2024

Meet the student leadership team behind the INSPIRE Engineering Gift Guide!

SOIC and Sot: The Microchips

Introduce a child you know to an exciting adventure with SOIC and SOT: The Microchips! Join SOIC and SOT as they journey from a warehouse to their new home, all while learning how to communicate with each other as they discover their life’s purpose along the way. This charming book is suitable for read-aloud sessions with children as young as four, but it also makes a wonderful gift for elementary school readers. SOIC and SOT: The Microchips is even featured in several SCALE K-12 microelectronic units for elementary-aged children! Through delightful illustrations and accessible technical language, SOIC and SOT: The Microchips effectively engages children while teaching the importance and applications of microchips, all while making learning both fun and informative. -Reviewer Virginia Hawkins

Mochi Robotics Kit

Are you looking for a creative and screen-free way to introduce a child in your life to the basics of coding? The Mochi Robotics Kit offers a tactile, hands-on learning experience that brings coding to life through play. This engaging kit includes an adorable plush Mochi Robot, coding blocks, and a storybook that guides children through a variety of programming tasks. With Mochi, there are no screens, just play! This kit provides a screen-free way for children to learn essential coding concepts. All you need is a clear play space, and the rest is up to the child’s imagination and problem-solving skills. Children can use the coding blocks to direct Mochi on a series of fun adventures, teaching them important concepts like sequencing and logic. The hands-on nature of the kit makes coding approachable and intuitive, allowing children to understand programming in a playful, interactive way. The Mochi Robotics Kit is an engaging way to foster early STEM skills, helping children to develop a strong foundation in problem-solving and critical thinking. Plus, it keeps learning fun and engaging, allowing children to see the results of their choices as they guide Mochi through exciting tasks. -Reviewer Josh Clement

Snap Circuits Arcade

This year, Snap Circuits Arcade by Elenco makes our Top Ten Toys list, blending classic fun with innovative arcade games! This easy-to-build circuit kit introduces children to the fundamentals of electronics while encouraging creativity. A variety of projects can be constructed, from a programmable fan that displays LED text to an exciting baseball arcade game. With just a few batteries, children can embark on a hands-on learning adventure that will spark their imagination. Encourage a child in your life to explore the incredible world of circuits as they create their own electronic masterpieces with Snap Circuits Arcade! - Reviewer Daisy Coble

AlphaBot

AlphaBot by Vicky Fang is an interactive flipbook that introduces the fundamental concepts of coding, robotics, and the engineering design process. Children can enjoy an immersive learning experience as the book explores various components of robotics and how each part contributes to the robot's overall functionality. Each page features a different part of the robot, showcasing how it enables movement or other functions. After learning about these components, children can unleash their creativity by designing their own robot while flipping through the pages and combining parts. This book not only fosters engineering skills and creative thinking but also introduces simple foundations of engineering design while encouraging curiosity and critical questioning. -Reviewer Hannah Garcia

ELECFREAKS micro:bit Starter Kit

Do you know a teen who is eager to dive deeper into coding and microcontroller projects? The micro:bit Starter Kit by ELECFREAKS is the perfect introduction to the exciting world of microelectronics, coding, and breadboarding. Designed to engage teens, this kit provides hands-on experience with building circuits and programming, empowering them to see how coding can control the physical world around them. Once teens access Microsoft Makecode on a computer, they are on their way to starting their next electronics adventure! With the included micro:bit Starter Kit guide, teens can follow step-by-step instructions to build circuits, connect components, and program the micro:bit to bring their projects to life. As they gain confidence in their skills, teens will have the freedom to create their own unique circuits beyond the guide’s examples. This kit is designed for all skill levels; from beginners to more experienced budding engineers, and is the perfect foundation for teens to build their knowledge of coding and electronics. Micro:bit Starter Kit is an ideal way to encourage problem-solving, creativity, and STEM learning. – Reviewer Kayla Phillips

Sphero

Are you curious about a fun, interactive way for a child in your life to dive into coding and robotics? The BOLT Coding Robot by Sphero is the perfect way for children and teenagers to learn coding through play and exploration. To get started, simply download the Sphero Edu app on a compatible smartphone or tablet. Once the app is set up, children can program the BOLT to perform a variety of actions, such as navigating obstacles, lighting up in different colors, and even interacting with its environment. The Sphero Edu app offers a wide range of coding challenges and activities, making it easy for children to learn step-by-step or create their own projects from scratch. Whether they’re building basic commands or designing advanced programs, the children in your life will gain hands-on experience with coding, robotics, and problem-solving. The BOLT Coding Robot is designed to engage children while teaching them valuable skills. Through fun, interactive play, children can learn coding fundamentals, experiment with robotics, and develop critical thinking abilities—all while having a blast! -Reviewer Josh Clement

mBot

Are you looking for a robot that can match current programming experience and help a child in your life advance their coding skills? Look no further than Makeblock’s mBot! This versatile and durable robot is designed to do just that. All the necessary materials to assemble the mBot's body and connect the electrical components are included, along with a remote control and various sensors for programming. To get started, you’ll need a computer for online coding and/or a device to download Makeblock’s app, a CR2025 battery for the remote, and either 4AA batteries or the mBot Li-polymer battery to power the robot. Once assembled, there are multiple pre-set modes for children to explore. For coding, children can use the online platform or Makeblock’s user-friendly app. Additionally, Makeblock offers a wealth of digital resources and coding challenges to help advance children’s programming skills. mBot has earned its place in this year’s Top 10 because of its ease of use and interactive, adaptable nature, making it a fantastic toy and learning tool for programmers of all skill levels. -Reviewer Virginia Hawkins