Project 28 - Pot Select Segment "K-12 JUNO STEM KIT"

What You Can Build Using K-12 JUNO STEM KIT

In the "Pot Select Segment" project from the K-12 JUNO STEM Kit, children wire a potentiometer (a variable resistor) to a seven-segment LED display. By turning the potentiometer knob, students directly control the brightness of the segments—making the numbers on the display glow at different intensities. This practical activity introduces both analog control and digital display technology in a hands-on way.

What You Can Learn

• Variable Resistance and Output: Kids discover that adjusting the potentiometer changes resistance, altering the amount of current reaching the display and making it brighter or dimmer.

• Display Technology: Learners see how segment displays are built from individual LEDs that together form numbers and characters.

• Basic Circuit Construction: Students get experience connecting a potentiometer, segment display, resistors, and power—using breadboards, pinouts, and simple wiring.

• Ohm’s Law in Action: The project provides a memorable demonstration of Ohm’s Law (V=IRV=IR), linking resistance adjustment to changes in visible output.

Real Life Problem Solving

• Troubleshooting: If segment brightness doesn’t change, students practice checking potentiometer wiring, polarity, and connections for straightforward problem-solving.

• Device Understanding: The activity models real-world uses of brightness controls—such as dashboard dimmers, appliance readouts, and night lights.

• Design Thinking: Learners may experiment by wiring different digits, changing resistor sizes, or adding multiple displays for advanced challenges.

Additional Benefits

• Creativity: Children might create decorative panels, games, counters, or mood displays where brightness shows status or scores.

• Teamwork: The project naturally leads to peer collaboration and sharing discoveries for group learning.

• Confidence: Instantly seeing how turning a dial changes the display gives a sense of real control and engineering mastery.

• Foundation for Future Learning: This forms a springboard to programmable display projects, advanced dimmers, and analog/digital interfaces.

Why Pot Select Segment Matters

The Pot Select Segment project transforms a simple potentiometer and display into a dynamic, interactive system. By literally “dialing in” their results, students experience the joy of immediate feedback, building essential confidence and skills for future STEM success.

With Project 28: Pot Select Segment, every child gets to control, customize, and create—one smooth turn at a time!