The Hubelino Marble Run Elements set is the perfect tool to expand STEM potential using construction bricks like Duplo. With 55 pieces, it is designed to develop logic, motor skills, and creativity in the most effective way possible.
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Other Stem toy reviews you may like include the GEOMAG Mechanics Gravity Shoot & Catch, Knex Imagine Building Set and Meccano Motorcycles 5 in 1.
Designed to work with construction bricks such as Duplo the Hubelino Marble Run 55 piece Elements set allows children to take their building skills to another level.
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What’s In The Box
It contains, as the box suggests, 55 pieces (including 4 large balls) that connect together to create a marble run that can be as simple or as complex as you require.
It is important to note that the set does not come with any base plates or standard building blocks, both of which are required to get any depth of play and learning from the set.
You can find the base plates easily in stores such as AMAZON
How Does The Hubelino Marble Run 55-Piece Elements Set Work
The first thing to mention is that this set needs to have either standard ‘Duplo-style’ construction bricks or a base plate to work. And these need to be bought separately. It needs to be thought of as an extension for other construction (Duplo style) bricks.
You’ll find a collection of base plates to choose from here.
With just a base plate you can get younger children to create smaller marble runs to understand how the pieces connect together. And from there, build more creative runs. You can even add a little height as some of the marble run pieces have connectors built on to them.
But it’s with the addition of additional Duplo style bricks that the Hubelino really comes into its own. Children can fully explore their construction skills and start to learn about build design, gravity and energy transference (the relationship between kinetic and potential energy). All whilst having fun playing!
There are enough drop and curved blocks to make an exciting run but in order to have lots of balls travelling from different heights and directions you’ll need to invest in a bigger kit.
You can see the full range of kits Here
What Did We Think Of The Hubelino Marble Run
Although there is a good mix of pieces to allow the marble run to curve, twist, and drop over quite a large area. I do think it would be handy to have more than one, 4-way connector. But that is a minor grumble. And on the plus side, there are lots of other Hubelino sets that can be used with the 55 piece set.
Initially, I thought this was a short-term toy, as in it would appeal to mainly younger preschool kids but it actually has a lot of depth to it.
The pieces slot together well and the quality and finish is excellent. The balls all run smoothly down the track as long as all the pieces are connected properly. And there are enough pieces to make an exciting circuit. It helps that the drops, curves and straight pieces come in a mix of sizes.
The marble run can work right up into KS3 science, being used to demonstrate potential, kinetic & gravitational energy. Plus of course, there are lots of skills required to build the framework that the marble run can sit within.
I was disappointed to find there was no base plate included with the set which would be useful as well as practical and I think quite a few people could get caught out by that. Lots of families will have Duplo bricks but not everyone will have the baseplates. But, depending on your child’s building skills it is possible to build a marble run without a base plate. The base plate just adds some stability.
I love that the limit, no matter what the age, is just the child’s imagination. Whether they’re building a castle, funfair or just testing their technical ability. What looks like a construction toy for younger kids (aged 4+) has enormous reach and potential.