Tinkering Labs - Catalyst Class Pack and Cabinet

Empower a classroom of 30 students, working in pairs, to tackle STEM challenges with this classroom set of Catalyst Kits. Well-structured lessons and all required supplies allow teachers to hit the ground running. Three units are available for grades 3-6 (up to 30 class sessions!), and one unit is available for grades K-2. 

The Learning Experience

The Catalyst Kit engages students in engineering using real materials—like wood parts, screws, wingnuts, and L-brackets—paired with motors and battery packs to create working circuits. Students quickly see how everyday hardware connects to scientific principles, making abstract concepts tangible.

What's Inside

• 15 Electric Motors Catalyst Kits
• All building components needed for 4 curriculum units
• Printed and bound Curriculum Guide (100+ pages)
• Printed and bound Challenge Guide (50+ pages)
• 15 Decks of student challenge cards
• 15 Decks of student tip cards
• Convenient storage cabinet

Designed for Classrooms

• Minimal prep, maximum impact: Everything you need is in the box, from batteries to brainstorming paper. Just open and go.
• Screen-free and NGSS-aligned: Students practice engineering design and physical science standards without devices or logins.
• Goal-directed but unscripted: With 10 challenge cards, students get direction without step-by-step instructions, encouraging them to problem-solve and think creatively.

Why Teachers Love It 

1. Quick builds, lasting engagement: Challenges can be started and completed within a class period, but students are motivated to keep tinkering. 
2. Authentic engineering: Using the same kinds of materials found in real machines, students experience what it’s like to be inventors, not just builders. 
3. Reusable and open-ended: The kit is designed to be made, unmade, and remade—again and again.