Make: Kit Reviews

Hobby rocketry leader Estes Industries makes more than a dozen inexpensive launch sets (launch pad/rod, launch controller) for beginners, but their included rockets are either pre-built or not much of a challenge. For a good first build, I’d instead suggest the Quest Astra 1. Its balsa fins are mounted “through the wall,” making it easy […]

Rockets: kids, rocket-powered, Rockets

This soft, whimsical pompom connects to any incandescent lamp and controls light levels with just a gentle tap. IFM’s patented electronic textiles are the magic behind it. Conductive yarns that sense your touch are combined with recycled carpet fibers to form the soft switch. This kit appeals to kids, grandmas, science geeks — anyone who enjoys crafts […]

Home & Shelter: craft, home, kids, lighting, yarn

This is loads of fun — a way to get the kids out of the house during the winter, or make a cheap little ice fishing house that’s disposable. Any type of snow can be compacted into this nifty device to quickly create hundreds of perfectly formed, slanted, stackable igloo building blocks. The Eskimold differs […]

Home & Shelter: home, igloo, kids, shelter, snow

Build your own life-size grasshopper and explore solar power with this educational mini solar robot kit. The snap-together, attention-getting  Solar Frightened Grasshopper teaches how solar energy can be used to generate electricity. This easy-to-use science kit is perfect for first-time experimenters with little or no experience. Ages 10 and up.

Toys & Games: Games, kids, solar energy, toys

The award-winning Snap Circuits Pro 500 Experiments kit contains more than 75 parts and detailed project books that allow you to build over 500 snap-together circuits — no tools required. You can assemble a musical doorbell, laser gun, race game, lie detector, electronic kazoo, mind reading game, telegraph, AM/FM radio, and so many more projects. […]

Electronics and Controllers: circuits, electronics, kids