KidsMake Equipment/Materials List
Tracee Yawger, Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library, tyawger@mclinc.org
Building & Construction Sets
LEGOs – ’nuff said
K’NEX Education, K-8 General Construction Set
Kid K’NEX Classroom Collection – larger pieces for PreK
Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Set; Gizmos & Gears, Learning Resources – interlocking gears
Build-a-Road X-Track, Kidoozie – build a track for small cars
*Roominate – building set to create dollhouse and furniture
Straws & Connectors, 705 pc set – plastic straws and connectors
MakeDo Studio 30 Kit – plastic hinges and connectors to create using recycled cardboard
*GoldieBlox – great idea, but doesn’t hold up well
Electronics & Programming
*Squishy Circuits Kit, Makershed – connect circuits with a high-saline content playdough
*Bare Conductive – connect circuits with conductive ink pens – NOT recommended. Buy a roll of copper
tape and make paper circuits instead.
*Elenco Snap Circuits – if I had it to do over again, I would purchase several of the junior sets instead of the
all-inclusive-mega-intimidating set
*littleBits – easy-to-use electronic building blocks, they join together using magnets. Awesome!
They now have specialized kits/bundles: Space, Synth, Smart Home, Makey Makey and Arduino Coding bits.
You can also design and create your own modules.
BeeBots - small robots, teaches logical thinking, for use with preschools through tweens
*Ozobot – even smaller robots, programmable with Scratch-type software
Scratch – teach kids programming. Free, online, designed by MIT. Lots of education support.
*MaKey MaKey – turn a banana into a keyboard!
LEGO WeDo Classroom Pack – A step below LEGO Mindstorms – beginning robotics for kids!
Arduino - Adafruit Industries – programmable micro controllers, a mainstay of makerspaces everywhere.
Soldering Kit - when you’re ready to tackle Arduino projects
Electronics Materials: 3V lithium volt batteries; vibrating mini-motor discs, LEDs, copper foil tape
iPads – Stop-motion film production with Stop Motion Studio app
Craft Materials
Paracord – survival bracelets are all the rage, though I know it as macramé
Shrink Film – Shrinky Dinks can be used for jewelry and so much more
Rainbow Loom & rubber bands – Again, a hot, hot craft for kids
Yarn & needles – knit & crochet
Duct Tape – what’s summer crafts without duct tape?
Recyclables – clean cardboard & anything under the sun
Other
Tools – Yep, woodworking. Also screwdrivers, pliers, and protective goggles to take-apart discarded small
appliances & electronics
Sewing Machines – Janome Sew Min machines have straight sewing only & lightweight - $65
Cooking - No kitchen? No problem. Induction cooktop and induction-friendly saucepan; toaster ovens for
shrink film.
*materials provided to District Center Libraries