K-5th STEM Kits
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to partner with some after-school groups. Maybe you want to offer robotics classes to your community. Or maybe you are just ready for your library to offer more than books. Whatever it is, keep on reading to see my top 10 go to manipulatives for kids STEM kits.
When I started my first programming librarian job I had no idea about the variety of resources out there for kids of all ages to learn in different ways through PLAYING! I had always known that play was a form of learning and fully supported programs that taught our attendees a new skill. But if you had asked that baby librarian if she ever thought you could teach circuits or engineering or robotics to 6 year old children with toys-she would have laughed.
When I was introduced to my very first set of snap circuits I was hooked and there was no looking back! I went on a deep dive looking for every toy/tool I could use to teach STEM to kids in fun and comprehendible ways. After a more than a decade of curating non-traditional collections, programming in fun and unique ways, and trying out each and every STEM manipulative I can, I still come back to these items as my top ten go-to’s for kids STEM kits. While I would say these items are ideal for kids in the Kindergarten through 5th grade range, they honestly are still so much fun and exploration for kids both younger and older than that range. One of my favorite things to do is pull out manipulatives such as these for a kids or family program and watch how the parents get intrigued and involved often staying to play and build their creations long after their children have lost interest!
But without further ado…
A tree build from multi-colored, interconnecting blocks.
Brain Flakes
Brain Flakes are one of those manipulatives that I loved using in libraries enough that I bought a set for my own children. These interconnecting discs are great for building anything you want from rainbows and trees, to crowns and baseball bats. Last night my son built a rainbow colored corn cob and started on a pair of brain flakes pants…when I say ‘anything’, I mean it!
Brain Flakes are great for projects both in the library and for patrons to check-out and take home. The one drawback I would mention is that these pieces can be easily lost under couches or bookcases, however, on the flip side of that, you do not need every single piece in the jar to be able to play and have fun with these. So a couple pieces missing will not make the whole kit unusable.
Even with the risk of pieces being lost (and let’s be honest, what in a library doesn’t have the potential of getting lost once taken to somebody’s home?) Brain Flakes will always be at the top of my list for the creativity aspect and ability to apply to so many different disciplines while still being .
Engineering - Build a bridge that will hold a book.
Math - Build something that has double the number of reds as greens and triple the number of yellows as blues.
Science (mass and buoyancy)- Will the pieces float in water? What about if you build something bigger with them? Try building a creation with 25 brain flakes that will float in water.
Multi colored, interconnecting bristle blocks in the shape of a building.
Bristle Blocks
PicassoTiles really make some fantastic manipulatives. You may have seen or played with their magnet building blocks (which are also at the top of my STEM manipulatives list for engineering programs!) But these blocks are something I hadn’t really seen talked about before my daughter’s teacher showed me a set in her classroom. These are a great manipulative for building gross motor skills. The blocks easily interconnect and don’t require a lot of strength to hold together so even little explorers can have fun with these. These are also much more afordable than many of PicassoTiles other popular manipulatives, so if money is a big concern for your library these could be a great choice!
The possibilities for these blocks are vast but my favorite way I have seen them used is for imaginative play when a group of kids decided to use them to play sandwich and pizza shop. These blocks come in the perfect colors to make your favorite - albeit pretend - treats!
Multi-colored gear shaped blocks fit together in a design.
Gears! Gears! Gears!
I also cannot say enough good about Learning Resources sets. These sets are great affordable way to explore different STEM topics with little learners. These interconnecting gears are durable and teach kids a myriad of tasks from problem solving to cause and effect. Playing with these gears will allow kids to experiment with simple mechanics and for older children it is easy to incorporate math as well. These gear sets are something that, in my opinion, work much better as a circulating kit rather than for a large program as they really are geared (pun intended) towards individual or very small group play.
Each time kids build with these gears they can build a different gear system and I have seen kids use it for everything from building a moving rainbow to delivering a small toy to a friend. Kids creativity always astounds me!
Picture of a box of snap circuits.
Snap Circuits
Snap circuits have evolved so much since they were first released and they are just getting better and better. There are a variety of sets available now from snap circuits arcade to snap circuits light to a snap circuits bric expansion. If you are just starting out with snap circuits, however, these are a good set for beginners.
My favorite thing about Snap Circuits, honestly, is the instructions. The instructions are so clear showing step by step how to create each design with each layer numbered to show users what components to snap on the board 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. It makes it very easy to explain to a group and let them play individually as well as makes them ideal to send home in a circulating kit since the already included instructions are easy for borrowers to follow.
They are also completely safe. If kids snap something on in the wrong direction-it just won’t complete the circuit and work. No shocks. These kits are one that can work if some of the pieces are lost, but work ideally if all of the pieces are present. Take that as you will based on your community and circulation patterns.
