PICTA electronics is an experience-based STEAM educational kit that can be used to demonstrate basic concepts and phenomena related to electricity based on the concept of learning-by-making. The aim of the kit is to combine artistic and creative process with science to give a playful and entertaining learning experience. The game develops manual skills, problem-solving attitudes, creativity, abstraction and three-dimensional thinking.
The game includes 9 projects. The first step is to mix the graphite based conductive paint so that circuits can be painted on paper. The paint consists of two components which can be mixed easily by children. At the beginning the task is to paint different sheets of paper to demonstrate basic concepts and phenomena related to electricity (series and parallel circuits, switches).
paralell circuit
series circuit
circuits, switch
After that the task is to make lighting, moving creatures by using the previously gained experience and knowledge. The process goes from simple to complex tasks- from flat shapes to 3D objects. Ultimately the goal is to make a little moving creature.
The last two sheets of the pack are for the little creature. First the creature’s pattern shall be painted with the help of a rotating motor. To do this you have fix the small motor on a painted paper. You can create circle patterns with paintbrush by placing a blank paper on the rotating motor. The result of this method is a unique pattern.
Finally, the task is to breathe life into the little creature- it needs to move with a vibrating motor. On the blank side of the paper you need to make a circuit with a motor and a cell. By clipping the two ends of the paper, the circuit is closed and the creature starts to move.
The kit includes 11 sheets of paper with instuctions, the components of the paint, LEDs, motors, button cells, a steel ball, masking tape, the painting tools and clips.
Photo: Török Aliz, Mező Zsófia
