Help to teach a 12 year old about electronics

[picnut]

Hi.
A friend of mine has a son about 12 years old. He has built a few kits successfuly (from Maplin) but none of them really tells him how they work.
What he is looking for is a book (or construction kit) which would be suitable for building his own small projects, probably on plug-in breadboard which can explain how they work.
I've suggested him getting back-issues of EPE for the Teach-In 2000 series, however, any suggestions you have would be most welcome.

Thanks.

 

[flatulent]

best single book

The best beginners book would be any Amateur Radio Handbook. Either from the US ARRL or from the UK RSGB. That is how I got my start as a school child and it ended up with me making my living in electronics.

In conjuction with this, Radio Shack at least in the past had project kits where there is a board with spring connections between parts that are wired together in different ways for each project. I do not know if these are still available.

 

[Element_115]

Try RadioShack it has some fun electronic kits. This would probably be the best for someone who has not taken college physics and calculus.

go here:
www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_009_001_022_000&Page=1

Cheers

 

[picnut]

Thanks for the info. I'll pass it onto my friend.

 

[TheHungry]

Great Book

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0521370957/103-6100138-8185459

 

[EcraZ]

Book by Marwin Tepper is good to start

 

[GrandAlf]

If you want to play at it on the computer. I would recommend Crocodile Physics as a cheap fun eda tool. It is used a lot in schools in the UK. Nice animated components, Leds etc explode when too much current applied, Cool!.