Electronics for Kids: DIY Display

In our first electronics for kids project, we built a genius light. EEME sent us their second electronics project kit. This time we’re building a DIY display.

Electronics for Kids: DIY Display

Each of EEME’s project kits comes with online video lessons that teach you how to complete the project and understand how it works. The lessons walk you through everything step by step and ask questions along the way to check for understanding.

The DIY Display is the second project kit. The estimated build time is 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Aiden worked on this after school over the span of a few days. The wiring for this one was a bit more involved than the first project.

Here are the materials included in the box. You use the breadboard and battery pack from the first project. You’ll find wires, resistors, segmented LED display, and switch panel.

I like that the lessons have both video and text to tell you where to place the wires and components. Aiden would pause the video as needed so he could complete the step. Then, I could read the text to make sure he had them in the correct spot.

First, he learned how the segmented LED display worked. He could move the wire to make a different section of the display light up.

Adding additional wires allows for more sections to light up.

Talk about working fine motor skills. Aiden actually could use some practice with this, so all of the intricate wire placements is an added bonus for me.

Once Aiden learned how the segmented LED display worked, it was time to set up the switch panel. He could turn on and off the switches to make different parts of the segmented LED display light up.

I challenged him to create as many letters and numbers as he could. He really enjoyed figuring out which LED segments to turn on and off to create the letters and numbers.

Head over to EEME’s website and check out their free electronics lessons in addition to their paid project kits and subscriptions.

More Electronics Projects for Kids

• Can You Build a Genius Light? – a fabulous introduction to electronics for kids with the first kit from EEME
• Make Your Own LED Robot Toy – use your knowledge of LED circuits to make the eyes light up.
• Create a Push Button Light Up Card – learn how to add an LED light to a greeting card

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