LEGO SPIKE Essential or SPIKE Prime?
By Catherine Porter
In 2020, LEGO introduced the SPIKE Prime kit as the next-generation successor to LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, boasting upgraded hardware, a more robust processor, and an improved programming environment designed for enhanced user-friendliness and intuitiveness. Following this, in 2021, LEGO launched SPIKE Prime Essential, specifically tailored for elementary-level students, incorporating age-appropriate components like mini-figures and mini-figure props within the kit. Nevertheless, its deliberate simplicity, while catering to younger learners, results in a lack of complexity. The table below provides further insights into the distinctions between these two offerings.
SPIKE Essential is generally designed for younger students, often in the early to upper elementary grades (ages 6-10). SPIKE Prime is typically aimed at upper elementary to middle school (ages 10+) as a more advanced platform for older students to delve deeper into robotics and coding.
It’s important to consider the physical space and setup of your classroom. SPIKE Prime’s more extensive capabilities may require more room for building and testing robots, whereas SPIKE Essential can be used in smaller spaces more easily.
Think about your long-term plans. You can start with SPIKE Essential to lay a strong foundation allowing them to develop basic skills and then transition to SPIKE Prime as students progress in their robotics and STEM education journey.
If your choice of platform is influenced by participation in a competition, SPIKE Essential is suitable for First LEGO League Explore, while SPIKE Prime is ideal for First LEGO League Challenge and the World Robot Olympiad.
You can learn more about these competitions here:
Ultimately, your decision should align with your teaching goals and the specific needs of your students. Both platforms offer valuable learning experiences, and you can adapt your choice based on your students' age and readiness for more advanced concepts.
The Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy offers free curricula for both platforms:
