If: Ball, Then: Catch

Play with Static Electricity

Help repair the broken butterfly robot using static electricity

Explore with Magnets

Learn about some of the neat things you can do with magnets

Explore with Electromagnets

Learn how to make an electromagnet using a nail, wire, and battery

Make a Binary Paper Chain

Learn how computers translate letters into binary

Go on a Metric Scale Scavenger Hunt

Learn about the metric scale by going on a scavenger hunt

Learn about Computer Memory

Build a switch to learn about hard drives and computer memory

Learn 3D Printing with Modeling Clay (Part 1)

Part 1: learn about the basics of 3D printing using home-made modeling clay

Learn 3D Printing with Modeling Clay (Part 2)

Part 2: learn more about 3D printing, including layer thickness, print orientation, and strength

3D Design with Tinkercad

Learn about solid modeling by designing TC using Tinkercad

3D Print Sparky

Learn about 3D printing, access files so that you can 3D print your very own Sparky, and find links to other helpful resources

3D Print Dot, TC, and the Heavy Lifter Robot

Access 3D printing files for Dot, TC, and the Heavy Lifter Robot!

Fly a Helicopter Robot

Build a rubber-band powered helicopter to learn about the forces of gravity and lift

Launch an Alka-Seltzer Rocket

Launch an Alka-Seltzer rocket (outside!) to learn about chemical reactions and propulsion

Build an LED Sparky

Learn how to build a simple electrical circuit that uses a switch to turn on Sparky’s LED nose

Build a Bristle Bot

Learn how to build a Bristle Bot using a battery, vibration motor, and toothbrush

Program on Paper

Who says you need a computer to learn programming?

Code with ScratchJr

Learn about Scratch Jr. (a free coding program), and watch Sparky complete a series of block codes in a park

Code with Scratch

Learn about Scratch (a free coding program), and watch Sparky interact with a cat

Complete Fun Worksheets

Download a word search and maze to help out TC, Dot, and Sparky

Discuss Questions About the Book

Find a list of questions that can be discussed after reading If: Ball, Then: Catch

Learn about Programming and Making Resources for Adults

While there are many great resources to get kids interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), many adults may feel a bit lost when it comes to these topics. Our book If: Ball, Then: Catch aims to make programming and robotics seem less intimidating to children, but in this blog post we wanted to provide some introductory resources for adults