Solar Powered K'Nex is a Winner!

Solar powered K'nex was a fun activity for one of our students. He made a helicopter and the propeller spun when it was outside.  Unfortunately, the students wanted to see it fly, and, we had to do an impromptu science lesson as to WHY this helicopter would not fly!

K'Nex is Great for the Study of Science Concepts

A few years ago, I taught middle school gifted classes. I inundated them with STEM activities!  For a period of time, my small room was FILLED with K'Nex roller coasters and other amusement park rides!  It was as if Six Flags shrunk and filled my room!

While the kids learned a lot constructing the models, they also had to label where science concepts were demonstrated: interia, potential energy, kinetic energy, gravity, centrifugal force, and more.  Here are the many models they made:

On the roller coaster on the right, you can see post-it notes. That is how they labeled the science concepts in motion!

This ball factory above was a FAVORITE!!!!!!

K'Nex is Great for the Study of Angles and Lines

In math, we use K'Nex when making angles and lines.  Acute, obtuse, and straight lines are so easy to make!

K'Nex is great for Science Fair ideas!

A few years ago, our daughter was intrigued by houses and flood water.  She wanted to design a house that allowed the floor to float upward when flood waters rose, and then allowed the floor to lower as flood waters receded.   I told her K'Nex would be great buidling tools for that kind of project. And, this is what she designed:

At the bottom, you will see a page from a baby book, those water-proof type books.  When she put this in the sink and filled it up with water, the floor rose with the water, and lowered when the floor receded.


Blue Ribbon Project at the St. Louis Area Regional Science Fair!

K'Nex Lesson Plan Sources

K'Nex STEM Lesson HUB

Lesson Planet

Lesson Plans Page


Rube Goldberg Ideas on a Video

K'Nex/Rube Goldberg Light Switch !