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OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

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Craig Rairdin

OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

We teach our kids at home and I'm looking for an electronics curriculum to
use for science this year. The boys are 11 and 13 years old.

I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
just for fun.

I'm not looking for a reference book, I'm looking for something that is
intended to be taught from. It might even have student workbooks and other
supplementary material. It doesn't have to be designed for home school; it
can be designed for bigger classrooms or maybe even a "teach yourself
electronics" book that includes projects.

Ultimately (here's where we tie into topic of the Elecraft list) I'll have
them each build a K1 or KX1 but there's a lot to learn before we get there.

Any suggestions?

Craig
NZ0R
K1 #1966
K2 #4941
KPA100 starting final testing this weekend (waiting for my eBay watt
meter/dummy load)
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Charles Bland

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

Last September, I handed my then 12-year-old home-schooled son a copy of the
ARRL book "Tune in the World.....". I had him go through it at his own pace,
but with a deadline of approximately 6 weeks.

I will admit, I wasn't using it as a course book, but it certainly did a good
job of introducing him to basic electricity, etc.

Later, in late October, he sat through one of the all-day No-Code classes. He
said that the material was easier to handle having been introduced to it in the
book first. And, of course, he nailed the exam.

http://www.qrz.com/kg6wpe

Anyway, I think it is a good intro. From here, I'm not sure what I'd use for a
basic Electronics cirriculum, but I haven' lookd hard just yet......

Perhaps the Amateur Extra Study Guide?

73's,

Chuck - n6dbt

Note Craig Rairdin's stunning brilliance and Chuck's apt reply (gack!)

From: "Craig Rairdin" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Date sent: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:58:33 -0500
Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

> We teach our kids at home and I'm looking for an electronics curriculum to
> use for science this year. The boys are 11 and 13 years old.
>
> I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
> that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
> take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
> operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
> just for fun.
>
> I'm not looking for a reference book, I'm looking for something that is
> intended to be taught from. It might even have student workbooks and other
> supplementary material. It doesn't have to be designed for home school; it
> can be designed for bigger classrooms or maybe even a "teach yourself
> electronics" book that includes projects.
>
> Ultimately (here's where we tie into topic of the Elecraft list) I'll have
> them each build a K1 or KX1 but there's a lot to learn before we get there.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Craig
> NZ0R
> K1 #1966
> K2 #4941
> KPA100 starting final testing this weekend (waiting for my eBay watt
> meter/dummy load)
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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michael taylor-3

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

On 8/11/05, Craig Rairdin <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
> that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
> take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
> operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
> just for fun.

Well I read Forrest Mim's classic, _Getting Started in Electronics_
when I was 12 years old, unfortunately around 25% of my self-built
projects were failures, so some guidance and help when building would
of been nice.

Another self-guided title that a youngster could easily follow is
_Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics_ by Stan Gibilisco, but it
does not have any experiments if I remember correctly.

I'm a little hesitate to encourage young children learning about
household wiring, for a couple of reasons, first they are too young to
use currently. Second, by the time they are old enough of it to be of
any value they might confuse facts (is ground brown or green?), and
some of the "facts" (i.e. NEC) may have changed.
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John Lonigro

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

I replied privately to Craig, but for the benefit of the reflector, I
found that the Heathkit electronics courses are still available. Just
go to www.heathkit.com for details. I have no idea how expensive they
are these days - might be pretty pricy. I recall they weren't cheap 20
years ago when I bought one of them for myself.

I have no affiliation with Heathkit. In fact, I just found out this
evening that these courses still existed, with the help of a Google search.

