STEM Toys: Inspiring creativity and learning through wooden blocks play

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, finding tools that engage students while fostering creativity and critical thinking is paramount. Enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning toys, specifically wooden blocks.
July 02, 2024 by Asya Stuart

The benefits of block play that you see and those you don't

How STEM toys and Unit Bricks are beneficial for kids. Kids need adventure. It is fundamental to their development to remain active. Not saying that they should be doing hang gliding or bungee jumping, but they need to have access to toys and new experiences that will help challenge them both cognitively and physically.

Purdue University Engineering Inspire Gift Guide

Our Mini Unit Beams Builder Sets hit the spot when it comes to inspiring creativity, encouraging STEM learning and engaging kids in engineering thinking and design. How can we be so sure? Earlier this month, the Mini Unit Beams Crane Builder Set and the Mini Unit Beam Bridge Builder Set received seals of approval from none other than Purdue University’s engineering research institute.

November 05, 2018 by Asya Egunova-Stuart

Solid Foundations to Grow on

Every year, the Center for Early Childhood Education, Eastern Connecticut State University conducts a survey in which researchers observe children playing with a variety of toys -nominated by teachers, parents, researchers, and children themselves - in a free play setting in preschool classrooms. They code children’s use of the toys in three areas: thinking/learning/problem solving, social interaction, and creativity.

Counting Down to Power Up

Today, with the prevalence of technology, even adults struggle with basic addition and subtraction and must pull out their smartphones to successfully drum up an answer, unless of course they have a portable abacus on hand. That being said, the aforementioned arithmetically-challenged adults have already put in the time and could theoretically perform a simple computation exercise with a little extra thought. In younger years, their brains developed the necessary counting and mathematical skills which allowed them do well on the SATs, go onto fulfilling careers, and navigate their lives.

May 31, 2018 by Asya Egunova-Stuart

Kahn Academy

Ever step into a building that simply takes your breath away? You can’t really explain it—maybe it’s the light or the insanely high ceilings. The 20th century saw a number of architects who changed the way we experience our space and public buildings. Louis Kahn (1901-1974) was one of those great minds. Our affinity for Kahn might be biased since his choice building medium was none other than bricks.
May 16, 2018 by Asya Egunova-Stuart

Little Darwins

 

“Why is the sky blue?” Sound familiar? It’s a common question asked by kids as they grow up and start to inquire about the world. And it’s an unanswerable question without the aid of science. We as parents or teachers may not necessarily have all of the right answers, but how we respond fosters kids’ continual wonderment.

May 16, 2018 by scott stuart

Get Ready and Set to Play

Get ready and set to play: You did your homework and now are in possession of a set of blocks, not just any blocks, but Unit Bricks— specially designed to aid kids’ learning and development. Give yourself a pat on the back and check the most important step off your list. But what to do with that stack of objects sitting on the floor? We’ll walk you through how to get properly set up so kids can put their block set to the best use and be on their way to building structures of their dreams!

May 16, 2018 by Asya Egunova-Stuart