Review: K’NEX Education STEM Explorations Vehicles Building Set

This new range from K’NEX focuses on education – specifically STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). There’s no better way to learn than from hands-on play, so we were really excited to receive this set from K’NEX to try out. Aimed at an 8+ audience, my son (8) was the perfect tester, and he was very keen as he loves vehicles.

The aim of this set is to build different vehicles – each of which incorporates one of two spring motors. Each model demonstrates energy transfer, velocity and acceleration, and the impact of design on performance.

Toby has recorded a video of his building experience, which can be viewed here (apologies for basic editing):

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASglAkqwSIo

 

As you can tell from the video, Toby thoroughly enjoyed building the three-wheeled motorbike. He has since also built the sailboat. Having made two of the 5 models, he is now explaining to me how everything works … what does the motor do? How does the motor turn the wheel etc …? He picked it up very quickly.

From a mum’s point of view, and his key assistant with K’NEX building, my only issue is that he struggled to push some parts together. Sometimes you do need brute force – the possible consequence of that is that everything ‘pings’ off (and it did happen more than once). For this reason, these kits aren’t really suitable for younger children. There are lots of very small pieces – they are fiddly at times. Toby has built K’NEX kits before, but this one was the easiest because he has better fine motor skills as he’s that little bit older now.

He didn’t want to break up the three-wheeled motorbike! My worry was that he wouldn’t want to make any other model as it depended on breaking up the previous one. But his eagerness to do the others meant that the motorbike was eventually dismantled to make way for the sailboat. Tomorrow, no doubt, the sailboat will give way for the go-kart that uses rubber band power.

Toby worked on his own, but these kits are equally good for small groups – I think they’d be great in schools as it is a great way of teaching children about movement.

We’re really looking forward to the next kit. My mum perk is that I too get to play with the K’NEX 🙂

This K’NEX STEM Explorations Vehicles Building Set can be purchased here.

Disclaimer for Review: K’NEX Education STEM Explorations Vehicles Building Set

We received this K’NEX Education set in return for an honest review. Our views and opinions have not been influenced in any way. This review contains affiliate links.