Do you know a child that loves to build?
Legos are perfect for inspiring kids’ imaginations. They are also perfect for a variety of STEM activities for kids.
One of our favorite activities with the bricks has been this Hexbug Lego Maze STEM Activity.
The mix of STEM and feel of a game is a fun combination kids will enjoy over and over.
Affiliate links have been used in the post below. For more details, see my full disclosure.
Mixing learning with blocks, like we did with our DIY Lego board game, is always fun.
If your kids enjoy this activity, they may also have fun building their own cardboard tube marble maze. It’s just one of the fun activities you’ll find in my book, Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids.
Hexbug Lego Maze STEM Activity
Materials Needed:
Set up for this Lego STEM challenge is super simple. Start with an empty base plate, a tub of Legos, and your Hexbug.
Challenge your child to build a path for the Hexbug to travel.
Younger kids may want to start with something simple at first.
Encourage your child to test out the maze as they go. This will allow them to fix any issues before they get too far.
Why Build a Lego Hexbug Maze
STEM activities are a fun way for kids to be creative while experimenting with their own ideas. They can help foster team-working skills as well as problem solving skills.
As your child builds their Hexbug maze, they will encounter plenty of problem solving opportunities.
- Are the walls high enough so the Hexbug doesn’t climb over them?
- Are there gaps in the walls? If so, the Hexbug could get stuck.
- Are the paths wide enough? Or, are they too wide? We discovered that paths that were 3 dots wide worked the best for keeping the Hexbug going forward.
- Did they have enough room to make the necessary turns? You need enough room to make the turn, but still not so much room that the Hexbug may turn around and go the wrong way.
Once your child figures out the best design plan, they can add to the maze.
They may choose to make the maze longer or add a few extra turns to make it more complicated.
Your child might even decide to add a few fun pieces just for decoration. Let them get as creative as they want!
My son added an open window at the end of the path for the Hexbug to go through.
He also added a few fun pieces, like a spider web and some palm tree leaves.
One thing your child will notice as they build their winding path is that the bumpy surface of the Lego base plate slows Hexbugs down quite a bit.
Once your child creates a couple mazes that are successful, you may want to challenge them to build a Hexbug Lego habitat without using a base plate. This will give them a whole new set of problem solving opportunities as the Hexbug travels faster through the labyrinth.
It will also allow your child to make the maze larger than the size of the base plate.
This simple Hexbug Lego Maze STEM Activity is the perfect boredom buster if the weather has your child stuck indoors.
You may also enjoy:
- Must Have STEM Supplies for Home
- Build a Shelter Challenge
- Why Kids Should Take Apart Electronics
- 30+ Educational Activities for Kids That Love to Build