Grades 6–12 (Kit)
Power up STEM with programmable technology! This kit introduces students to Arduino microcontrollers through hands-on engineering challenges. Designed for Activity 3: Stage 5 of the Hen House Engineering lesson, students program lights and fans to run automatically in their hen house model—just like in modern poultry housing systems, where ventilation and lighting are essential for maintaining air quality and simulating daylight hours.
By building and coding with Arduino, students gain real-world experience with microcontrollers, circuits, and automation. This kit provides the foundation for exploring agricultural technology, computer science, and engineering design. A sample Arduino program is included to support classroom use.
Downloads
Kit Contents
- Arduino Microcontroller (programmed with Arduino)
- Breadboard
- Arduino and breadboard holder
- USB Mini-B cable
- Wall adapter power supply
- Jumper wires
- Test leads – alligator clip with pigtail
- LEDs
- Resistors
- Screwdriver
Additional Supplies
The following items are required but not included in the kit:
- Computer (Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux)
- Arduino software
Lesson Plans
Use this kit with the Hen House Engineering lesson and other related lessons on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix.
Extend the Learning
Encourage students to design their own automated systems using Arduino. Applications could include controlling grow lights, monitoring sensors, or automating small-scale hydroponics and aquaponics projects. Visit our Arduino resource page for beginner-friendly tutorials and coding support.
