Thames & Kosmos Structural Engineering STEM Kit 8-14 years plastic 323 pieces

Have you ever wondered how bridges are built over vast distances and how skyscrapers stay standing? The Structural Engineering STEM kit from Thames & Kosmos brings the answers through a series of 20 hands-on model-building experiments. Structural engineers use physics and knowledge of the properties of building materials and geometric shapes to design structures, and this set puts those tools into children's hands with modular building pieces.

Each model demonstrates a basic principle of mechanical physics or structural engineering in a practical way. You start with small models that show how structural elements can be attached together for a fixed amount of material used. Children learn about basic structural elements, including columns, beams, plates, arches, shells, and catenaries, and explore the forces that act on structural components, including tension, compression, shear, and bending.

As they progress, they move on to building more complex models of trusses, roofs, and small buildings. They experiment with different types of bridge construction: a beam bridge, an arch bridge, a cantilever bridge, a truss bridge, and a suspension bridge. Finally, they build models of towering skyscrapers, and children can discover the tallest tower that can be built using only the pieces included in the kit.

The kit teaches children about material properties and shows how structural engineers optimize factors to minimize costs and the risk of structural failure. A 36-page, full-color manual guides model construction by providing illustrated, step-by-step instructions. The set received a Parents' Choice Gold Medal from Purdue University and is made of plastic. The product is manufactured in Taiwan for Thames & Kosmos, England.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pieces and experiments does the kit contain? The kit contains 323 pieces, 20 experiments, and a 36-page, full-color instruction manual.

What is the recommended age for this set? The recommended age is 8 - 14 years.

What can children learn with this kit? Children learn the basics of structural engineering: columns, beams, plates, arches, bridges, and skyscrapers, as well as the forces of tension, compression, shear, and bending.