Don't Throw Away Those Old Electronics

School districts go need to constantly replace old and outdated technology. Many times it is sent to a recycling center or worse... sitting in storage! This old technology presents itself as an opportunity for students to learn valuable life long skills. By utilizing the old technology within a school you can teach students how to use hand tools and discuss circuitry. The image below is what my 5th-grade students created out of the computer components they disassembled. The only materials that they had were screwdrivers, screws (from the computers), and wires (from the computers). They were given no adhesives or any specific directions. I was very impressed to see what these students created and made this part of my STEM class at all of the schools that I teach at. I highly recommend incorporating this as part of a makerspace or STEM lab.

Note of Caution:

- Students will cut their hands on metal components. It is wise to get express permission from administration before implementing this.

Please comment below with any suggestions on how to improve this activity or questions you may have.

A "duck" created by 5th-grade students.