LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential

Q: What age group is LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential designed for?

SPIKE Essential is specifically developed for Primary School pupils, typically aged 6 to 10 (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2). It bridges the gap between early tactile learning and more advanced robotics. The set uses age-appropriate hardware, such as the Small Hub and simple motors, ensuring that younger children can build confidence in STEAM concepts with feeling overwhelmed.

Q: How does SPIKE Essential support the UK National Curriculum?

The system is mapped directly to the National Curriculum for Computing, Science and Design & Technology. It helps educators deliver objectives related to: Computing: Understanding algorithms, creating simple programmes and logical reasoning. Science: Exploring forces, motion and energy through hands-on experimentation. Design & Technology: Building functional prototypes and evaluating designs.

Q: What is the difference between SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime?

The main difference lies in the complexity and target age range. SPIKE Essential is for Primary learners (ages 6-10) and uses icon-based or simple word-block coding (based on Scratch). SPIKE Prime is designed for Upper Primary and Secondary learners (ages 10+) and supports more complex sensors, larger motors and advanced coding languages like Python.

Q: Do parents or homeschoolers need a subscription to use the software?

SPIKE Essential is specifically developed for Primary School pupils, typically aged 6 to 10 (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2). It bridges the gap between early tactile learning and more advanced robotics. The set uses age-appropriate hardware, such as the Small Hub and simple motors, ensuring that younger children can build confidence in STEAM concepts with feeling overwhelmed.

Q: Can SPIKE Essential be used for FIRST® LEGO® League?

Yes! SPIKE Essential is the primary hardware used for the FIRST® LEGO® League Explore division (ages 6-9). STEM clubs and schools across the UK use this set to participate in the annual global challenge, helping children develop teamwork, communication and real-world problem-solving skills through a structured competitive framework.

Ignite primary school pupils’ passion for STEAM learning through playful problem-solving and engaging storytelling

£275.00 (£330.00 incl. VAT)

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The box, bricks and pieces included with LEGO Education SPIKE Essential

Product description

Part of the LEGO Learning System, SPIKE Essential engages pupils in hands-on investigation of STEAM concepts while contributing to literacy, maths and social-emotional development. Curriculum-aligned learning units use everyday themes, relatable minifigures with different personalities and familiar LEGO building elements to solve problems through storytelling. SPIKE Essential combines icon and word-based block coding with simple hardware – including an intelligent Hub, motors, a Light Matrix and a Colour Sensor – to bring STEAM concepts to life. Pupils brainstorm and develop creative solutions through trial and error while collaborating with peers. Flexible built-in scaffolding and competency-based professional development opportunities make it easy for teachers to get started and move from one unit to the next.

Units

LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential comes with 10 different unit plans, each including 5-8 45 minute lessons and 30 minute language arts and maths extensions, providing over 100 hours of fully-planned learning activities out of the box!

Great Adventures: Creating Interactive Stories.
Amazing Amusement Park: Engineering a Fun Day Out.
Happy Traveler: Programming Your Way Around Town.
Crazy Carnival Games: Playing with Energy Transfer and Collision.
Quirky Creations: Engineering Cool School Hacks.
Science – See It! Hear It! Build It!
Science in Nature and Our Daily Life
Animals and their Environment
Science Connections
Science We Cannot See

What's included

Plastic Storage Box and Lid
2 x sorting trays and stickers to help organise the pieces.
1 x Technic Small Intelligent Hub and Battery
2 x Small Angular Motors
1 x Colour Sensor
1 x 3×3 LED Matrix
1 x Small selection of LEGO Technic parts.
1 x Small selection of LEGO Bricks and other System components.
1 x Small box containing extra pieces
4 x LEGO Minifigures (Maria, Daniel, Sofie & Leo!)
Getting Started sheet
Micro-USB cable

Further information

SKU:

45345

Parts:

449

Curriculum:

Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2

Released:

01/09/2021

Resources

Frequently asked questions

What age group is LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential designed for?

SPIKE Essential is specifically developed for Primary School pupils, typically aged 6 to 10 (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2). It bridges the gap between early tactile learning and more advanced robotics. The set uses age-appropriate hardware, such as the Small Hub and simple motors, ensuring that younger children can build confidence in STEAM concepts with feeling overwhelmed.

How does SPIKE Essential support the UK National Curriculum?

The system is mapped directly to the National Curriculum for Computing, Science and Design & Technology. It helps educators deliver objectives related to:

Computing: Understanding algorithms, creating simple programmes and logical reasoning.
Science: Exploring forces, motion and energy through hands-on experimentation.
Design & Technology: Building functional prototypes and evaluating designs.

What is the difference between SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime?

The main difference lies in the complexity and target age range.

SPIKE Essential is for Primary learners (ages 6-10) and uses icon-based or simple word-block coding (based on Scratch).
SPIKE Prime is designed for Upper Primary and Secondary learners (ages 10+) and supports more complex sensors, larger motors and advanced coding languages like Python.

Do parents or homeschoolers need a subscription to use the software?

Can SPIKE Essential be used for FIRST® LEGO® League?

Yes! SPIKE Essential is the primary hardware used for the FIRST® LEGO® League Explore division (ages 6-9). STEM clubs and schools across the UK use this set to participate in the annual global challenge, helping children develop teamwork, communication and real-world problem-solving skills through a structured competitive framework.