[Solved] Hi, my name is Michael Taggart. Brand new to this!

@michael-taggart , HI Michael..and welcome to the forum!

As DroneBot workshop,@bill, our forum host as alluded to, there are many software solutions to use for illustration and teaching, especially for children...one such software is called TinkerCad, and cn be found at this link: https://www.tinkercad.com/dashboard ,.

It is precisely geared for learning, and is not only a 3D drawing program, but is a circuits drawing programing that can present the electrical components as 2D images with connections and you wire them up on a bread board on the computer screen. It also contain an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that allows you to write and edit code to run on this platform that simulates the actual circuit you have just drawn when using a micro-processor like the  Arduino Uno..This can be a great way to let each student design their own circuits to see how they work, and/or use the pre-made ones that TinkeCad has mad available.. the software is free! I hope this helps you with your project goals, and I think your doing a very valuable service to the community where you live to inspire those boys,( and girls) to STEM.. we need them for future generations if mankind is to progress to peace and harmony.

Kind regards,

LouisR

@inst-tech @robotbuilder Thank you so much for all of the direction and resources! Its time for me to get planning, and get to work!

I'll post later and share how it went!

@michael-taggart,

Welcome to the forum.  I do a similar volunteer user's group at our local library with all age groups and have kids from 8 to 80.  I find it a challenge to find things they all would be interested.  If you know or if you can quiz them on their interests, they might lead you to some very desirable projects.  I looked at your sample kit.  I'm not real familiar with the "good feature" of the Uno clone that @dronebot-workshop mentioned, but I think your pick might be a little limited in variety of projects.  It appears it can only do LED lighting projects.  I'm sure this one is UNO compatible and has the LED lights, plus many sensors that might peak different interests like gardening, weather forecasting, lights, sound and is only $16US.  

https://amz.run/7Rbl

VBR,

Inq

@michael-taggart Have you tried looking at visual block-style programming environments, such as ArduBlock or Blockly? I've been wondering how I might spark my 11 year old son's interest in programming, as he does occasionally talk about what goes on behind the games he plays. I haven't tried any of these environments yet, but I want to.

Hi @michael-taggart 

For the diagrams you wanted to do for the children maybe look at Fritzing to do it  Welcome to Fritzing

I also found the Wokwi simulator nice to share and fault find small projects with others that wanted to build a circuit and test code.  Arduino on Wokwi - Online ESP32, STM32, Arduino Simulator

Then for some I also cheated and used ChatGpt to get some code written for me and tested it in Wokwi simulator.

Have fun

Hi @dubbadan et al,

   I had started a reply to your question, in line with others

    "I've been wondering how I might spark my 11 year old son's interest in programming..."

when I remembered, this section is supposed to be limited to people introducing themselves

Hence, I have created a new topic at: https://forum.dronebotworkshop.com/general/advice-wanted-on-the-most-suitable-systems-to-introduce-programming-to-young-people/#post-44606

... Which, I think asks an important and challenging question that deserves some good responses!.

I have added by 2 pence worth of discussion as a start. I hope & trust others will follow to make their contributions.