Manipulatives

5 years & up. Create your own unique marble run with zany-patterned, magnetic foam pieces! This Tumble Trax™ Magnetic Marble Run by Learning Resources will help hone your critical thinking skills and stretch your imagination as you figure out how to line up the pieces in a way that keeps your marbles moving smoothly down to the bottom of your run. Can you make the marble speed up, slow down, stop, or change direction by rearranging the pieces? Follow the activity cards to guide you as… More »

Ages 2 years & up. Be transported to the ocean with these beautifully tactile stones that reflect the natural treasures children might discover at the seashore! Designed for outdoor learning and investigative play, the stones are robust for lots of outside adventures! Made from a unique stone mix, they are durable enough to be used in water, dirt, mud and clay, and are easily cleaned. Perfect for outdoor discoveries, compare with the real things, make imprints in dough or sand, and make rubbings… More »

3 years & up. This 90-piece set includes a variety of items to create working waterways. Children can experiment with the effects that construction, gravity, and distance have on water pressure and flow as they create endless waterway configurations. Materials are transparent to allow for easy viewing of water flow. The Build a Waterway STEM Kit builds on children's natural curiosity by providing the materials and freedom to explore. The funnels, measuring pitchers, connector tubes, blockers,… More »

4 years & up. Build towers of quirky robots, spinning gears, and wobbling cranes with this Robot Factory set by Learning Resources. Stack robots on top of each other and place them on spinning gears or hang them from wobbling cranes and springs. Each unique robot and building piece can be attached to another in several different ways and from several different angles so that the only limit on engineering is your imagination. Promotes STEM learning. Size: Robots measure 2.25"H. Includes:… More »

3 years & up. Prepare for some marble speed racing with this Do-It-Yourself block set! This Marble Run Race Track is made of wood and includes everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind marble track! Track includes a jump, bell-bucket, spiral funnel and a sliding track for your 20 marbles to get through. Build the towers and tracks, then send your marbles rolling down through all the trick, twists and surprises! Includes 81 pcs.

3 years & up. This kit is full of fun and STEM learning! Build your own domino stack, chain reaction or run. The dominoes are built to pro-scale so they are balanced for perfect building and toppling. The rapid tracks, spinners and templates help you design anything you can imagine such as stunts, tricks or cool designs. The possibilities are endless! Kit includes 180 kinetic dominoes, 5 rapid tracks, 1 staircase bridge, 1 speed template, 2 straight tracks, 12 domino arcs and 3 spinners. Non-toxic materials.

8 years & up. Explore the basics of mechanical physics by building a series of simple machines designed to perform complex tasks that make our everyday lives easier. Build 26 working models focusing on six simple machines: wheels and axles, levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, and wedges. Learn the science behind your builds in the full-color, 32-page manual and follow the easy to understand step-by-step instructions to assemble each machine. As your understanding of mechanical physics… More »

4 years & up. Straws and Connectors are ideal in helping children develop Science, Technology, Engineering®, and Math (STEM) skills. It allows children to enhance hand-eye coordination, motor skills, logic, and problem-solving skills all while playing. Build a fort, rocket, boat, tower, tunnel, or bridge! Design your own scientific model, or create something unique. The opportunities are endless! The straws fit snugly on the connectors and are flexible so you can build arches and tubes.… More »

6 years & up. A droid construction set that actually moves and works! This Techno Gears Dizzy Droid™ building kit by The Learning Journey will put your little engineer's skills to the test. The challenge is to put all the brightly colored pieces and gears together in a way that will allow them to turn together at the push of a button. When your child is finished building they should have a quirky little droid with eyes, turning gears, wheels and more! Promotes STEM learning. Included:… More »

5 years & up. The only limit to this building set is your imagination! Build 50 different models including a dragon, swing ride, robot and more. Comes in a blue plastic storage tub that holds all K'NEX® parts, or partially and fully built models. Set contains 417 classic K'NEX® pieces to build over 70 unique models and whatever else you can create.

5 years and up. Revolutionize STEM play with the Plip™ Kit Silicone Connect System. Including arches, sticks, and Xs, the pieces in this kit are flexible and connect to one another via ball-and-socket ends. This means that children can use them to create any design imaginable; whether it's a rocket ship, an octopus, or a necklace. Plip™ Kit pieces can also be used as fidgets and sensory tools! Pull them apart to hear them POP! Set includes 46 pieces.

3 years and up. Discover animal diets while developing fine-motor skills with the Learning Skills Activity Board. Each animal's stomach is hidden behind a fastener that children must undo to find out what the animals have eaten. When children see the stomachs, they will find out which animals eat what and learn a little bit more about the world around them.

3 years and up. Create captivating geometric designs with the Wild Wonders Tangram Tiles. These tiles come in a wide variety of shapes and colors that offer children many possibilities. They can either use the included inspiration cards or come up with an idea all their own. Either way, children will develop valuable shape recognition skills and learn the basics of creating geometric patterns.

2 years & up. Encourage creative play, tactile exploration, and open-ended building using the PolyForm Star Connectors set. Children can easily fit the unique pieces into each other, building horizontally or vertically and creating exciting new shapes. Manipulating uniquely shaped objects requires children to use their fingers and hands in precise ways. The varied shapes also challenge children to adapt their grip and movement, further enhancing their dexterity. The vibrant pieces will help… More »