John AA0VE

>On 8/11/05, Craig Rairdin <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>>I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
>>that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
>>take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
>>operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
>>just for fun.
>>
>>

zeke7237

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

You might look into the Navy manuals, available online somewhere.
Might be a bit dated, but very thorough and pretty easy to read, with
exercises. There's a "Basic Electronics I", and "II" ...

de w1rt

On 8/11/05, Craig Rairdin <[hidden email]> wrote:

crmabbott

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

Craig,
I would also recomend a mates web sight in Austraila

http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/

His name is Ian Purdy VK2TIP and he runs an excellant site and the lessons are divided up quite nicely

--
73
Chuck AA8VS
Meddle not in the Affairs of Dragons, for thou art
Crunchy and Taste Good with BBQ Sauce

> On 8/11/05, Craig Rairdin <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
> > that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
> > take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
> > operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
> > just for fun.
>
> Well I read Forrest Mim's classic, _Getting Started in Electronics_
> when I was 12 years old, unfortunately around 25% of my self-built
> projects were failures, so some guidance and help when building would
> of been nice.
>
> Another self-guided title that a youngster could easily follow is
> _Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics_ by Stan Gibilisco, but it
> does not have any experiments if I remember correctly.
>
> I'm a little hesitate to encourage young children learning about
> household wiring, for a couple of reasons, first they are too young to
> use currently. Second, by the time they are old enough of it to be of
> any value they might confuse facts (is ground brown or green?), and
> some of the "facts" (i.e. NEC) may have changed.
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Ken Paulson-2

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

Hello Craig,

Not sure exactly what topics you might want to cover, but I recently
ordered the book:

Electronic Circuits for the Evil Genius by Dave Cutcher

It is available from amazon and other sources.

This starts with resistors and capacitors and goes through transistors
and other components, with hands on example circuits. There is also a
kit of parts available from abra-electroncs:

http://www.abra-electronics.com/catalog/kits/evelg.html

Hope this is helpful.

Ken
N0HRL

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Trevor Day

Re: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin

Take a look here Craig, the CD info can be downloaded and is free. It
looked pretty good when I saw it a year or so ago:
http://www.ukradioamateur.org/

Trev G3ZYY

In message <002201c59ea6$af52b500$6a01a8c0@Laridian1>, Craig Rairdin
<[hidden email]> writes

>We teach our kids at home and I'm looking for an electronics curriculum to
>use for science this year. The boys are 11 and 13 years old.
>
>I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
>that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
>take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
>operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
>just for fun.
>
>I'm not looking for a reference book, I'm looking for something that is
>intended to be taught from. It might even have student workbooks and other
>supplementary material. It doesn't have to be designed for home school; it
>can be designed for bigger classrooms or maybe even a "teach yourself
>electronics" book that includes projects.
>
>Ultimately (here's where we tie into topic of the Elecraft list) I'll have
>them each build a K1 or KX1 but there's a lot to learn before we get there.
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Craig
>NZ0R
>K1 #1966
>K2 #4941
>KPA100 starting final testing this weekend (waiting for my eBay watt
>meter/dummy load)
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

Craig Rairdin

RE: OT: Electronic curriculum for middle school wanted

Thanks to everyone who replied publicly and privately to this request. I got
several good suggestions. None are exactly what I'm looking for but I have a
lot of good resources to draw from now.

Craig
NZ0R

In message <002201c59ea6$af52b500$6a01a8c0@Laridian1>, Craig Rairdin
<[hidden email]> writes

>We teach our kids at home and I'm looking for an electronics curriculum to
>use for science this year. The boys are 11 and 13 years old.
>
>I'd like something that covers the basics of electricity and electronics
>that includes some simple projects. In the end I'd like them to be able to
>take the Technician exam, so I'll have to supplement it with rules and
>operating practices. I'm also going to supplement it with basic home wiring
>just for fun.
>
>I'm not looking for a reference book, I'm looking for something that is
>intended to be taught from. It might even have student workbooks and other
>supplementary material. It doesn't have to be designed for home school; it
>can be designed for bigger classrooms or maybe even a "teach yourself
>electronics" book that includes projects.
>
>Ultimately (here's where we tie into topic of the Elecraft list) I'll have
>them each build a K1 or KX1 but there's a lot to learn before we get there.
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Craig
>NZ0R
>K1 #1966
>K2 #4941
>KPA100 starting final testing this weekend (waiting for my eBay watt
>meter/dummy load)
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

--
Trevor Day
UKSMG #217
www.uksmg.org

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