Educational Play in Action: How STEM Kits Shape Essential Skills

Education through play is a staple of childhood development, allowing children to learn at their own pace in a way that keeps them engaged. Studies have established 16 different types of play for kids, and all can be educational in their own way. Often, a child’s most profound or valuable moments of learning come during play; hands-on activities give them more opportunities for experimentation, exploration and learning through trial and error than simply watching, listening or reading. 

One increasingly popular method of encouraging educational play is through the use of STEM kits – hands-on activity sets designed to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These kits promote learning by developing tactile, play-based activities framed around core educational concepts. 

STEM kits are available for a wide range of ages, with contents tailored towards each age group or skill level. Younger children can interact with hands-on activities focused on fine motor skills, shape sorting and counting, while older children and teenagers can develop more advanced skills related to coding, engineering and robotics – learning new ideas that can even be useful for pursuing career pathways. 

Table of Contents 

• Key Strategies for Educational Science Play 
• Mars Mission Science Kit 
• Moon Mission Science Kit 
• Animal Science Kits 
• Benefits of STEM Kits 
• Types of STEM Kits 
• Maximizing Educational Impact 
• Discover More 
• Frequently Asked Questions

Key strategies for educational science play 

Having established that learning through play can be a valuable tool for childhood development, it’s important to find effective ways of getting children to engage and soak up as much knowledge as possible. Here are a few ideas that can help your child develop a love of learning through educational science play:  

1. Encourage independence and curiosity
   Provide your child with the space to explore on their own, learning through trial and error. Encouraging them to experiment, test their own theories and make mistakes is vital for building their confidence and curiosity; if you can instill a genuine interest in learning for its own sake, your child will be well placed to take on new ideas.
2. Encourage critical thinking and prediction
   One great way to engage your child in educational play is to ask open-ended questions that encourage them to think more deeply about what they’re doing – not just what’s happening, but why it’s happening, predicting what might happen next and considering how they can affect the outcome. 
3. Make it interactive and hands-on
   Children are generally more drawn to physical activities, and the ability to interact with objects in front of them can be great for learning. Building activities allow them to consider how their decisions have knock-on effects and test solutions to problems, while developing essential concentration and fine motor skills. 
4. Integrate with daily life
   If your child can recognize the real-world uses of STEM skills, rather than viewing them as abstract concepts, they will find it much easier to engage with them and retain information. Whether developing simple maths skills by adding up the item costs at the supermarket or learning how to perform basic DIY at home, there are plenty of opportunities to introduce STEM skills into everyday life. 
5. Promote out-of-the-box thinking and problem solving
   Children can learn and retain facts by rote, but the key to developing strong problem-solving skills is by thinking creatively. Experimenting with new approaches and thought processes, rather than focusing on establishing the most efficient method, is an excellent way to develop more agile, imaginative thinking skills. 
6. Try structured learning aids
   As we’ve established, STEM skills can be acquired in all areas of life – but there are also plenty of structured STEM toys that are specially designed to support physical and cognitive development in a way that feels natural, rewarding and fun. Our range of LEGO® STEM sets are purpose-built to develop specific STEM skills, and caters to children of all ages.

Mars Mission Science Kit

Although all LEGO® sets are designed to support learning through play, our LEGO Education science kits are purpose-built for use in schools, encouraging a curiosity for science from an early age. These kits help to foster enthusiasm across different areas of science through experimentation and play in- and outside the classroom, and promote specific areas of learning.  

The LEGO® Education Mars Mission Science Kit (45202) is ideal for any child with an interest in space, and is specifically designed to develop their knowledge of: 

• Astrobiology – the question of whether or not life could exist on Mars, promoting an understanding of what humans need to survive. 
• Planetary science – the surface and terrain of Mars, and how suited it would be to humans. 
• Atmospheric science – the atmosphere and climate on Mars, developing an awareness of what climate is and how it is impacted by other elements.  
• Space exploration technology and robotics – the development of machines that can aid in the exploration of Mars, giving children an understanding of how vehicles work and the importance of a design that can withstand the harsh environments on other planets. 
• Hydrology – the study of water, and the essential part it plays in learning whether there is, was or could be life on Mars. 

The Mars Mission Science Kit is designed for children aged nine and over who love to learn, and contains 933 pieces that can be built and rebuilt in a variety of ways. The set features a Mars rover vehicle, Mars base and four astronaut minifigures for acting out space adventures, as well as four hands-on science experiments that support an understanding of engineering and problem-solving skills: 

• The G-force simulator demonstrates the physical impact of space travel. 
• The Drop tower and drop pod function teaches children about the effects of gravity and momentum by asking them to land a Mars drop pod. 
• The Mars rover establishes the value of remote exploration through the building of a rover vehicle that collects samples from the surface of Mars, for analysis back on Earth. 
• The Meteor launch and surface impact experiment features a launching device that sends meteors crashing to the ground, simulating the impact of a real meteor on Mars. 

