1-on-1 Maker Mentor: Electronics and DIY Builds

Many kids love taking things apart and dreaming up gadgets, but it can be hard to know where to start with real electronics. This one-on-one mentorship pairs a young maker with a coach who guides them from blinking their first LED to building an invention they designed themselves.

The first three sessions build core skills. Learners explore voltage, current and resistance by wiring LEDs and buzzers, then use switches, sensors and a breadboard to make circuits that respond to light, touch or motion. Session three introduces a microcontroller, either a real Arduino-compatible board or the free Tinkercad Circuits simulator, and learners write simple code to control their circuit.

The second half is the learner's own project. With the mentor's help, they sketch an idea such as a night light that turns on in the dark, a door alarm, a reaction-time game or a cardboard robot with moving parts, list materials and plan the build step by step. They then build, test and debug, learning how real makers track down loose wires and code mistakes.

Throughout, learners lead their own project decisions and explain their thinking out loud, building the independence and leadership of a real engineer. The course ends with a showcase of the finished build and a plan for the next project.

How classes work

Sessions are scheduled one-on-one, once a week for six weeks. The mentor demonstrates on camera or in Tinkercad, then watches and guides as the learner builds. Learners can continue building between sessions with a short to-do list.

What we'll cover

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  Session 1: Circuit Basics – Explore voltage, current and resistance by wiring LEDs and buzzers.

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  Session 2: Switches, Sensors and Breadboards – Build circuits that react to touch, light or motion.

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  Session 3: Microcontroller Intro – Write simple code to control lights and sounds on a board or in Tinkercad.

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  Session 4: Designing a Build – Sketch an invention, list materials and plan the build.

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  Session 5: Build and Debug – Assemble the project and troubleshoot wiring and code.

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  Session 6: Showcase and Next Project Plan – Demonstrate the finished build and plan what to make next.

Some building or basic coding experience (such as Scratch or block coding) is helpful but not required. A real microcontroller kit is optional; all activities can be done in the free Tinkercad Circuits simulator.