This isn't quite the example list that you are looking for as the mentioned 'projects' in the following list were done at home, with a lot more timeframe allowed to discuss / work on them. My children are now 8 and 10, but we have been doing such similar things around the home since they were of similar ages to yours. A few of the things that we have done, and became large hits (hardly all computer related, but I think perhaps it's a mentality you are aiming for -- learn, create!)
* Augmented reality sandbox -- The software is still out there. You may have already seen these in action, but it really is not too terrible difficult to build a setup yourself. Old PC with some sort of GPU (for the rain effect, which is the coolest aspect..), a microsoft kinect, and a whatever quality projector. This went over super well in my living room when the kids were 4 & 6 -- And we recently re-built it 4 years later -- The 4 year old didn't even remember it, but I have lots of pictures of her loving it at 4!). Super cool, super interactive, and a good tie in of 'building things using old technology'.
* Grabbing weather from passing NOAA satellites! Build a simple di-pole antenna using whatever materials (we used copper pipe). Involves math and science discussions, and also may get the little ones interested in the weather. RTLSDR, some copper pipe, a laptop, some software, and knowing when to be tuning in. A good example of how 'the first time you try something it may not work as well as you'd like', tweak away from there. Pretty exciting to pull a picture from a satellite line by line. Listen to the signal -- Memories of dialup will immediately be there.
* Use a streaming camera and speed-cam software to create a setup to see 'how fast they can run'. Process and result and discussions about how this setup works can lead to fun insights.
* Stop motion video creation -- Probably the best for your use case, have kids use technology to create their own stop-motion videos. I remember doing this back around the ages of 7, but at that time it was frame by frame using construction paper and a giant VHS camera on a tripod. Techniques have not changed really, but the setup to do stop motion on small scale kid levels is basically free. Shows how iterative processes add up.
* Build a bubble making machine -- I imagine you may have a box of old computer fans, motors, etc, etc. Build a bubble machine! Have them try to design one out. 7 year olds likely able to really design rough concepts, 4 year old can help assemble and most importantly, spill the bubble liquid all over the place! If you want to get fancy, have it become a motion activated bubble machine using motion detection via some ESP32 setup or whatever. "This is what we are trying to do, these are the resources on hand, how do YOU think we could make this happen?".
String up a wire, bust out the RTLSDR (or other SDR stuff) and try to listen to some shortwave from around the world or your area. Pulling whatever from the air always seems basically magic to all kids (and honestly, it's pretty much magic to myself as well).
Not really an able to do at school thing, but son build an AM / FM radio kit that had your typical Chinese 'instructions' and was able with a tiny bit of help to solder everything to the board and have it work first try. As someone else mentioned, it went "Lots of interest > I'm kind of tired of this > I'm so close I will push on > Oh my goodness, the radio works, this is the best". I'm a huge fan of trying to install the 'keep at it' or make changes to make things better way of teaching and learning.
* School/Maybe -- * Make electromagnets by wrapping some wire around some good sized nails, put a switch on it, and both mentioned age groups will likely find it super cool and is certainly electronic/science based.
Just a few of the things we have done around my house thus far and have shown a lot of engagement and interest, and helped to create that 'spark' about wanting to learn more stuff.
I think this summer will bring more radio related things: Sensors to monitor humidity levels to be graphed from our garden, building some actual meshtastic nodes to chat to other people way across town over the airwaves, etc. My 10 year old has started designing a project to "automatically lower sunglasses over his glasses if it is sunny", and I hunch we will finally acquire a 3df printer to see this project through to completion. I'm hardly a programmer, but he did a '30 days lost in space' kit last year, and between the information he started poking with through that, and the assisting of some AI, I'm sure we can work together to pull his implementation off, however he goes about it.
As others said, it's great to see trying to share the desire to learn into the little ones -- They are way more capable than society lets on, you just have to get them interested in things and they are astounding tiny sponges! Good luck!
So cool, I want one. Watch the video here (1) it gets really neat at 1:43.
I want to do this.
For this who don’t know, cheap projectors these days are quite decent. I got one for $75 and we use it as the main screen for the kids. During very sunny days it does not work well, which is a benefit. If it’s too bright to watch TV then go outside! I have one like this and I love it, plenty of other vowel-poor companies make similar. (2)
There is also a makers magazine that has all kinds of ideas. Pretty cheap through discount magazine. https://makezine.com/
Thanks for providing the links I did not -- Kids were waking up and I was trying to bang through it!
