Hands-On Science Kits

Learn to code with Huey, your color-sensing robot pal. This kit offers kids a hands-on, screen-free introduction to the world of robotics and coding. With a built-in color sensor, Huey navigates around maps that you create using 81 puzzle-shaped tiles. Huey recognizes the colors of the 32 coding discs, which tell it whether to turn right, turn left, or continue straight. Huey makes fun sounds and movements as it travels around the map, revving its engine as it gets started, and doing a little dance when it reaches home. Huey can be muted for quiet play. Build one of the 18 maps included in the full-color, 16-page challenge book and figure out where to place the coding discs to help Huey find its way home. Make sure to watch out for the red ghosts! If you hit one, you’ll have to debug your code and try again. There are four levels of challenges, which are appropriate for kids ages 5 and up. The size of the map grows with the difficulty of the challenge. Beginner maps use nine map tiles, while advanced ones use all 81 tiles! You can also create your own maps and then challenge your friends to solve them. The possibilities are virtually infinite! Learn about how Huey’s color sensor works in the full-color, 4-page instruction manual. A bonus online challenge book includes more than 40 additional challenges — 60 challenges in all! Can you solve them all? Huey does not require a computer, tablet, or smartphone to operate.

 WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD — Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

For Entry-Level Engineers! Intro to Engineering welcomes young children to the field of engineering with 25 experiments and building projects in five sections. By engaging in hands-on activities, children will learn how engineers apply their scientific and technical knowledge to design machines and devices. Start by learning some engineering basics with experiments on levers, forces, and pulleys. Build simple devices using these basic components. Move on to explore engineering on land by building vehicles with wheels, such as a race car and a wind-up car. Next, investigate engineering with air (and in the air) by building a helicopter, a pinwheel, a parachute, a glider, a balloon rocket, and an air-powered carousel. Then, build a diving bell, a sailboat, and a paddle boat to experiment with engineering in water. Finally, find engineering in your own home with experiments modeling the telephone and television. With a 48-page guidebook, Intro to Engineering teaches engineering fundamentals with step-by-step, hands-on experiments and building projects. Ages 5+. From Thames & Kosmos. Awards: 2010 Parents' Choice Recommended Award Learn More

Read the funny story of two inquisitive kids, Ty and Karlie, and build simple, non-motorized models of the robots they construct and fix during their adventure to an automated candy factory. During this zany outing, Ty and Karlie build various robots to perform tasks and solve problems in the factory. The robots have moving parts, wheels, and gears, so kids can learn firsthand about simple machines and gear trains.

As you follow the story, you can build models of the ten robots featured in the story. Large, colorful plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.

In the story, the kids build robots with arms that rotate, turn, and spin. They fix a robotic arm and other specialized robots that complete specific tasks inside the factory. They construct a robotic drone that flies through the factory to coat the candies in sprinkles, wheeled robots that zoom across the factory floor, a taffy-pulling robot, and a funny gum-kneading robot.

From each humorous segment of their silly adventure, the kids learn something new about robots and machines. This 53-piece science kit combined with the beautifully illustrated storybook provides an engaging way to teach simple engineering concepts to preschool-age kids. Start laying the groundwork for strong STEM related skills and comprehension.

This kit helps develop fine motor skills, science and math skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.

From Thames & Kosmos.

Makes 10 Models.

Includes Storybook.

Ages 3+

Build a series of wacky, motorized robots with this introductory mechanical engineering kit for kids ages five and up.

A beautifully illustrated 32-page storybook centers around the adventures of the Omegas — the family of makers and engineers featured in other Kids First early engineering kits.

This story takes the characters to a robot factory where the robots have gotten a little out of control.

One by one, the robots are fixed up and put back into working order.

As they follow the story, kids can build models of eight different robots and experiment with them to see how each one uses the battery-powered motor, gears, and other mechanical parts.

Each robot moves its arms or legs in a different way, creating funny walking and moving behaviors, and also teaching kids how simple mechanical systems work.

Large, cubic plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.

Robot Factory provides an engaging way to teach simple engineering concepts to young children, allowing parents, teachers, and caregivers to lay the groundwork for strong STEM-related skills and comprehension at an early age.

Model building and experiments develop fine motor skill, mechanical engineering skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.

Build a series of adorable, motorized robotic animals with this introductory mechanical engineering kit for kids ages five and up.

A beautifully illustrated 32-page storybook centers around the adventures of the Omegas — the family of makers and engineers featured in other Kids First early engineering kits.

This story takes the characters to a robotic pet shop where they encounter all sorts of cute robotic pets, including an owl, french bulldog, sloth, panda, chameleon, cat, turtle, and rabbit.

As they follow the story, kids can build models of these eight robots and experiment with them to see how each one uses the battery-powered motor and mechanical parts to move in a different way.

Large, cubic plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.

Robot Pet Shop provides an engaging way to teach simple engineering concepts to young children, allowing parents, teachers, and caregivers to lay the groundwork for strong STEM-related skills and comprehension at an early age.

Model building and experiments develop fine motor skills, mechanical engineering skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.

Build a series of adorable, motorized robotic animals with this introductory mechanical engineering kit for kids ages five and up. A beautifully illustrated 32-page storybook centers around the adventures of the Omegas — the family of makers and engineers featured in other Kids First early engineering kits.

When Remus, the family’s robotic teddy bear, finds himself separated from the rest of his family, he embarks on a fun-filled safari adventure. Along the way, Remus encounters eight different robotic animals from all over the globe: a polar bear, cat, narwhal, crab, fox, baby llama, unicorn, and sea otter. As they follow the story, kids can build models of these robots and experiment with them to see how each one uses the battery-powered motor and mechanical parts to move in a different way. Large, cubic plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.

Robot Safari provides an engaging way to teach simple engineering concepts to young children, allowing parents, teachers, and caregivers to lay the groundwork for strong STEM-related skills and comprehension at an early age. Model building and experiments develop fine motor skill, mechanical engineering skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.

ages 5 and up

32 page manual

2 x AA batteries required

Preschoolers and kindergartners have a natural curiosity to explore and learn about the world around them through experimentation, observation, and play. This kit was developed according to the current educational philosophy of fostering children’s inquisitiveness and interests by providing them with tools and open-ended learning experiences to optimally support their development. Experimenting freely with a variety of safe and engaging tools stimulates creativity and the spirit of scientific thinking. Start laying the groundwork for strong STEM related skills and comprehension. This kit helps develop fine motor skills, science and math skills, problem-solving skills, and reasoning and concept development skills. Durable plastic science tools and storage case. 16-page illustrated storybook. Ages 3+ Learn More