotation module. ”What can we make that spins?” I asked my daughter. She’s ten and her ideas are always better than mine, so I felt it was best for me to step aside. She decided on a flower. A work of art that spins. That’s right… we’re playing with circuits and doing an art project.
She drew the flower on heavy duty cardstock.
She painted the background on a piece of sturdy scrap cardboard.
We cut out the flower and all the pieces and added a plastic cap so we’d have a sturdy piece to push through the back of the artwork and hold the flower in place as it spun. A little hole punched in it and it slide right on the green module. The ladybug was created to cover the button.
Once we had our modules in place with magnets, we taped it to the back of the cardboard. Our masking tape worked fine and was easy to remove afterward. I was wishing I had that blue painters tape, because it removes even easier, but in making, you use what you have. It worked fine.
Afterward, my daughter wanted to know if the dimmer module would change the speed of the flower… and then she asked if we could replace the button module with the the light sensor so that our flower would only spin in the bright sun. Questions. Thinking. Critical thinking. Problem solving. Dreaming. And? Doing.
She was already thinking up our next project. We removed the Little Bits, put them back in the box, and I started thinking of just HOW great this would be in the classroom…. and this is just the base kit.
Five Ways to Use Little Bits
1.) Create a work of art about a book that you read. Make it do something. A Willy Wonka with a spinning cane? A doorbell to the chocolate factory that actually buzzes? [Reading, Science, Art]
2.) In a small team, create three different module combinations that each do something different. What patterns do you notice? [Math, Science]
3.) Struggling with the concept of circuits? Build one with the LED light. Explore what happens when you remove one connection. What happens when you replace that connection? [Science, Non-fiction Writing]
4.) Here’s a pile of recycled materials. Interview the school principal about a problem that she has with something in her office. Using only the recycled materials and Little Bits, design something to help her. Take it to her office and test it out.
5.) Build something with clay that has a light. A monster with an eye. A car with a headlight. A flashlight model. Anything your imagination can dream up. Use the light sensor module so that the light turns on when the lights in the room are turned off. Think About: In what ways are light sensors used in the world around us? [Art, Science, Reading]
Perhaps my favorite part of all? This product is reusable, again and again. In new ways. No two projects will be the same. Which is just like our students. Learning. Their way. What will your students dream up? Or, should I say, because I know you’ll play with it first, what will YOU dream up? It’s about you, because I hope you’re inspired, too. Because that’s exactly what our students need. Inspired learning. The kind that has no limits and anything is possible. And Little Bits can bring that into your classroom.
Krissy Venosdale is a maker, innovator, educator, creative spirit, and lifelong learner. She works every single day toward making a world where all kids have the opportunities to pursue their greatest passions and are inspired to dream big. She shares her heart and soul of learning on her blog at venspired.com.