Item Name: Stem Simple Machines
Where to purchase: Fat Brain Toys
Price: $103.95
What are stem toys? Stem toys are toys that are geared towards learning, curiosity, and education. Basically, stem toys incorporate a fun learning experience for the entire family!
Recommended Ages:
This particular item is recommended for ages 8 -16+. Recommended ages are just a suggestion. While this is true, fat brain toys recommend the best age group for this item is age 10.
Product Description:
This set is a combination of 5 “Discovering STEM” sets and covers a variety of mechanisms. These machines you can build are designed to multiply and reduce force, increase or decrease speed and convert one type of motion to another.
You can build 60 different working models that cover levers, wedges, wheels and axles, screws, inclined planes, pulleys, and much more! Included with this product are building instructions for all of the models. This pamphlet also includes detailed explanations of the different scientific principles applied and incorporates various experimental activities for hands-on learning.
Discover:
- 3 Classes of levers and the use of linkages
- How to gain a mechanical advantage with inclined plane mechanisms
- How to use pulleys to change force, direction, and motion
- How to use cam and cranks to produce different types of motion
- How to calculate gear ratio and how worm drives work
* Models built one at a time with the same parts*
What I like about this product!
It is both educational and fun! I wish these types of products were available to me as I was growing up (I’m too old). This is basically a mini-engineering course! This teaches the laws of physics. I also like the fact that it really is a thought-provoking item. You will also have to be able to read instructions to assemble the 60 different machines you can build with this. This is a popular item as its been out for a few years now. They have youtube videos to show how to make some of the machines built.
What do others think of this product?
Kids love it! I’ve read multiple reviews on various sites and watched youtube videos about this product. I will say most people said this is a difficult toy to play with. I would recommend this product for children ages 10 and up! Parents did say an 8-year-old is able to make various machines with a parent’s help. What I did love was that these reviews also stated that after having assistance building a machine or 2, these children picked up a lot of engineering skills and were able to progress without assistance.
Conclusion
I think this is a great challenging product. My daughter is younger, so I can’t wait to purchase this for her in a few years! I think it would be a challenging gift for an 8-year-old but with assistance, they will gain the knowledge and aptitude to build much more complicated machines on their own. When learning and fun go hand in hand there is no better product out there!
My granddaughter is being home-schooled and we are always on the lookout for products that can assist her, and us, in teaching her. I was not familiar with the brand Discovering Stem, so I am very pleased that I came across this review. It looks like an awesome way to be learning the basics of physics, while also having fun.
We are currently looking for support materials for learning the basics of science. But as she is about to turn 6, I can see that these Simple Machines will be too advanced for her. Do you have a product that you can recommend for a 6-year old to learn science? Or is 6 too young to be starting with science, and it is better to focus on maths until she is a bit older?
Thank you for your ideas.
We use Power Homeschool for our homeschool and my daughter has been doing Science since age 4. 6 is definitely a great age to do Science. Power Homeschool is great or you can check out other toys on Fat Brain Toys. (if you click the link for the stem toy it brings you to fat brain toys!)
My niece’s been self-taught (homeschooling) since covid hit and everything so my family is generally keeping watch for items that can help her, and us, in educating her. I was curious about the brand Finding Stem, so I’m extremely satisfied that I ran over this survey. It seems to be a magnificent method for learning the rudiments of physical science, while likewise having a good time.
It’s so important to add fun to learning!