STEM Learning for Early Childhood

18 months & up. The Wooden Exploration Set encourages independence and self-directed exploration. The open-ended components of this award-winning wooden set will inspire children's natural curiosity and joy of learning. Young children instinctively investigate objects that interest them and make discoveries through taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight.Toddlers crave new experiences while enjoying the comfort of the familiar. With opportunities to manipulate the objects over and over, young children will follow their natural curiosity and love of repetition to engage all of their senses. Providing new opportunities and challenges nurtures a child's growth, development, and understanding of the environment. Children will independently and instinctively explore, experiment, and solve problems which leads to self-confidence, creativity, and strong reasoning skills. Set of 50. Sturdy bag included.

2 years & up. This unique set of engaging woodland footprints is a great way for children to start their woodland explorations! Each set includes a footprint for a fox, squirrel, rabbit, frog, deer, hawk, owl and mouse. Compare, explore, investigate, sort, and match eight different familiar woodland animals by their footprints. Take the stones on a group walk to compare them with any animal tracks the children discover.

4 years & up. Introduce children to a real scientific toy that provides visual detail and information about animals, plants, and everyday household items. Fully functioning 5x microscope with two comfortable eyepieces contains 20 slides with 60 photo-quality images, and over 100 facts and questions. Multilingual audio-4 languages included! Requires 3 AAA batteries (sold separately).

Primo™ headphones feature noise-reducing earcups allowing students to clearly hear lessons and protect from unnecessary, distracting noises. Made of ABS plastic, the chew and kink-resistant Dura-Cord™ and 3.5mm stereo plug are rugged and reliable, making it a versatile unit. Connects to almost any audio device: tablets, smartphones, computers, and more.

3 years & up. Bring literacy into your science center with this comprehensive Science Exploration Books for Literacy and Early STEM Learning. This collection of science themed books is great for introducing new STEM concepts to your children. These books discuss topics such as leaves changing, magnets, the five senses, and more! Encourage children to ask questions about vocabulary and concepts they're unfamiliar with. Set of 7.

4 years & up. Create a limitless world of people, animals, architecture, robots, vehicles and more! This set is comprised of 12 unique plastic shapes and features six colors. IO Blocks connect with secure, yet easily adjustable friction fit and features a beautiful matte finish. The high-quality design of IO Blocks offers open-ended building possibilities and problem solving, puzzle-like qualities. Great for Parents and Educators interested in STEM skill development. Free IO App available from the APP store from your smartphone or tablet! 500 piece set.

3 years & up. Roll your way into a good time with this marbulous-marble run! The durable, transparent pieces allow children to visually track the entire course of their marble as it makes its journey through several fun twists and turns. This Transparent Marble Run promotes fine motor skills, spatial relationships, logic, and STEM skills. The colorful pieces can fit together multiple ways, so children can design them differently each time. Have children drop the marbles in at different points to see which marble reaches the bottom fastest. Includes 48 transparent pieces and 16 marbles.

3 years & up. Children can begin early exploration of physics, STEM lessons, and architectural design using the Unit Block Marble Run 40 piece set. Rubberwood blocks feature drops, bumps and routed paths that allow for multiple building opportunities. Ten double-sided concept cards provide building inspiration for different block arrangements as well as corresponding lessons related to physics theories. Set includes 4 starter acrylic marbles and 36 block pieces scaled to unit block proportions allowing for multiple run path possibilities. Largest piece measures 5.51"L x 2.76"W x 2.76"D.

4 years & up. Do you know what a Lady Bug looks like before they grow up? This question and more can be answered with this life cycle set! Anatomically accurate and highly detailed life cycles that show how insects and frogs grow. Includes Butterfly, Ladybug, Ant, Praying Mantis, Honey Bee, Frog, and six sorting cards. Great for counting, sequencing, and early learning biology.

8 years & up. Explore the basics of mechanical physics by building a series of simple machines designed to perform complex tasks that make our everyday lives easier. Build 26 working models focusing on six simple machines: wheels and axles, levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, and wedges. Learn the science behind your builds in the full-color, 32-page manual and follow the easy to understand step-by-step instructions to assemble each machine. As your understanding of mechanical physics develops, use the building elements to construct your own working piece of simple machinery. Included: 132 building pieces to create 26 working models and a 32-Page full-color instruction manual.

2 years & up. Support children's growing understanding of the world around them with this realistic set of 8 bugs. Set includes an ant, beetle, butterfly, centipede, dragonfly, ladybug, spider and woodlouse. Made from a special stone mix for added durability makes these bugs perfect for outdoor use. Each stone measures approximately 3.5". Magnifying glass and brushes are not included.

3 years & up. Help your children count and sort with this Primer Practice Balance With Clear Buckets for Developing Math Skills. Children will exercise their critical thinking skills as they count out pieces to achieve equilibrium. This activity promotes fine motor skills, color recognition, and discovery. Great for individual or small group play. Includes removable, transparent .5-liter buckets for comparing liquids or solids. One gram sensitivity.