The last thing I will say about snap circuits is that I appreciate how much room they leave for exploration. Yes, users can follow the schematics in the instructions and do lots of great things. But it is a set that grows with kids because as they grow to understand how circuits work they can use the pieces to build their own imaginings separate from the included schematics. My favorite to date was a kid who created a door alarm so he could know if his little sister tried to sneak in his room!
CLICK HERE to get started with Snap Circuits!
An individual holding two pieces of little bit technology and putting them together.
I will be completely honest. Little Bits can run on the spendy side depending on which kit you choose to purchase. This starter kit is one of the more affordable ones and is also a great place to start teaching the basics of electronics. Little Bits are a little bit of a graduation from snap circuits with an intro to the basic concepts of coding.
Little Bits are the complex of the resources in this post and will be best for older kids/teens. I include them because while they are a little more complex they are also very doable for older kids and are a fantastic way to teach design thinking. The instructions lay out the basic outline of how to use the set and pieces are color coded so that kids can experiment with how different pieces will work together (i.e. blue pieces are power, pink pieces are input, green are output, etc.).
Depending on which set you choose to get there are different modules you are able to complete. In addition to individual sets, you can also purchase classroom sets such as this one for up to 32 kids to work with their own sets inventing and learning. Make sure to check out their website for some of their more extensive kits if you are ready to jump beyond the intro kit linked here.
The Botley Robot with remote, coding cards, puzzle pieces, flags, and assorted pieces.
Botley
Botley is a MUST for kids robotics and coding! This cute little robot is a great way to introduce kids as young as pre-k to the basic concepts of coding and robotics while also enabling kids to use design thinking. I could not believe how fun this little robot was when I tried it out with kids for the first time but it is easy to use, ready to go as soon as batteries are added, and requires NO SCREENS!
The various components are easy to understand and kids can pick it up and begin using it on their own with very little instruction. I really cannot emphasize enough how much I love this little robot and what a great addition it is to any non-traditional collection, kids makerspace, or classroom.
A box of Makedo Invent pieces.
Makedo Cardboard Construction Tools
These tools are so much fun and safe for young children (I do recommend supervision with the cardboard saw) with very little learning curve. Kids can use these tools and some cardboard to create rocketships, cardboard games, houses, and so much more.
If you have ever seen Caine’s Arcade you know the amount of creativity that can be used with a little bit of cardboard and these makedo tools are the perfect addition to that. These are one of my favorite tools to use in a large program and the set linked here is a large set, however, you can also purchase these in individual sets starting at around $10!
These are another one of those manipulatives that I loved using in my library work so much that I also purchased several sets for my kids to use at home. I have been blown away at the things I have watched kids of all ages create with makedo tools over the years!
A variety of magnetic pieces of different shapes and sizes.
Magnet Movers
I am sure you have seen and used a variety of magnet manipulatives over the years, and there are plenty good ones to choose from! My two favorite things about this set are that it is affordable and has variety. It also comes with an activity guide for parents or caretakers to use if they need ideas for guided learning with the set.
This set is great to put out and just let kids explore with as they see how magnets function in different shapes, sizes, and strengths. Whether you put it in a kit for check-out or in a dedicated play and exploration space you can’t go wrong. The only warning I will issue is that there can be danger in swallowing magnets and the small colored discs are small enough to be swallowed so if this is left out for free-play make sure it is only accessible to kids old enough not to swallow pieces are kids with supervision.
A variety of colored pieces around a peg board box with a child drilling a plastic screw into the holes to hold pieces on the board.
Play Drill Set
I really don’t think you can go wrong with a play tool set, and this one is great because it goes above and beyond just putting screws in a board and allows kids to be creative with the variety of colored pieces and shapes.
The list of things that can be taught with this manipulative are varied from fine motor skills, to engineering, to design thinking, and more depending on how complex you want to make it! This is a set that moves easily between ages from young children working to just put the screw in through the holes in each piece, to older children who want to design complex ideas such as animals, plants, and houses.
This is another set that would be great for a kit in a non-traditional collection, but would also work for a program in the library as well.
Child microscope with carrying case and accessories.
Beginner Microscope
Last but not least is one of my favorite kids microscopes. This is another set that would be best for older kids but can also be used with younger kids as long as they have appropriate supervision.
The great thing about this kit is that while it comes with some prepared slides, it also comes with several blank slides that kids can use to look at things they have collected such as leaves, hair follicles, blades of grass, and more.
A set of these microscopes would be fantastic for in house programs at your library, or this kit could be circulated to families for use in their own homes exploring the microscopic world around them.
There are countless manipulatives out there you could use for programming or circulation in your library and these are just a few favorites of mine. But whichever ones you choose, lets work on getting kids learning through play and exploration at the library just as much as they learn through books!
