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Thames & Kosmos Is Out of This World
ith the new Remote-Control Machines: Space Explorer kit from THAMES & KOSMOS, kids can engineer an R/C model of a robotic rover resembling the ones used to explore Mars. Kids can also build nine additional space-themed models with the 237-piece construction set, including a lunar rover, a rocket launcher car, a space shuttle with opening and closing cargo bay doors, a robotic space shuttle payload arm, a moon lander, a wacky astronaut, a satellite, a Mars station, and a cross-wing flyer. Kids can learn various STEM skills through the fun, hands-on construction projects. The full-color, 64-page step-by-step illustrated manual also teaches kids about real-world examples of the outer space robots, vehicles, and devices they are creating. They can read about the history of Mars exploration, the technical features of the Mars Curiosity rover, robotics in satellites, deep-space exploration, and robots in popular space-related science-fiction. Kids First is a new line of science kits that allow parents to introduce specific topics and hands-on empirical learning to young kids to gradually prepare them for more advanced science kits and schoolwork. Geared toward kids Remote Control Machines: Space Explorer ages 3 to 5, the kits in Level 1 encourage curiosity and pretend play though simple activities described in the storybook-style manuals. Kids follow along as two inquisitive kids take a trip to the grocery store and build vehicles along the way in Automobile Engineering. In Aircraft Engineering, little hands use plastic building pieces to create a passenger jet, a space shuttle, a hand glider, and seven other vehicles mentioned in the accompanying story. Also in the line is the Amusement Park Engineer, which challenges kids to create their own rides, including a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a bumper car. Thames & Kosmos also introduces the Geeker Speaker Lab, with which kids can turn any surface into a larger speaker. The audio jack that is attached to the vibration speaker connects to standard audio output sockets. Kids can experiment and stick the speaker onto a variety of objects, such as sand and water, to see which makes the best sound. With signal generating apps, kids can also experiment to visualize different sound wave patterns.
FEBRUARY 2015
S23