Give Your Kids Toys That Not Only Entertain But Teach This Holiday Season with MindLabs Energy and Circuits Augmented Reality Card Set (Review)

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

New MindLabs Combines Virtual and Physical Worlds with AR to Teach STEM to Tweens – Affordably

Buy now for only $24.99

Are your kids into Augmented Reality toys or products? If they are and they love hands on STEM activities, then they will love MindLabs: Energy and Circuits.  I was recently sent their Energy and Circuits card set for my girls to try out, and they had so much fun with it.  They ended up downloading the free app to both their iPads and their Android phones, so that they could play with the MindLabs cards at home and on the go.  What was so amazing about this card set, was just how much they actually learned about circuitry.

I have been homeschooling my girls since they were 3 yrs. old, and now they are both in 6th grade. We have done many outside STEM programs including ones on circuitry and AR, but none have covered all the contents that this card set from MindLabs did. And, sadly I paid more for these other circuitry classes which the girls didn't learn much from and/or thought were boring.  If only MindLabs was there when they were asking to learn about energy and circuits, it would have been so much easier just to share these cards with them, and see their eyes light up when they used their cards and saw characters, items, ideas and more come to life through AR, while teaching them about key concepts around circuitry.  Before it was like pulling teeth to get them to their homework on energy and circuitry, but now that they have these fun cards and the interactive app from MindLabs, they want to start each school day playing with them, and then will share all about what they learned about switches, open and closed circuits, energy sources and so much more.  I truly was amazed at all the knowledge they have now thanks to these cards, and just how much fun the girls had while learning about energy and circuits. Who says kids can't have fun and learn at the same time?  They sure can with MindLabs and their AR Energy and Circuits card set. 

With the holidays fast approaching, why not consider picking up the MindLabs: Energy and Circuits card set for only $24.99, and share the amazing AR world of energy and circuits with them.  The cards can be used with 1 to up to 4 players (ages 8+), and the app is available from the App Store* or Google Play* store.  

Here is more about the MindLabs: Energy and Circuits card set:

"MindLabs: Energy and Circuits is a magical new way to teach children circuitry, an essential element of STEM. MindLabs uniquely pairs digital and physical worlds, by combining an app, tabletop playing cards and the excitement of augmented reality, for an affordable price. With MindLabs, kids not only can create circuits in 3D, but can also share the playing experience with friends – either in person or remotely.

Families download the free MindLabs: Energy and Circuits app from the App Store* or Google Play*, then purchase playing cards from the MindLabs website that picture an assortment of electrical components, including different types of batteries and lights, plus fans, buzzers, switches and more.  Lessons include basic energy sources, open and closed circuits, short circuits, as well as engineering design and troubleshooting.

Perfect for remote learning, MindLabs works with one to four players, in the same or different locations.  Children take turns adding (or deleting) component cards and wires to create the desired circuit. All the players see the results of their combined efforts at the same time through their device. It’s a great tool to foster collaboration in STEM.

One set of cards serves up to 4 players. For boys and girls 8+. $24.99

Features:

• Manipulate cards (picturing batteries, light bulbs, fans, and more) and assemble them into working circuits. Draw the connecting wires on a mobile device, and magically see what happens. The cards come to life in 3D!
• MindLabs is the ideal learning tool for solo or team play, even if students are in multiple locations!
• More than 20 interactive lessons take players step by step through basic circuit concepts. Educators can design additional challenges in the Create Space.
• It's learning by doing! The hands-on experimentation is fun and perfect for the self-directed learner.
• The robot duo, Atom and Anne, direct and encourage young learners to thwart the evil Dr. Stonebreaker.
• This product has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health.

What's Included: 2 sets of durable cards (20 cards per set). Cards include different battery types, multiple lights, switch, fan, buzzer, and more.

Ages: MindLabs is designed for children ages 8 and older, 4th grade and above.

Minimum iOS Requirements: iPhone SE 2016, iPad Mini Gen 5, or iPad 2017 running iOS 11

Minimum Android Requirements: Google Pixel, Samsung S8, Moto Z2, HTC U11, or comparable devices running Android 9

 

For more information visit MindLabs at www.exploremindlabs.com, and follow them on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn."

 

*App Store and Google Play links open on phones and iPads only.

 

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About Explore Interactive:

Explore Interactive is an educational technology company dedicated to democratizing STEM education with accessible and interactive learning through augmented reality. Supported by SBIR grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, the first product MindLabs Energy and Circuits pairs an innovative augmented reality app with a physical card set available at www.exploremindlabs.com. This dynamic digital and physical combination gives parents and educators of elementary students hands-on STEM learning that is easy to learn and use, even for beginners! The guided engineering challenges teach circuit concepts while the open-ended design space provides a venue for collaborative projects even for remote learners. This approach empowers educators with an intuitive platform and engaging content developed in collaboration with researchers at the INSPIRE center of Purdue University.

Disclosure: I was provided with a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.