How to Set Up a littleBits Makerspace Invention Wall in Your School

Quick answer

Build your littleBits makerspace invention wall in this order: choose a wall with power nearby, mount a backboard at student height, lay out Bits by function, add labeled bins for small parts, and post a simple checkout routine. Start with one wall and a core Bit set, then expand once students can reset the wall themselves.

A littleBits makerspace invention wall turns a blank classroom wall into a self-serve invention station. Students grab a power Bit, snap on inputs and outputs, and test an idea in minutes instead of waiting for a cart to roll in.

The wall only works if it stays organized. This guide walks through planning, littleBits wall installation, stocking, and the routines that keep a school makerspace usable after the first exciting week.

Plan the wall before you drill

Measure the wall and decide how many students will work at it at once. A wall that serves four students needs roughly 1.2 to 1.5 meters of usable width, with the main mounting height between 90 and 120 cm so younger students can reach the top row without a stool.

Check power before anything else. You need at least two outlets within reach of the wall, and you should confirm the circuit can handle several power supplies running at once. If outlets are far away, plan a cable channel or choose a different wall rather than running cords across a walking path.

• Common mistake: mounting the board before checking outlet placement, then discovering the power Bits cannot reach.
• Checkpoint: stand where a student would stand and confirm every planned row is reachable and visible.

Choose a mounting method that fits your wall

Pegboard, slatwall, and magnetic steel panels all work for a littleBits makerspace invention wall. Pegboard is cheap and easy to reconfigure; magnetic panels let you reposition metal-backed labels and small bins quickly. Match the method to your wall material, not to a photo you saw online.

For drywall, use toggle bolts or a French cleat rated for the loaded weight of the board plus bins. For cinder block, plan on masonry anchors. If you are not allowed to drill, a freestanding panel on locking casters gives you most of the same function.

• Common mistake: hanging the board with light-duty anchors, then loading it with bins and discovering sag within a month.
• Checkpoint: after mounting, hang a temporary weight from the center and confirm the board does not flex or pull away.

Lay out Bits by function, not by color

Group the wall into four zones: power, input, output, and logic. Students learn the signal flow faster when the wall mirrors it left to right, and troubleshooting becomes a physical walk along the chain rather than a guess. Label each zone with a simple card that names the function.

Leave one open zone for works in progress. Students who must dismantle a build to free a Bit will avoid starting ambitious projects, and that open space is what makes the wall a makerspace rather than a storage display.

• Common mistake: sorting Bits by color, which looks tidy but hides how a circuit actually flows.
• Checkpoint: ask a student to explain which zone they would visit first to make a light turn on.

Stock the wall with parts that unlock projects

A wall with only lights and buzzers gets boring fast. Add at least one sensor so students can make something react to the world. The littleBits i8 proximity sensor is a strong first sensor because it senses whether an object is far or near, which supports self-navigating cars and hands-free instruments.

Keep small parts contained. The Blueprint Storage Bin comes in an 80mm size for Blueprint Engineering parts and Bits and a 180mm size for Blueprint Build parts, so you can match bin size to what actually goes on the wall instead of mixing everything into one tub.

• Common mistake: buying many copies of the same Bit and no sensors, which limits projects to on and off.
• Checkpoint: every zone should have at least one part that can be used in more than one project.

Add power and protection planning

Power Bits and rechargeable packs are the parts most likely to fail during a busy class. Keep a spare power supply on hand so a dead pack does not end a lesson. The AC Power Supply for BOLT+ and Blueprint Engineering powers a BOLT+ Power Pack or Blueprint Power Bit Multi-Charger and includes a power cable and wall adapter.

If your school replaces accessories often, a service plan can be worth pricing against your replacement budget. The 3 Year Product Replacement plan covers eligible Sphero accessories and products priced under $75.00 and includes prepaid replacement service, which fits the small parts that tend to disappear or break.

• Common mistake: assuming any USB supply will work, then wondering why a pack charges slowly or not at all.
• Checkpoint: label each power supply with the device it serves so substitutes do not get mixed up.

Write the routines that keep the wall alive

Post a three-step routine at the wall: check out Bits with a name card, build at the wall or at a nearby table, and return every Bit to its labeled zone before leaving. Students who follow the routine do most of your cleanup for you.

Assign a weekly wall monitor from each class. That student checks for missing Bits, tangled cables, and loose anchors, and reports anything broken. A five-minute Friday check prevents the slow decline that turns a makerspace into a junk drawer.

• Common mistake: waiting until the end of the term to inventory the wall, when missing parts are impossible to trace.
• Checkpoint: if more than two Bits are missing after a week, tighten the checkout routine before adding new parts.

Invention wall setup steps

1. Step 1: Pick the wall and confirm power: Choose a wall with two reachable outlets and enough width for the number of students who will build at once. Checkpoint: if power is more than two meters away, pick a different wall.
2. Step 2: Mount the backboard at student height: Use anchors rated for the loaded weight of the board, bins, and Bits, and keep the top row within reach. Checkpoint: test the mount with a temporary weight before loading it.
3. Step 3: Divide the wall into power, input, output, and logic zones: Label each zone so the wall mirrors the direction a signal travels through a circuit. Checkpoint: a student should be able to point to the first zone they need.
4. Step 4: Stock each zone with at least one reusable part: Include a sensor such as the littleBits i8 proximity sensor so projects can react to the world, and use the Blueprint Storage Bin in the size that fits each part type. Checkpoint: every zone should support more than one kind of project.
5. Step 5: Add a spare power supply and label it: Keep a replacement supply such as the AC Power Supply for BOLT+ and Blueprint Engineering available so a flat pack does not end a lesson. Checkpoint: confirm the supply matches your outlet type and device.
6. Step 6: Post checkout and return routines: Require a name card for every Bit checked out and a labeled return spot for every part. Checkpoint: run a two-minute inventory every Friday.

Parts that earn their place on the wall

• littleBits i8 proximity sensor: The proximity sensor Bit senses objects in front of it and can tell whether an object is far or near. It gives students a reaction they can see and test, which turns a static display into a wall where projects respond to movement.
• Blueprint Storage Bin: It is available in an 80mm size for Blueprint Engineering Parts and Bits and a 180mm size for Blueprint Build Parts. Matching bin size to part type keeps the wall organized and makes it obvious when something is missing.
• AC Power Supply - BOLT+ & Blueprint Engineering: It powers a BOLT+ Power Pack or Blueprint Power Bit Multi-Charger and includes a power cable and wall adapter, for use with 120V North American-style outlets only. A spare supply keeps a class running when a pack runs flat, but you must confirm your outlet type before ordering.

Start with one wall, one core set of Bits, and one clear routine. Once students can run the wall themselves, add sensors and storage in the sizes that match how your makerspace actually gets used.