Moon Mission Science Kit

Astronomy-themed science kits are great for inspiring a love of science and learning, while still feeling like fun rather than work. These STEM kits let children carry out experiments and role-play activities based on lunar missions from the real world. Helping kids strengthen general skills like critical thinking and creativity, as well as targeting scientific concepts including: 

• Astronomy – how the Moon moves and its place in the solar system. 
• Geology – the physical make-up of the moon’s surface, lunar rocks and craters. 
• Astrophysics – how the Moon affects gravity on Earth. 
• Seismology – introducing the idea of moonquakes and their causes and consequences. 

Another space-themed kit from the LEGO® Education range is the Moon Mission Science Kit (45200). This set features a spaceship toy, an Earth-to-Moon launch and landing pad, a greenhouse and habitat, and two astronaut minifigures, and is aimed at children aged eight and up, who will love experimenting with different approaches to launching the rocket ship and learning how greenhouses could support the growing of food outside of Earth.

Animal Science Kits

If your child is more fascinated by the wonders of our own planet rather than outer space, there are exciting animal-themed science kits available to spark their curiosity. These kits exemplify the idea of learning through play, providing fun role-play opportunities while encouraging a curiosity about animals and their relationship with the world around us. These sets also introduce more complex ideas for children to engage with, including: 

• Marine biology – understanding the lives of animals that live in the sea. 
• Ecology – learning about ecosystems, and how each species relates to others in the animal kingdom. 
• Zoology – the behavior of animals, both as individuals and as groups. 
• Climate science – the impact of climate change on animals, and humanity’s responsibility to help. 
• Glaciology – the importance of ice on climate, sea levels and weather patterns, and how this impacts animals. 
• Conservation biology – the importance of protecting endangered species. 
• Oceanography – learning about the ocean itself; its currents, tides and waves, the sea floor and the impact of the ocean on the climate. 

Within the LEGO Education range are the Antarctic Animals Science Kit and Arctic Animals Science Kit. Each of these kits encourages curiosity in science through a love of animals, and are packed with fun ideas for play.  

Designed for children aged seven and over, the Antarctic Animals Science Kit (45201) helps children develop their interest in nature and STEM learning with the inclusion of an ice slope, an articulated whale figure, two penguins and two scientists – perfect for acting out fun play scenarios. The set also features two science experiment functions: children can learn about momentum as penguins slide down the ice slope, or learn about biology and the food chain as they move the whale’s articulated mouth to ‘eat’ krill. 

The Arctic Animals Science Kit (45203) is aimed at children of a slightly higher age (9+) and comes with 1,135 pieces that any kid would love. The set features an Arctic camp cabin and four scientist minifigures, plus animals including a parent and child polar bear, a walrus and reindeer. Enthusiastic nature fans will have hours of fun with this educational and entertaining set. 

Benefits of STEM Kits

As we’ve established, STEM Kits are packed with activities and experiments that kids will love playing with – here are a few of the benefits they can have on children’s skill acquisition.  

• Hands-on learning – understand abstract concepts more easily through interactive play; experimenting, testing and building are great for really emphasizing the joy of learning. 
• Skill development – develop a range of general skills that are vital for everyday life, including logical thinking, creativity and problem-solving. 
• Career preparation – exposure to complex STEM ideas in a child’s early years is a great way to inspire confidence that their skills could be useful for their preferred career. 
• Active engagement – fostering a long-lasting interest in STEM through interactive play rather than passive observation, helping children to maintain interest and motivation in the subject. 

Types of STEM Kits 

Our LEGO® STEM Kits for kids come in a range of options to suit all interests, including: 

• Electronics & robots – learn how machines work and think with kits that teach the fundamentals of coding, circuitry and robotics. 
• Science & chemistry – learn about the relationships between elements with kits featuring safe experiments that explore chemical reactions. 
• Engineering & building – learn how to design structures and mechanisms with kits featuring fun problem-solving tasks and building challenges. 
• DIY kits – kids can explore their own interests with these open-ended kits that allow your child to get creative. 

Maximizing Educational Impact  

We’ve covered the most effective strategies for promoting education through play and the kits that can really capture your child’s attention – but there are also some more general tips for ensuring your kids’ learning sessions are as impactful as possible. 

• Set Up Dedicated Days – make learning through play a part of everyday life by building it into your weekly schedule. Regular periods focused on STEM activities keeps your children engaged and develops a learning-focused mindset, while giving them space to process what they’ve learned. 
• Encourage Family Collaboration – whether sharing activities with adults or siblings, collaboration at home is great for discovering new approaches to tasks, as well as making the process of learning more fun. Your child will also learn important lessons about teamwork and communication. 
• Focus on Process over the End Product – one of the joys in learning is the process of experimentation; testing ideas to see if they work, making adjustments, or moving on to another idea. Drawing focus away from the outcome ensures the whole process is enjoyable and removes the pressure to be ‘right’ – mistakes are a crucial part of learning, and understanding how to cope with them is an important lesson. 

Discover more  

The LEGO® Education range features a wide range of STEM-related sets that support learning in the classroom and at home, with themes to suit all interests.