Recommendations from a Working
STEM Classroom
Who’s Behind This Site
I’m TheMakerTeacher, a STEM educator with a PhD in Biochemistry from a top-10 research university. I’ve spent 16+ years teaching STEM to kids from kindergarten through high school, and over a decade of that has been specifically with LEGO robotics.
I spend my days running a makerspace, coaching an FTC robotics team, and teaching students on platforms like LEGO Mindstorms, LEGO SPIKE, and VEX IQ. I’ve watched hundreds of kids open their first robotics kit, and I’ve seen which ones hold a kid’s attention and which ones end up in a closet by spring.
Why This Site Exists
When parents ask me what to buy for their kids, the answer is never simple. It depends on the child’s age, what they’ve done before, and what the family is actually trying to accomplish. But when those parents go home and search online, they find the same generic “Top 10 STEM Kits” articles written by people who’ve never opened the box.
I built The STEM Workbench because parents deserve better than that.
This site covers the full picture: robotics kits, 3D printers, science lab equipment, electronics, tools, and workspaces for building a STEM learning setup at home. My recommendations are grounded in classroom experience, not spec sheets and Amazon reviews.
What Makes This Different
Where I’ve used a product in my classroom, I’ll tell you that directly. Where I haven’t, I’ll say so and walk you through the specs, the track record, and how it stacks up against what I have used. I won’t blur that line either way.
Most review sites recommend everything because they earn a commission either way. I’d rather lose a sale than recommend a product I’ve seen fail.
A robotics kit isn’t a one-time purchase; it’s the start of a journey. I’ll help you see the full path from first kit to advanced engineering, so every dollar you spend builds toward the next step.
Get in Touch
Have a question about what’s right for your child? I’m happy to help.
admin@thestemworkbench.com