≡ Menu

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!

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

{ 5 comments }

Seasonal LEGO sets for Halloween & Christmas

LEGO usually releases a few smaller sets for the holidays in the $10-$15 range. So far this year, we got the #40462 LEGO Valentine’s Brown Bear and the #40463 LEGO Easter Bunny. We reviewed both sets earlier this year (see links at the end of this post), and you can still find them at the seasonal items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

The series continues with two sets for Halloween; the #40493 LEGO Spider & Haunted House Pack for $9.99, and the #40497 LEGO Halloween Owl for $14.99.

Similar to the Valentine’s Brown Bear and the Easter Bunny, the Halloween Owl is fully brick-built and positioned on a display platform with a couple of pumpkins and a little hidden surprise inside the base. I wasn’t a big fan of the bear, but I really like the bunny and the owl. The shaping is perfect and they are both very cute. I should also mention that the owl has flapping wings, with makes it even more adorable. And just like the bear and the bunny, the owl is $14.99 and available at the seasonal items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

The LEGO Spider & Haunted House Pack is a little different from the other seasonal sets. It contains two small builds; a cute spider with large eyes and poseable legs, and a miniature haunted house). They both come with strings so you can hang them up like a tree ornament. The haunted house features a few stickers with cracked windows and brickwork, which really helps with adding details to the tiny building. Overall, this is a fun little set that only costs $9.99 and available at the seasonal items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

And of course, we are also getting a couple of sets for Christmas; the #40494 LEGO Polar Bear & Gift Pack, and the #40498 LEGO Christmas Penguin.

The LEGO Polar Bear & Gift Pack is similar to the Halloween Pack with two hanging ornaments. The polar bear comes with a red and green scarf, and the wrapped gift features movable ribbons, ornate stickers, and an “With love to” gift tag. This set would make a perfect Christmas tree decoration, or wherever you wish to add a seasonal LEGO touch. And it also makes a perfect stocking stuffer. The price of this small decorative set is $9.99, and it will be available starting October 1st at the seasonal items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

The LEGO Christmas Penguin is one of the larger seasonal sets that feature a brick-built creature, a couple of decorative items, all arranged on a display platform. Just like the owl, the penguin has flapping wings to add a bit of movement and playability. The small Christmas tree is surrounded by three wrapped presents. I could see people wanting to build several of these penguins just to make a whole colony. As expected, the price is $14.99, and the set will be available starting October 1st at the seasonal items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? Do you have any of the 2021 seasonal sets? Which is your favorite? Or are you collecting them all? Feel free to share your thoughts and own reviews in the comment section below!

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

{ 7 comments }