The 2020 holiday shopping season is under way. If you’re a parent or grandparent looking for gifts for the children in your life that are both fun and educational, we have several suggestions you’ll want to check out.
In this edition of our Number Sense video series, we highlight several gifts for children starting as young as Pre-K and through middle school, that can help improve math ability and encourage STEM activities.
Sumoko
You’ve heard of sudoku? We’d like to introduce you to Sumoko. The game allows younger students to practice addition and subtraction skills, while older students will also have an opportunity to work in multiplication and division skills.
Head Full of Numbers
This game is a favorite of the Mathletes at Mathnasium of Tallahassee. The game promotes algebraic thinking as players earn points by solving equations involving a series of operations.
Gear Bots for LEGOs
In our 2019 list, we featured the Chain Reaction for LEGOs. This year, there’s a new option … Gear Bots. If you’re child is a Lego fan, this gift will help give new life to those old Lego sets that may be sitting in bins in the closet or attic. The book comes with more than 60 special new LEGO pieces that help build axles, cams, and cranks. This a great gift to help introduce many of the concepts and theories in engineering.
Engineering Makerspace Off-Road Rovers
Powered by a battery operated motor, these off road creations introduce belt drivers, wheels, treads and more. The kit features directions to build 10 different off-road vehicles.
Creatto Light Up Crafting Kit
Creatto is a building system of flexible tiles that can be interlocked to create a variety of three dimensional creations. There are several kits available and each one can be used to create multiple designs and then illuminated with the included LED lights.
Glow-in-the-Dark Science Lab
With this kit, children can perform chemistry experiments to learn more about neon pigments and glowing substances. You can mix up solutions to create your own neon sidewalk chalk, sprinkle it on flowers or plants to make them glow in the dark and more.
Rubik’s Build It Solve It
The Rubik’s Build it Solve It kit comes with all the parts you’ll need to build your own Rubik’s Cube! Of course, you’ll then have to solve it. But no worries … the kit includes hints and tips to help you master the Rubik’s cube.
Snap Ships
Snap Ships is a new “building system” on the scene. One of the unique aspects to Snap Ships is the Youtube video series they have created. Plus, there’s a complimentary augmented reality app that you can download to your phone that will “bring your ship to life” according to the Snap Ships website.
From all of us at Mathnasium of Tallahassee, we wish your family a safe and enjoyable holiday. We hope these stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts help provide ideas that are both educational and fun.
And if you need even more ideas, you can check out the suggestions from our 2019 and 2018 gift ideas.
