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

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • laptop displaying a glowing digital brain and data charts sits on a metal shelf in a well-lit server room with organized network cables and active servers

    Cisco Unveils AI-First Approach to IT Operations

    At its recent Cisco Live 2025 event, Cisco introduced AgenticOps, a transformative approach to IT operations that integrates advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency and collaboration across network, security, and application domains.

  • sunlit classroom with laptops on every desk, each displaying a glowing AI speech bubble icon above the screen

    Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Become Available for Teen Students

    This summer, Microsoft is expanding availability of its Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot products for students aged 13 and older. Administrators will be able to grant access for students based on their institution's plans and preferences, the company announced in a blog post.

  • colorful geometric illustration features gaming devices, computer accessories, and stacks of books

    Gaming in K–12 Classrooms Is Powering the Future Tech Workforce

    Today's most forward-thinking schools are using gaming as a platform to train students for real-world roles in fields like aviation, robotics, remote operations, and data center management.