CONSTRUCTION / MECHANICAL KITS

Before robots take over completely, it might be a good idea to learn a little about how they work. Start with this Elenco® Joysticks Robotic Arm Kit. After building it, you’ll understand mechanical basics and be able to watch the inner parts working in tandem (mechanical rods, planetary gears and transmission) as you control the arm’s (4) axes in (8) different directions simultaneously and easily with (2) joysticks. Pick up objects of different sizes and shapes with the convertible (2)- and (4)-claw grippers. Fully constructed, the machine measures approx 20” long x 10-1/2” high x 6-1/2” wide. Requires (2) “D” batteries, not included, but we’ve got them for you. Ages 10+

Snap Circuits™ has added Brics, their name for little plastic building blocks that are, luckily, compatible with Lego, those other little, inerlocking plastic building blocks you have. This award-winning 225-piece Bric Essentials set has sheets and blocks plus Snap Circuits connectors, blinking and steady LEDs, a slide switch, a fiber-optic bundle, an incandescent bulb and a melody integrated circuit, along with adapter blocks to mate the Snap Circuits components with the brics. Has instructions to make over 25 projects, including a house and a tower, on the 10” x 5” base. You add a trio of “AA” batteries. For ages 8+. Winner of Six Toy of the Year Awards! ages 8 to 108. A great gift for the Lego Lover!

Right after you build your own working medieval catapult or trebuchet. All you’ll need is glue, scissors and a steady hand (plus a small bag of marbles or rocks or something as a counterweight for the trebuchet) to construct these wooden, Canadian-made siege engine kits. The catapult stands 6” tall x 5” wide x 10” long and will toss assorted stuff 15 feet or farther, depending upon the stuff. The finished trebuchet will be 26” long x 18” wide x 24” tall and will propel small objects (meatballs?) 20 feet or more. Both include detailed instructions and are great resources for STEM activities. For ages 9+. Note: Please don’t propel small mammals, and please don’t put anyone’s eye out.

It doesn't get much cooler in the robotic-arm-kit game. The assembled STEM educational arm is 15" tall x 9" long x approx 3-1/2" wide. It's 2-pronged hand opens to 1-3/4", lifts up to 3.5 oz (100g), swings 120 degrees at the wrist, pivots 300 degrees at the elbow, and sits on a base that swings 180 degrees up and down and rotates 270 degrees, like, well, an arm. Controlled by (5) 2-axis joy-sticks and powered by (4) D-Cell batteries that you provide. Includes a hand-mounted search light and over-torque and gear-breakage alarms, which is more than your arm has. Requires a diagonal cutter and Philips screwdriver for assembly of its 200+ pieces and is made for ages 12 and up.

The secret is in the gears. This 185-piece kit from UGEARS® assembles in 2-3 hours without glue or tools, and results in an 8-compartment box. Opening the lid activates (3) main blocks to the side and front. A third block moves a lower drawer with (6) compartments, while a secret button on the back opens (2) secret compartments. Includes a locking latch. No doubt about it—this box is fancy, festooned with myriad floral and ornamental design elements. Completed box will measure approx 11” x 8-3/4” x 8”. Made in Ukraine. For ages 14+.

Make a whole bunch of fun and instructive Lego® machines/chain reaction models like marble runs and mousetraps involving ramps, buckets, funnels balances and much more. Comes with (33) Lego® elements, (6) Lego® balls, a dozen paper props, and a 78-page instruction booklet for (10) machines. You add a few common household items. Includes suggestions for more complicated devices if you have your own Lego® pieces, and if you don't, what are you waiting for? Ages 8+.

Teaching a kid how to manage time—hey, that’s up to you—but this wind-up clock kit teaches kids the basic mechanical principles of gears and pendulums. Clock has a clear body, approx 7-3/4” dia x 1” deep with a 1/2” tall base, and individually colored gears for easy identification. It’s spring-driven, so no batteries are needed. Bell "dings" in 15-minute intervals. Tweaking the pendulum mounting, and tuning it, takes a little focus. Ages 6-10. ! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

UGears® is the model company that specializes is wooden steampunk versions of otherwise simple objects, perfect for perfectionist painstakers who revel in constructing complicated kits. (You know who you are.) In this case, you pick: the (43) piece Steampunk Clock, a beautiful collection of gears, lacy ornament, flowers, stars and a moon that you make into an imitation clock approx 2" x 3" x 5" when done; or the Wheel Organizer, the world's most delightfully complicated desktop pencil and pen holder. The (51) parts include wheels, gears and slots that deliver the pencil of choice when you turn the big ship-like wheel. Finished model will be 4-1/3" x 3-1/2" x 3-2/3". No glue or special tools needed, and you can paint or stain them if you like.