3 years & up. A USB rechargeable station for up to six Bee-Bots or Blue-Bots, ideal for educational settings. It can be wall-mounted with six Bee-Bots or Blue-Bots. Bee-Bots (item# 62966) and Blue-Bots (item# 55563) are sold separately. One-year warranty.

4 years & up. Each book of this set takes a very simple look at a different sense: taste, sight, hearing, touch, or smell. Leveled text with repeated use of high frequency words makes the books perfect for beginning readers, while bright, colorful photographs complement the text and maintain readers' interest. Components may vary. Paperback. 24 pages each.

3 years & up. Learn about magnetism, develop visual matching skills, and improve eye-hand coordination. Each ring is magnetic -- one side positive and the other negative. When the rings are stacked, they either attract the next ring and pull them together, or repel it and cause it to float. Includes 40 pattern match challenges, 10 magnetic rings, a stand, and a storage bag.

3 years & up. Over 300 pieces contribute to this kit's endless building possibilities. An assortment of activity card(s) illustrate possible animal and pattern configurations and encourage children to design their own creations. The Build an Animal STEM Kit builds on children's natural curiosity by providing the materials and freedom to explore. The Animal Building Cards give children a start by building a giraffe, lion, elephant, chicken, frog and bird. Children should then be encouraged to build, create, and invent on their own. Use these and the Number Sense and Pattern Cards at interest areas, in small groups, and for independent learning.

5 years & up. Your little engineers will love designing and creating their own skyscrapers, cranes, bridges and more with this City Engineering® & Design Set by Learning Resources. Use the activity cards to complete design challenges or let your imagination run wild and create your own city. The perfect set to encourage early STEM learning. Platform measures 4.25" x 4.25". Included: 89 Easy-to-assemble pieces: Gears, building pieces, 2 figures, a truck, a construction cone and more, and Activity cards.

2 years & up. Increase the authenticity of your child's open-ended building experience with these weighted Little Pavers - 60 piece set. Children 2 and up will incorporate these hexagonal miniature pavers into unique architectural builds while stacking, creating patterns and using natural, loose parts. The matte surface texture supports indoor and outdoor play. Set includes 10 double-sided concept cards that serve as creative inspiration to further the hands-on buildling experience. Use with Little Bricks for even more construction play opportunities. Natural, loose parts not included. One Little Paver measures 0.6"L x 1.35"W x 1.55"H.

4 years & up. Children will be fascinated as they observe the lifecycle of a caterpillar firsthand in this engaging early learning story. From eating and growing to transforming into a beautiful Painted Lady butterfly, young learnings are introduced to important science concepts through observation, curiosity, and hands-on discovery.

3 years & up. Children can easily collect, curate, experiment with, and display found objects and liquids with these sturdy, clear acrylic Treasure Tubes for 360 degree viewing. The lids sit on top of the tubes and do not secure, making it easy to add trinkets, natural materials, and sensory objects to observe, display, and rattle. Ideal for color and sound exploration and light table activities. Holds marbles, beads, twigs, leaves, small toys and more. Stack the tubes on top of each other to customize play experience. Easy-to-remove wooden top keeps objects securely in place until ready to be replaced. Set of 8 tubes. Largest Tube measures: 3" diameter x 5.75"H. Smallest Tube measures: 3" diameter x 3.5"H.

Sea Beans are seeds from trees and vines that grow along tropical shores. They wash into the ocean, drift and are collected. The seeds are a beautiful, natural element for investigations, sorting, sand and water play and more.

3 years & up. What can we find today? Collect trinkets, natural materials and sensory objects to place in the beautiful Treasure Blocks. Smooth hardwood frames with inset, transparent acrylic windows have a removable panel to place small objects to observe or display. Ideal for color exploration and light table activities. Holds marbles, beads, twigs, leaves, small toys and more. Two screws on the removable panel keep objects securely in place until ready to be replaced. Set of 8. Largest Block measures 5.5" L x 5.5" W x 2" H.

The biOrb single service kit is suitable for one filter change and includes a replacement filter cartridge, algae cleaning cloth and sachet of water preparation chemicals. The algae cloth helps to remove green algae that may form inside the aquarium and the chemicals assist in keeping the water clear and clean to provide the best environment possible for your fish. The easy filtration change system in the biOrb is effective and simple to do, which is beneficial to the fish and the fish keeper. A filter change is recommended every 4-8 weeks. Use with the BiOrb 8 Gallon Aquarium (item #86387).

3 years & up. Discover the wonders of water! This 19-piece Splashology! Water Lab features waves of water-ready activities that introduce aspiring scientists to the concepts of volume, buoyancy, flow, and more with every splish and splash. Kids can dive into seven splash-filled experiments or explore all of the splashes and bubbles of each piece with parental supervision. Ride the waves with the Floaty Boat tray, squirt streams of water with the Splash Syringe, or turn your sink into homemade bubbles kit with the lab's three bubble wands. Designed for the bathtub, sink, or water table, this engaging science kit supports guided and open-ended STEM-based play. Lab pieces are made from durable plastic and foam that can be easily cleaned. Included: Floaters, Flasks, Hands-On Tools, and Waterproof Experiment Cards.