Some Suggestions Students are naturally creative, and love to build. Great inquiry based lessons can be designed around topics such as machine design, oil viscosity, car or airplane design, or bridge building competitions. K'nex Legos used to be the building material of choice for young engineers, but K'nex is rapidly gaining converts. K'nex sets have a variety of straight segments and end joints to allow for building a wide variety of mechanisms. Belts, pulleys, wheels, and motors are also available.
Students can design and build simple machines, vehicles, bridges, and nearly anything else.
The accomplished junior engineer can tackle the roller coaster. Legos These aren't the Legos you knew as a child. Lego Mindstorms let you design, build, and program real robots. Robots that can move around, duck into dark corners, or maneuver around obstacles. Kits are pricey, but very versatile.