Grow Up Curious 
Start Here: Setup Guide
Get the kit and the computer ready in about half an hour. For the grown-up.
- Windows, Mac and Linux, drivers and port
- A first test upload and a fix-it guide
- 10 pages
Your kid's first circuit, built together at the kitchen table.
Printable step-by-step guides for the UNO R3 starter kit you already have. Every wire has an exact hole, every mission has a fix-it box, and the grown-up gets a script for when it doesn't light up.
Mission 1: Light It Up
Every wire has an address.
Starter kits come with a box of parts and very little hand-holding. Our guides tell you where each part goes, hole by hole, so you spend the evening building instead of guessing.
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A wiring table for every mission
A picture of the finished circuit, plus a numbered table you can read out loud.
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A fix-it box when it doesn't work
Each mission says what to check first. Most problems are one hole off or an LED turned around.
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Lab notes for the kid
Predict, draw it, write what happened, hunt the bug. Printable pages for every mission.
| Step | Part | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red wire | 5V on the board | + rail |
| 2 | Black wire | GND on the board | − rail |
| 3 | Resistor | + rail | j10 |
| 4 | LED: long leg | i10 | |
| 4 | LED: short leg | i11 | |
| 5 | Black wire | j11 | − rail |
Three steps, in order.
Start with the free setup guide, build circuits with no code in Level 1, then write real code with the same parts in Level 2.
Spark
Five circuits with lights, buttons, a knob and a light sensor. The board is just the battery.
- Ages 8 to 11 with a grown-up
- No computer setup needed
- 31 pages, 5 missions
Coder
Blink a light, build a traffic light, teach the board to read a button and the light in the room.
- Ages 10 to 13 with a grown-up
- Fill-the-gap challenges and bug hunts
- 33 pages, 5 missions
What a mission looks like.
Real pages from the guides. Read them on a tablet next to the breadboard, or print the lab notes.
You don't need to know electronics.
Your job is to read the steps out loud and help when something doesn't work. Your kid holds the parts and plugs in the wires.
- "For grown-ups" boxes explain what's going on in plain words
- Sessions of 10 to 30 minutes, one mission at a time
- Everything runs on USB power. The 9 V battery stays in the box.
What to say when it doesn't work
- "Let's check one wire at a time. What does the table say goes in that hole?"
- "Is the LED's long leg on the + side?"
- "Mistakes are clues. Let's write this one in the Bug Hunter Log."
- "You found it! That's real engineering."
From the Start Here setup guide
Get both levels in the Starter Bundle.
Spark and Coder together: 10 missions and 64 pages, from a first glowing LED to a light that fades through every color.
$24$30
Buy the bundle, $24
Instant PDF download. 14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Secure checkout by Polar.
Questions parents ask
Which kit do I need?
Any UNO R3 starter kit that has the parts listed on each guide's page. The ELEGOO UNO R3 Super Starter Kit lists every part we use, and most other UNO R3 starter kits do too. Check your kit's parts list before you buy a guide.
Do we need a computer?
Not for Level 1 Spark: the board is only the power source, so a USB phone charger or a power bank works too. Level 2 Coder needs a Windows, Mac or Linux computer with the free Arduino IDE, which the Start Here guide helps you install. Chromebooks, tablets and phones aren't covered.
What ages is it for?
Spark is written for about 8 to 11, and Coder for about 10 to 13, both with a grown-up nearby. Every kid is different: younger builders need more help reading the tables, older ones move faster.
I don't know anything about electronics. Can I still help?
Yes. The guides are written for you to read out loud, with "For grown-ups" boxes and a fix-it box in every mission. You don't need to understand the circuit before you start; you'll find out together.
Is this an official Arduino product?
No. Grow Up Curious makes independent guides for UNO R3 starter kits (compatible with Arduino). We're not affiliated with Arduino or any kit maker.
Do I print it, or read it on a screen?
Either. The guides are US Letter PDFs that open on any phone, tablet or computer. You can keep the guide on a tablet next to the breadboard and print only the lab notes pages.
What about safety?
Every mission runs on low-voltage USB power. The guides tell you to leave the 9 V battery, its clip and the power supply module in the box. Starter kits contain small parts, so keep them away from younger children and pets, and supervise.
What if it isn't right for us?
Email us within 14 days of your purchase and we'll refund you in full. See the Refund Policy.
Start with the free setup guide.
Check the parts, test the cable, install the software and upload a first test, with a fix-it guide for the usual snags. We'll email it to you.
Free, for grown-ups. Confirm your email and the guide opens right away. By signing up, you agree to receive emails from Grow Up Curious (see our Privacy Policy). Unsubscribe anytime.