Build Inside the Box 500!

Interesting challenge!

I too think something kids will also be able to use with little effort, like some form of Arduino (perhaps one with a few in-built sensors if that exists) could be interesting. Thunderboard Sense could be interesting but it's not Arduino unfortunately (it's Mbed, just as easy to use but less familiar with teachers etc).

On the input side, a potentiometer, or Joystick as Mike mentions, would be great because it's tactile and also can be used as a sensor (say combined with mechanical stuff) or can be used as a human-machine interface. That joystick that kmikemoo mentions is a fantastic idea, because it could be disassembled or hacked perhaps into two potentiometer sensors/interface devices if people wanted to do that.

For output, a bit leftfield, but how about fibre optic cablefibre optic cable because it would force creators to think about working beyond the electronics in interesting ways. It could be used for output or input, i.e. with an LED or phototransistor, or both, and could be purely decorative, or useful as a sensor combined with the phototransistor, or used for comms. And it's something kids would find curious (I still find it intriguing as an adult to be honest).

For power, how about a reel of magnet wire aka enameled copper wiremagnet wire aka enameled copper wire (there's probably cheaper reels) and a magnet? These could be easy for people to get hold of from many places, and open up lots of possibilities, like power generation, or using it in a non-power-generating way too, e.g. the analog gauge that Nico mentions would be an awesome use for it, or people could use it as an actuator (solenoid), or even just for attractive wiring. It would come in handy for dozens of school science experiments so science teachers could get creative with that too.

For the wacky item, I can't think of anything much right now, except perhaps maybe another combined input/output device could be a speaker or a piezo element? (can double up as a mic or a percussive type of sensor).  Or an alligator clip : ) Could be used to suspend the project, or attach to other circuits, or to align mechanical or optical stuff.

shabaz  As far as a processor, I also looked at the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense (https://www.newark.com/arduino/abx00035/nano-33-ble-sense-w-header-dev/dp/67AH8876?st=arduino%20nano).  It has a bunch of built in sensors and still uses the Arduino IDE, which I think is a good starting point for STEM.

The fiber optic cable is brilliant.  Love it.

shabaz  As far as a processor, I also looked at the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense (https://www.newark.com/arduino/abx00035/nano-33-ble-sense-w-header-dev/dp/67AH8876?st=arduino%20nano).  It has a bunch of built in sensors and still uses the Arduino IDE, which I think is a good starting point for STEM.

The fiber optic cable is brilliant.  Love it.

Hi Mike,

Fiber optics happened to be on my desk so it was top-of-mind:

These are 6mm and 8mm diameter. The only reason I had them, is because I recently ordered a lensholder from Edmund Optics, and these were in their 'bargain clearance' section, 1 meter lengths. They came with no specification, rough-cut or damaged ends, they are kind-of flexible but need a lot of force to be kept in any position. I don't have any specific use for them yet.