What Happened to LEGO Mindstorms?
LEGO officially discontinued the Mindstorms line in 2022 after 25 years. The good news: LEGO SPIKE Prime is its direct successor and is widely considered the best robotics platform for STEM education today.
LEGO SPIKE Prime (45678)
SPIKE Prime is LEGO Education’s flagship robotics kit for grades 6–8. It combines LEGO bricks with a programmable Hub, sensors, and motors — all programmable using Scratch-based blocks or MicroPython.
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Watch: Introducing LEGO Education SPIKE Prime
Watch: What’s in the Box?
What’s in the Box
- SPIKE Prime Hub – programmable brick with display, speaker, and Bluetooth
- 2 Large Motors – for movement and rotation
- 1 Medium Motor – for precise control
- Distance Sensor, Color Sensor, Force Sensor
- Over 500 LEGO Technic elements
Programming Options
| Level | Language | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Word Blocks (Scratch) | Ages 10–12, no coding experience |
| Intermediate | Scratch with extensions | Ages 12–14 |
| Advanced | MicroPython | Ages 14+, text-based coding |
SPIKE Prime vs. SPIKE Essential
- SPIKE Essential (ages 6–9) – simpler hub, great for early elementary
- SPIKE Prime (ages 10+) – full robotics capabilities, competition-ready
Why SPIKE Prime for After-School STEM?
- Used in FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitions worldwide
- Free lesson plans and curriculum from LEGO Education
- Free LEGO Education SPIKE App (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS)
- Teaches coding, engineering, and problem-solving simultaneously
Where to Buy
Alternatives Worth Considering
| Kit | Age | Price (CAD) | Amazon Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEGO SPIKE Prime | 10+ | ~$400 | View |
| micro:bit | 8+ | ~$60 | View |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 12+ | ~$130 | View |
| Arduino Starter Kit | 12+ | ~$100 | View |
| VEX IQ 2nd Gen | 8+ | ~$350 | View |
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