From Metal Earth®, the people who make shiny metal 3D models, now comes the Doctor Who T.A.R.D.I.S. metal model. All punch-outs with no glue or soldering required. 1-5/8” square x 3-1/4” tall. And if you don’t know what Tardis is, you should probably be catching up on classic British Sci-Fi. These are challenging models, so they're rated for all ages over 14.

These DIY cardboard game kits are fun and easy to assemble. A relatively small number of components and basic instructions allow kids to put them together and begin play quickly. No tools or batteries needed. Included instructions promise assembly in 45 minutes. Then, kids can start playing with their very own bowling alley or pinball machine. Each kit has (11) cardboard sheets and all the other parts needed for the games. Cardboard doesn’t last forever, but this stuff is durable enough that it’ll still be around when the kids have moved on to teenage rabble-rousing. You pick: the bowling alley, with (6) pins, (2) balls, and other parts, measuring approx 21-1/2” x 7” x 5-1/2”; or the pinball machine, with (1) marble, (3) elastic bands, and other parts, measuring approx 15” x 10” x 6”.

Meet KC3, a one-of-a-kind, build-it-yourself Keypad Coding Robot. Like you, KC3 is unplugged! No need for a computer or app! Practically human! But seriously, bot builders, this adorbs 6” high x 7” long mission-based coding buddy is designed to inspire the budding coder, with beginner-friendly building and coding methods. Can be built and re-built into (3) roles: Shooter, Doodler and Sweeper. Elenco® made the KC3, so you know it’s a winner. You supply (4) “AAA” batteries, but that’s the least you can do, considering all that the KC3 is going to do for you. Ages 8+.

This Lego® set from Klutz has (58) pieces, including gear wheels, bricks, axles and connectors to build (11) gadgets, including a claw, catapult, assorted vehicles, robots, a fan and a hand-held blender thingy. Includes a 78-page manual with detailed instructions and a plethora of punch-out paper parts for added verisimilitude. For ages 8+, or anyone else who knows what plethora and verisimilitude mean.

Wood or wooden you like to never see another pun on wood or wooden? Too bad--we’re not even trying to quit. Meanwhile, you can try this wooden wiggling fish. Made from laser-cut pieces that you peg or glue together, it will measure about 10-1/4” x 8-1/4” x 4-3/8” when finished. Comes with an instruction booklet, glue, sandpaper and wax.

Build one yourself and learn about pneumatic and hydraulic technology in the process. The Thames & Kosmos® Mega Cyborg Hand kit is 2020 Astra Best Toys for Kids winner comes with a (52)-page color manual, (203) pieces and (5) experiments. The detachable thumb makes it left- or right-handed, although it's always going to have just (3) fingers, which is all robotic paws really need. Hand is adjustable to 160 degrees, and every finger adjusts to different angles, too, for precision movement. Control knob allows for up to 70-degree extension. No motors or batteries needed—just hydraulics and your own hand. You add some common household tools for assembly. Ages 7+..

That's what Emma Lazarus called Lady Liberty in the poem at her feet, and this model is a mighty good way to give the kids a little history lesson. Made of long-lasting foam, she’ll stand approx 20” tall when complete on her base. You punch out the pieces--inside a book also chock full of facts about the statue--and slot them together without glue.

Bring the future back to the analog world it was created in. This Star Wars: The Last Jedi book and model set includes a Styrofoam cut-out model of the Tie Silencer that you can put together, and a cool (32)-page book you can read. It’s got instructions for the model and very detailed comic book-style color illustrations and descriptions of characters and equipment, from Kylo Ren to R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon to the Command Shuttle. We suggest doing one thing at a time, though. Build or read. Book/package measures 5-1/2" x 7-1/2".

From Smartivity®, the company that makes DIY toys that moonlight as STEAM teachers, this Pinball Table kit is made of re-engineered laser-cut wood (recyclable, non-toxic and sustainable), and is assembled using only rubber bands, with no glue required. Fun to build and play, and based on principles of gravity, centrifugal force and geometry. The finished game measures appx. 9” x 12”. For ages 8+

Start your children on the path to learning the basic concepts of solar tech. This multi-bot STEM education solar kit includes a 1.5V solar cell, a small DC motor and gearbox and a boatload of parts that will let you make (14) different comical and functional land and water solar-powered projects including: TortoiseBOT; SlinkerBOT; FourBOT; SurferBOT; PaddleBOT; WalkR-BOT; Big Wheeler BOT; CarBOT; TumblerBOT; BugBOT; K9BOT; MonsterBOT; CrabbyBOT and, you should pardon the pun, the RowingBOT. No, really--there's a row bot. Projects come in (2) levels of difficulty and include an 81pp graphic manual. You'll need a hobby knife or a pair of side-cutters, and sunlight. Most projects will be approx 5" tall when assembled.