Geared as an invitation for undergraduates, beginning graduatestudents, we present a pedagogical introduction to onedimensional topological phases—in particular, the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model. In the process, we delve upon ideas ofentanglement using the correlator method and the von-Neumanndensity-matrix method, geometric phase, polarization,transport signatures and the role of electron-electron interactions.Through hands-on numerical experiments, whose codesare shared, we try to drive home the message why a programof simulating quantum electronics with topological toy modelsis the store-house for discovering fantastic physics ideas.