LEGO Education offers a range of playful, hands-on STEAM learning experiences based on its comprehensive learning system for students in early learning, primary and secondary education, as well as through after-school programs and competitions. Recently, LEGO announced a new product in the LEGO Education portfolio; the #45345 LEGO Education SPIKE Essential. While LEGO Education sets are primarily meant for school programs, some older LEGO fans appreciate them as well, because they often include interesting electronic components and other unique elements. Below is the press-release about the new set.
LEGO Education announced the #45345 LEGO Education SPIKE Essential for primary school students (Grades 1-5) to ignite enthusiasm for STEAM learning through playful problem-solving and storytelling. Part of the LEGO Learning System, SPIKE Essential engages students in hands-on investigation of STEAM concepts while supporting literacy, math, and social-emotional development.
SPIKE Essential joins LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, LEGO Education BricQ Motion Essential and LEGO Education BricQ Motion Prime in the suite of solutions offered as part of the LEGO Learning System to deliver STEAM knowledge, academic practices, and 21st century skills through a progression of playful experiences from primary to secondary school. Year-over-year students build increasing sophistication, independence, and fluency in approaching problems hands-on, and cultivate essential skills like creativity, critical-thinking, collaboration, and communication.
The LEGO Learning System meets every student where they are on their learning journey and delivers learning outcomes that future-proof their skills. Its scalable design, along with personalized professional development resources, makes it easy to implement at the classroom, school, or district level – all at once or by introducing individual solutions over time. Combining the technology-enhanced LEGO Education SPIKE Portfolio and non-tech LEGO Education BricQ Motion solutions, the Learning System makes abstract concepts more tangible as students move from simple explorations to tackling increasingly complex real-world challenges. With unlimited possibilities for playful hands-on STEAM learning, students become life-long confident learners.
Esben Stærk, president of LEGO Education, said: “With the launch of SPIKE Essential we are delighted to introduce a complete learning system that enriches the teaching and learning experience. At a time when everyone is rethinking learning, we believe the LEGO Learning System will spark joy and a love of learning in students that never stops.”
SPIKE Essential offers playful learning experiences in which students solve problems through storytelling. The cross-curricular STEAM solution includes familiar LEGO building elements, four new minifigures with different characteristics and personalities that are relatable to students, and standards-aligned learning units using everyday themes. The characters and stories not only engage students in STEAM learning, but also foster social-emotional skills. With 50 combined hours of educational content, SPIKE Essential combines age-appropriate icon- and word-based block coding with simple hardware — including an intelligent Hub, motors, a Light Matrix, and a Color Sensor — to bring STEAM concepts to life with the LEGO Education SPIKE App. Each learning unit includes the following:
- A unit-wide theme: Great Adventures, Amazing Amusement Park, Happy Traveler, Crazy Carnival Games, and Quirky Creations
- A learning sequence with one introductory lesson, several guided practice lessons, and one open-ended project
- 7-8 lessons
- Additional 30+ minute language arts and math extensions for each lesson
- 6-10 hours of content
“When students can progress step-by-step, it builds a strong foundation and knowledge base that can be expanded and deepened year after year. LEGO Education developed the LEGO Learning System to do exactly that and so much more. It is truly exciting to see a systematic approach to STEAM learning that is playful, scalable, and engaging. Any teacher and student can benefit from the wide variety of solutions – from kindergarten to graduation”, said Natalie Frady, Computer Science Teacher, Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia.
The #45345 LEGO Education SPIKE Essential kit is designer for ages 6+, and costs $274.95 per set, which can be shared by up to two students at a time. The kit includes 449 LEGO bricks (including replacement elements, a sturdy storage box with color-coded sorting trays, 5 hardware components, and 5 curriculum units with 7-8 lessons of 45 minutes each. In addition, each unit contains 6-10 hours of educational content and 30+ minutes of language arts and math extensions for each lesson. SPIKE Essential will be available for purchase in all markets starting this fall and is available today for pre-order in the U.S. at the LEGO Education section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think did you ever use any of the LEGO Education sets? What was your experience? And are you interested to try out the LEGO Education SPIKE Essential kit? How would you use it? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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What do afols use these sets for? Are the electronics compatible with powered up?
There are youtube videos on how to use to combine the systems. Sometimes certain motors and sensors are only available in the Education line.
Eurobricks is also a good source for Powered Up hacks. 🙂
How crucial is the curriculum to these sets? Can they be used without following the curriculum?
Most people I know just use the electronics and don’t worry about the curriculum. But if you have kids, it could be a useful lesson to them.