Circuit Cubes Announces Building Block Kits to Teach Circuit Operations

Circuit Cubes Announces Building Block Kits to Teach Circuit Operations

A 21st century building block company has released its first three kits — electronic building blocks that snap together and power projects, showing kids the fundamentals of circuitry as they do hands-on play. Circuit Cubes from Tenka Labs stack together to turn household items such as jars, cardboard tubes and old toys into powered objects that drive a motor, light an LED or do something else.

The current set of kits, available for pre-order, include three "essential" cubes — the motor cube, a battery cube and an LED cube. Each is $59.95 and comes with wires, Lego-style bricks and other parts pertaining to the theme of the kit: "Bright Lights," "Smart Art" and "Whacky Wheels." Because the cubes are transparent, users can see the electronic components to better understand how circuits work.

"As teachers and parents, we know that lessons on engineering and circuitry need to be grounded in play to really spark kids' interest and imagination," said Co-founder Nate MacDonald in a press release. "We love the idea of bringing toys into the classroom, but quickly noticed that most educational products today tend to overlook the importance of showing how to connect point A to point B. At the same time, some toys that aim to teach aren't actually that fun to play with."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • stylized illustration of an open guidebook with a glowing AI symbol hovering above

    ED Releases Toolkit for Intentional Use of AI in Education

    The United States Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology has released a new resource to help education leaders navigate AI adoption while ensuring student protection.

  • A child surrounded by glowing, fluid virtual patterns and holographic shapes, illuminated in a dark gradient environment of blue, purple, and pink.

    ClassVR Gets Expanded VR/AR Content Library

    Avantis Education has announced a new content library for its ClassVR virtual and augmented reality platform. Dubbed Eduverse+, the library features four content suites — EduverseAI, WildWorld, STEAM3D, and CareerHub — that can be tailored to suit a variety of educational levels.

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Microsoft-IDC Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.

  • abstract geometric pattern of glowing interconnected triangles, hexagons, and circles in blue, gold, and white, spread across a dark navy-to-black gradient background

    OpenAI Introduces 'Operator' AI for Performing Web Tasks

    OpenAI has announced "Operator," an AI agent designed to perform web-based tasks autonomously using its own browser. Currently available as a research preview for Pro users in the United States, the tool aims to automate everyday activities such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes.