Mostly, the best instruments for teaching science and technology are screen-free. Contrary to what you might expect and hear children’s best resources to learn STEM ideas. These include coding, are not apps and screens.
About why? STEM values underlie creativity, pattern identification, discovery, experimentation, and development. Tangible objects need to be exploited by children. It’s how they are learning. Some excellent applications complement STEM learning.
But, blended ones are the perfect STEM experiences for kids the ones that include hands-on experimentation, optional screens. Check out these cool STEM kits and games for mixed learning. Like the best baby booster seat, they will get your little inventors qualified to file for their first patent.
LittleBits Base Inventor Kit (8+)
This may be one of the better introductions for potential inventors to electronics. It comes with lots of “think outside the box” choices while the “box” itself is still pretty cool. Children can construct and customize a robotic arm activated by voice. Also, they can innovate from there or invent whatever they want.
In addition to the robotic arm, for hours of play and learning, the package comes with a power supply, slide dimmer, sound generator, proximity sensor, LED, buzzer, and other goodies. If your children need some tips, the small bits app even has some interesting ideas.
Kiwi Crate (All ages)
My children jump with joy every month as they see that the green box has arrived. They are fascinated by Kiwi Crate, they can’t wait to break it open and get to work. It’s because a bevy of STEM subscription-box options is out there.
Here’s what’s unique about Kiwi Crate. It provides a line of open and entertaining STEM and STEAM projects for children to high school students. This can be best buy of baby care products.
It has also won a bunch of awards. My children now share the Kiwi Crate, built for ages five through eight. Also, it’s without my help, they focus on it together. This can be one of the best baby care products you have ever bought.
Wonder Dash and Wonder Dot (6+)
Even though they’re screen-based, both of these coding robots from Wonder Workshop deserve a spot on this list. They’re so terrific. The other day, my seven-year-old son came home from school and said, “I can’t wait to write a Dash and Dot novel.
I want to make them sing!” I asked, “Who are Dash and Dot?” ‘Robots!’ he screamed. “Awesome,” I said and contacted the tech coordinator instantly, who reported that indeed, indeed, Dash and Dot are making a splash around the K-8 continuum. “I play with robots at school!”
Lego Education WeDo 2.0 Core (6+)
Talking of Lego, its WeDo 2.0 Core package takes a discovery-based approach to design, creation, and coding and is great until the end of middle school for small children.
Although older kids might choose anything from the Mindstorms line of Lego, the WeDo 2.0’s comprehensive construction possibilities beyond “the box” make it a good investment for all ages.
It’s because the package comes with 280 construction parts, including a motor and a SmartHub. As Lego does beautifully, there are opportunities that I heartily support, both to re-create pre-made creations using its app and to free build.
