The projects taught kids about electric current, conductors, light waves, and more. Our second group of test panelists favored fun-leaning kits over the educational ones like Smart Circuits.

Kids love building electric circuits, but connecting light bulbs to batteries with fiddly wires is tricky for young hands. Play dough and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) solve the problem beautifully.

Just a little bit about the coop and electricity and why it matters,” said McCray. Aiken Electric says it’s important to teach it in a way that kids will remember. “If the message is boring ...