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LEGO Education Panama Canal available!

Last year, we discussed a very unique and rare LEGO Education set that was released to commemorate the widening of the Panama Canal (see original announcement here: LEGO Education Panama Canal). At that time, the #2000451 LEGO Education Panama Canal was only available in Panama, so it was very difficult to get hold of a copy. The only viable option was eBay, where resellers were asking for around twice as much as the original price. However, now the set is available directly from the Panama STEM Education website, with free shipping to the US (also available to other countries with standard shipping charges). So let’s take a second look at this unusual LEGO set. 🙂

2000451-lego-education-panama-canal

The #2000451 LEGO Education Panama Canal was originally intended for educators to demonstrate to students how a series of locks allow ships to go through the famous canal, while compensating for the height difference between sea level and the level of Gatun Lake. You can see all the action features of the set in the video below.

As you can see, this 1,184-piece set is quite massive, and it is built in five sections (plus the ships), so several children can work on it at the same time. The structure is somewhat unfinished looking compared to standard LEGO consumer sets, but the focus here is on demonstrating the moving parts and mechanics of the canal. The little ships, on the other hand, are very well designed micro-models. Production of the set was limited to 40,000 units, which makes it even more unique. (Image below: map of the Panama Canal with gates leading to and leaving Gatun Lake – source Wikipedia)

panama-canal-image-from-wikipedia

According to the description at the Panama STEM Education website, the #2000451 LEGO Education Panama Canal simulates a functional model of the Panama Canal and its Third Set of Locks, and has the proper approval by the Authority of the Panama Canal for its manufacture and commercialization. The set also simulates the water levels of the chambers and allows them to rise or fall, and demonstrates the independent double gate system in each of the lock chambers. Five different types of ships that transit through the Panama Canal are also included. Full color instructions. 1,184 pieces. Price: $249.95

I also like the description of how teachers can incorporate the set in various areas of education: 1.) Determine the importance of the evolution of the means of transport and means of communication, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of the people. 2.) Recognize the importance of the means of communication of the Republic of Panama, as a source that facilitates the development of the different activities of its people in accordance with scientific and technological progress. 3.) Highlight Panama’s participation in economic activities and trade relations with the countries of the Americas and other continents. 4.) Establish the geographical position and characteristics of the most outstanding geographical landscape of the country and the importance of its conservation for its social, political, cultural and economic development. 5.) Highlight the most significant historical events in the country and the repercussions for the present life. 6.) Use length, mass and other units of the International System, relating their equivalences and conversions to solve problems of daily life with satisfaction.

Due to the limited release, uniqueness, and historical significance of the set, the #2000451 LEGO Education Panama Canal is obviously of interest to collectors. However, there are some plusses and minuses to consider before handing over your hard-earned dollars. The original price of $250 is quite expensive for a 1,184-piece set (21 cents/piece), especially when considering that all parts are standard. So, it’s mainly the box and the instructions that you are paying extra for. It’s not an unreasonable price for a collectors item, but not the best either. (Please note that I included a $50 off promo code below that will help with the total price, but I don’t know how long it will work, so use it while you can.)

If you are only interested in the design of the set, you should be able to build it from parts from your own collection, however I was not able to find online instructions at this point. Below, I have included a video-review of the set from BrickTsar so you can see the box, the content, the instructions, and the assembled model in more detail.

If you would like to buy the LEGO Education Panama Canal, you can go directly to the Panama STEM Education website to purchase it. If you are in the US, choose Free Priority Mail International Shipping (8-10 days), and you can also use the following promo code to get 20% off the $249.95 price: CMSY6UJXWT (as I mentioned above, I don’t know how long this promo code is going to work). Your total should look like the image below. (The set is also available to other countries with standard shipping charges).

And if you are interested – especially if you are a teacher – you can also take a look at the LEGO Education website to learn more about what they offer. For adults, LEGO has another educational program called LEGO Serious Play (click on link to visit their website) with sets that can be found under the LEGO Serious Play section of the Online LEGO Shop.

shop-lego-serious-play

What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Education Panama Canal? Would you be interested in buying it? Or are you inspired to build your own? Do you think LEGO should release similar educational sets in their regular product lines? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

{ 17 comments… add one }
  • Håkan July 31, 2017, 11:03 AM

    Hurry, hurry, hurry or the black-haired giant might get you!

    • admin July 31, 2017, 11:27 AM

      Whaaat??? 😀 🙄 😈

      • Håkan July 31, 2017, 11:48 AM

        Just a lame joke about the minifig being unproportional…

        • admin July 31, 2017, 3:16 PM

          Oh, you scared me a bit there. 🙄

  • DavidH July 31, 2017, 11:58 AM

    I’m tempted to get this set. It is so unique! I suppose it could also be used as an interesting educational experience for kids, even outside the school system, like for homeschooling, library events, summer camps, etc. I like the fact that it is built in several parts so more people can work on it at the same time. Lego should do this with more sets.

    • admin July 31, 2017, 3:16 PM

      That’s a good point about building in sections. Some of the larger sets are built in several parts, but because the instructions are in one book, it would require a lot of flipping back and forth to build different sections by different people. However some of the group members could use digital instructions, which would make building simultaneously much easier. 😀

      • Håkan July 31, 2017, 3:56 PM

        Or print/ copy several copies…

        • admin July 31, 2017, 7:24 PM

          That would be way too expensive, but yeah it would work also. 🙂

  • Hayato July 31, 2017, 12:26 PM

    Do you know if instructions for this are going to be available on lego’s website? Would love to build it, but it’s a bit pricey, and it seems like mostly basic pieces.

    • Håkan July 31, 2017, 1:47 PM

      It seems like Lego isn’t releasing the instructions for any Education sets on their website.

      • admin July 31, 2017, 3:13 PM

        Yeah, it appears that way… I hope someone on the Brickset Forum or EuroBricks will share the instructions.

  • brickmaster July 31, 2017, 1:03 PM

    This would be a great project to build. I’m glad the set is now sold directly, instead of having to buy it through scalpers on eBay. It’s still a bit high for my budget, but if the instructions become available I will give it a try. I suppose the Minecraft sets would be a great resource for parts!

    • admin July 31, 2017, 3:14 PM

      Yeah, if you have some of the larger Minecraft sets, they would be a great resource for those earthy colors to build the base!

  • Emanuel July 31, 2017, 6:50 PM

    I’m obsessed with this lego set, it looks so great, does anyone know if the discount code still works?

    • admin July 31, 2017, 7:24 PM

      Emanuel, yeah, it should work. Just walk through the first steps of the purchase process, and when you apply the code, you will see the discount. You will see the discount applied before you put in your payment info, so there is no risk. 🙂

  • lego trooper 91 August 1, 2017, 6:45 AM

    LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE SETS ARE OUT TODAY I’m so exited :3

    • admin August 1, 2017, 11:03 AM

      Yes, I posted a new article today with all the new sets that just came out. 🙂

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