Terrain Walkers by Thames and Kosmos

Get hands-on with physics and engineering by constructing eight awesome walking machines with Terrain Walkers by Thames and Kosmos. Explore the workings of gear trains, linkages, and intermittent gears as you discover how these elements work together to create complex walking devices.

A 48-page manual guides you through builds of eight robots that are powered by a motor box. Each model moves in a different way. For example, the four-legged terrain-walker bot keeps its body level as it moves step by step, while the kangaroo-bot hops forward on two legs. The leopard-bot has four long legs while the wild boar has four short legs. The fairy shrimp model wriggles along on swimmerets while the monkey model uses its arms to crawl along a string.

The practice of assembling — and disassembling — each model provides invaluable insight into important engineering concepts and skills. Once you’re finished building the models from the kit, combine what you’ve learned with your own imagination to construct new and unique creations! Manufacturer recommendation age 6 years+. I recommend 8 years – 14 years.

Educational Benefits of Terrain Walkers by Thames and Kosmos:

• develop creativity
• develop physics knowledge about gear trains, linkages and intermittent gears
• develop fine motor skills

Thames & Kosmos (T&K) was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving informal science education outside of the classroom by publishing high-quality science kits for children of all ages. T&K places an emphasis on teaching concepts and skills through tactile processes. Their vision is to give all children access to real, physical activities and projects that teach them about how things work; parents, grandparents, and teachers are active guides in these investigations. It is their firm belief that children who connect with the world around them grow up to be inquisitive adults, creative thinkers, and engaged citizens with confidence to careers in science, technology, and engineering.