My son Lukas used the Zombie Detector mission as a science fair entry last year. He was 9 years old at the time and was able to build the circuit (with some help), upload the code, and explain the different wave lengths that make up infrared radiation. (That’s his younger brother Seth making the bunny ears.)
We were even able to find a drink named Zombi to add the perfect detail to the game.
We had teachers and students from the surrounding classrooms come in and participate in the demonstration.
Lukas explaining the project to a classmate.
The items we brought to class:
- The Zombie detector circuit
- Cans of soda (cold and warm)
- Lunchbox
- Ice
Note: Water begins to collect on the outside of the cold soda can. Kids who place their hand over the circuit after holding the wet can might drop water onto the electronics. While I don’t feel this causes a safety issue, it is really bad to get electronics wet. We broke one of the IR sensors this way. Were I to do this again, I would bring a towel so students could wipe their hand quickly before doing the test.
What else could we have done?