The holidays can be a stressful time, and choosing the right gift for the student in your life is not an action that is exempt from this stress. With all of the various toys and gadgets on the market today, the abundance of options can quickly become overwhelming. Luckily, the holiday season is the perfect time to combine learning and fun when choosing gifts. Educational gifts that will inspire students this holiday season can include STEM and STEAM gifts.
Curious what to get the student on your list? Check out these eight gifts that will inspire students this holiday season:
STEM gifts for students
Bloxels
Bloxels is an engaging gift for the student in your life who loves both video games and the act of creating objects. This gift allows your student to build video games with the assistance of a gameboard and colored blocks. Each block signifies a different aspect of the game—for example, blue blocks are water, purple blocks are enemies, and orange blocks are exploding terrain. Students place blocks into the gameboard’s grid to create different elements of the game, such as climbing a mountain to cross a rope bridge over water. Students then use the Bloxels Builder app to bring their creations to life. Students simply take a picture of the gameboard and import it into the app. Inside the app, students can animate characters and further build various elements. Once they are satisfied with their creations, students can begin to play their very own video games, and they can share them with others! For students who are interested in coding and video games, or students who simply enjoy tinkering, Bloxels may be the perfect holiday gift. This gift is ideal for students 8 and up, and retails for $49.99.
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Prime Climb
Prime Climb is an award-winning math board game that students can enjoy with their families. This game is designed for two to four players. As you move your way to the middle of the board, you will be prompted to add, subtract, multiply, and divide while gathering prime cards and knocking other players back to start. If your student could benefit from a fun way to study math, this board game might be the answer. The game is best suited to students 10 and up, and retails for $29.95.
[RELATED: How to Help Math-Phobic Students This School Year]
Robot Engineer
Robot Engineer includes a kit and storybook that encourages young students to construct robots. The story follows two children as they build robots during their trip to an automated candy factory. The kit allows students to learn about:
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Gears
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Wheels
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Problem-solving.
Students are able to view the model robots in the storybook and create them from the provided building materials. This gift is a great fit for the curious student in your life. Robot Engineer is geared toward students 3 and up, and retails for $34.99.
LEGO Chain Reactions
LEGO Chain Reactions allows students to build their own contraptions out of LEGOs. Using the included booklet and a bit of imagination, students can create 10 machines that induce different chain reactions. Students can also combine the included bricks with their own LEGO pieces to create truly unique machines. For students who love building and creating, LEGO Chain Reactions could be a hit. Best for students 8 and up, LEGO Chain Reactions retails for $21.99.
STEAM gifts for students
3Doodler Create 3D Pen
The 3Doodler Create 3D Pen is perfect for the creative student in your life. This pen allows students to draw 3D objects, as opposed to simply doodling on paper. How? This pen “draws” heated plastic. This enables students to create both vertically and horizontally. For example, does your student love fairs? With this tool, he or she can draw a 3D ferris wheel to display on a desk or bookshelf. For imaginative students, the possibilities are endless. This gadget is best for students 14 and up, and retails for $99.99.
[RELATED: What is the STEAM Movement?]
Art Dice
Art Dice provides artistically inclined students with an endless source of inspiration. Co-created by an art teacher to provide drawing prompts in the classroom, this gift includes six dice with 36 different images. Students can roll the dice and become inspired for their next art project! You might encourage your student, for instance, to roll four dice and write a story based off the images rolled. This gift is perfect for any age, and retails for $12.00.
Build Your Own Pinball Game
Build Your Own Pinball Game is a STEAM gift that allows students to build a functional pinball machine powered by rubber bands. Students can add in customizations, such as ramps and obstacles, to make for an entertaining and technology-free mode of entertainment. Not only will your student get to enjoy a fun game, he or she will get to play it on a platform he or she designed. For students 13 and up, Build Your Own Pinball Game retails for $49.95.
Stop Motion Animation Kit
This Stop Motion Animation Kit provides students with the opportunity to learn more about the art of stop motion animation. Stop motion animation incorporates a series of still photographs that are sped up to create a video where the objects appear to be moving. The kit includes a construction and production kit, meaning students can build the figures for their animations. Students have the freedom to create whatever type of storyline they choose, and they can then learn how to produce the final product. This product is for students 6 and up, and retails for $60.00.
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