About
### Project: Build Your Own **Laser Harp** **What it is** Your child will turn an Arduino, a row of low‑power laser diodes, light‑dependent resistors (LDRs), and a piezo buzzer (or small speaker) into an electronic “harp.” Breaking any laser beam with a hand or finger is detected by the matching LDR; the Arduino maps that interruption to a musical note and plays it through the buzzer. The result is a touch‑free instrument—part science experiment, part rock‑star gadget. --- #### Core Components - **Arduino Uno (or Nano)** - 6–8 low‑power red laser modules - Matching LDRs (or photodiodes) in light‑shielding tubes - Piezo buzzer or small 8 Ω speaker - Resistors (10 kΩ for LDR voltage dividers) - Breadboard & jumper wires - 5 V power supply or USB cable - Optional: RGB LEDs for note‑on visual feedback, 3D‑printed frame or foam board stand --- #### What the Kid Will Learn | Skill | How It’s Practiced | |-------|--------------------| | **Electronics basics** | Wiring lasers, sensors, and buzzers; understanding voltage dividers | | **Digital & analog I/O** | Reading analog values from LDRs, driving a buzzer with `tone()` | | **Signal thresholding** | Writing code to distinguish “beam intact” vs. “beam broken” | | **Mapping data to output** | Converting sensor readings to musical note frequencies | | **Timing & debouncing** | Preventing false triggers when hands move quickly | | **Creative coding** | Adding scales, chords, or even MIDI output for synth control | | **Problem‑solving** | Aligning lasers with sensors, reducing ambient‑light noise | | **STEM integration** | Blending physics (light), engineering (circuit design), and music theory | --- #### Big Takeaways - **Hands‑on electronics:** Kids see how simple components become interactive tech. - **Immediate feedback:** Every beam break makes a sound, reinforcing cause‑and‑effect learning. - **Cross‑disciplinary thinking:** Combines coding, optics, and music in one memorable build.
You can also join this program via the mobile app. Go to the app