One of the things that I always messed up when calibrating it, is the step using the CD-on-a-stick part. You need to do this calibration phase changing the z axis on different points. Do one low. Do one medium, do some 'high'. This is how the system defines it's 'skew' of projection when it comes to the different heights/levels -- and if you do this step all roughly on the same 'z' plane, it will work, but it will not be anywhere near as accurate / magical feeling. The instructions I believe are hazy on this critical part of the setup.
We always used blocks / things covered with white rags instead of sand. Far easier to justify building over the living room table this way, and makes for a quick clean up process!
It's 100% super cool. Also, as you said, we use an $89 3 years ago projector. It is NOT a short-throw projector, but mounted roughly 6-7' above the surface. The kinect was mounted on a yard-stick hanging slightly down below so it's field of view covers just that of the table itself.
It's a super neat end result; and can be decently frustrating during the calibration phases and software setup, but is worth it!
* Augmented reality sandbox -- The software is still out there. You may have already seen these in action, but it really is not too terrible difficult to build a setup yourself. Old PC with some sort of GPU (for the rain effect, which is the coolest aspect..), a microsoft kinect, and a whatever quality projector. This went over super well in my living room when the kids were 4 & 6 -- And we recently re-built it 4 years later -- The 4 year old didn't even remember it, but I have lots of pictures of her loving it at 4!). Super cool, super interactive, and a good tie in of 'building things using old technology'.
* Grabbing weather from passing NOAA satellites! Build a simple di-pole antenna using whatever materials (we used copper pipe). Involves math and science discussions, and also may get the little ones interested in the weather. RTLSDR, some copper pipe, a laptop, some software, and knowing when to be tuning in. A good example of how 'the first time you try something it may not work as well as you'd like', tweak away from there. Pretty exciting to pull a picture from a satellite line by line. Listen to the signal -- Memories of dialup will immediately be there.
* Use a streaming camera and speed-cam software to create a setup to see 'how fast they can run'. Process and result and discussions about how this setup works can lead to fun insights.
* Stop motion video creation -- Probably the best for your use case, have kids use technology to create their own stop-motion videos. I remember doing this back around the ages of 7, but at that time it was frame by frame using construction paper and a giant VHS camera on a tripod. Techniques have not changed really, but the setup to do stop motion on small scale kid levels is basically free. Shows how iterative processes add up.
* Build a bubble making machine -- I imagine you may have a box of old computer fans, motors, etc, etc. Build a bubble machine! Have them try to design one out. 7 year olds likely able to really design rough concepts, 4 year old can help assemble and most importantly, spill the bubble liquid all over the place! If you want to get fancy, have it become a motion activated bubble machine using motion detection via some ESP32 setup or whatever. "This is what we are trying to do, these are the resources on hand, how do YOU think we could make this happen?".
String up a wire, bust out the RTLSDR (or other SDR stuff) and try to listen to some shortwave from around the world or your area. Pulling whatever from the air always seems basically magic to all kids (and honestly, it's pretty much magic to myself as well).
Not really an able to do at school thing, but son build an AM / FM radio kit that had your typical Chinese 'instructions' and was able with a tiny bit of help to solder everything to the board and have it work first try. As someone else mentioned, it went "Lots of interest > I'm kind of tired of this > I'm so close I will push on > Oh my goodness, the radio works, this is the best". I'm a huge fan of trying to install the 'keep at it' or make changes to make things better way of teaching and learning.
* School/Maybe -- * Make electromagnets by wrapping some wire around some good sized nails, put a switch on it, and both mentioned age groups will likely find it super cool and is certainly electronic/science based.
Just a few of the things we have done around my house thus far and have shown a lot of engagement and interest, and helped to create that 'spark' about wanting to learn more stuff.
I think this summer will bring more radio related things: Sensors to monitor humidity levels to be graphed from our garden, building some actual meshtastic nodes to chat to other people way across town over the airwaves, etc. My 10 year old has started designing a project to "automatically lower sunglasses over his glasses if it is sunny", and I hunch we will finally acquire a 3df printer to see this project through to completion. I'm hardly a programmer, but he did a '30 days lost in space' kit last year, and between the information he started poking with through that, and the assisting of some AI, I'm sure we can work together to pull his implementation off, however he goes about it.
As others said, it's great to see trying to share the desire to learn into the little ones -- They are way more capable than society lets on, you just have to get them interested in things and they are astounding tiny sponges! Good luck!