Now, thinking what to do next time, we will have a NEW batch of kids and the kids in the first batch said, it was too easy, so maybe something a bit more difficult/challenging.?

So, I finally had the time to post about what we did at the actual event.

https://hackaday.io/project/12584-jugnu-led-throwies

Decent one is a downhill racer finish line.  Cars roll down an incline through the end, each one has an LED and light-sensor.  Detect which one hits the finish first and declare the winner with more lights.

LEDs to 'draw' on a glow-paint wall.  -- this was done on HAD some years back.

awesome, but we did the simple LED Throwie thing - will be posting about it here a bit later.

we did not have time to arrange stuff for the ideas mentioned here.

LED Hula Hoops, batons and poi :) with flashing patterns, easy snap with 555IC

Not an electronics guy, but a "Sound indicator" would be nice .. An LED that glows as bright as the sound near it. I wish I knew how to make a cheap one, so I can always make my dream art/science project: A huge cubical grid of the "Sound Indicator"s , So that we can "see" the sound waves move/ reflect on a surface, etc.. !  

Hi Kamathin - small electret microphone - an ATTINY85 - and an LED would get you what you're talking about extremely cheaply.  But... Microphone + arduino + LED would do it quickly. https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9964 

i like walking classes through this instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-an-Atari-Punk-circuit-on-a-breadboard/

Here's the digikey cart with everything you need for one kit except for the speaker, which would likely be cheaper if bought locally: http://www.digikey.com/short/3zbwz8

It takes about 2 hours if everyone does well, with another hour to help troubleshoot individual bugs, and everyone goes home with a fun toy to play with an modify :)

Cost might be a big factor but what about conductive ink? https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/the-great-big-guide-to-paper-circuits

http://www.instructables.com/id/Solo-Cup-Speakers/

I was thinking about doing this one with a similar group of kids. I would avoid soldering only because of the parents, the kids are more than capable. 

This project can be done without any soldering.

thanks. maybe this can be given as a demo.

Hi,

At the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire this past weekend, my hackspace runs (as it does every year) a learn-to-solder booth. We run about 80 people through the booth each day, ages ranging from about 4 to 80s. Most of them skewing around 6-7.

It's a blinky badge, with two LEDs alternately flashing. It's different enough that people love it, and simple enough that literally every person that came through finished.

Here are the docs. Picture of the badge on the front page (this year the PCB, version 2.3, was red):

http://vancouver.hackspace.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JMartin_vhs_makerfaire_print.pdf

And here is the GitHub repo with all the source materials:

https://github.com/vhs/vhs-pcbs/tree/master/maker-faire-2013

We also hand out a copy of the "Learn to solder" comic book:

http://mightyohm.com/blog/2011/04/soldering-is-easy-comic-book/

We found this circuit is _amazing_, because it tells you exactly where problems in the circuit is occuring. If the badge won't light up, check the polarity of transistors, battery, or switch.

One side doesn't light up? Check all the joints _on that side_ for solder bridges or cold solder joints. This allowed us to troubleshoot almost any issue in a couple seconds and make us seem like magic to the attendees.

Hope that all helps!

Thanks, since we have to do this, THIS MONDAY, I dont think we can get PCBs etc made in the time, but maybe NEXT time.

Yeah, Soldering is a BIG issue with the adults, KIDS LOVE it and easily learn to do it.

This may be too ambitious, but :https://hackaday.io/project/12103-laseroscope-ii

oh my.... I am wondering if I can do it. :)

;)