The  LEGO Education SPIKE Essential is raising questions for parents and educators who are just discovering this innovative solution from LEGO Education. Many robotics enthusiasts are already familiar with MINDSTORM EV3, WeDo 2.0, and SPIKE Prime, all key entries in the world of educational robotics.

How LEGO Education Sets Progress

For students ages 4–10, WeDo 2.0 (phased out in 2021, but app still available) has traditionally been the entry point, now replaced by spike essential (introduced in 2019). Older students ages 10–16 previously used EV3 MINDSTORM (production stopped in 2020), with SPIKE Prime (launched in 2021) as the new flagship kit for advanced robotics and coding.

LEGO Spike Essential vs Prime: Who Should Use Each?

When considering lego spike essential vs prime, think about students’ age range, skill level, and classroom goals. SPIKE Essential is tailored for younger learners, introducing robotics and coding with age-appropriate elements and icon-based block programming. SPIKE Prime is designed for older students ready for complex builds and text-based programming (including Python), making it perfect for deep STEM exploration and competitive robotics.

SPIKE Essential vs. SPIKE Prime

Factor/s	SPIKE Essential	SPIKE Prime
What It Looks Like
Age Range	4 - 10 years old	10 - 16 years old
Coding Language	Icon-based Block Programming	Text-based Block Programming or Python (Full-text programming)
No. of Pieces	449 pieces of bricks/elements	528 pieces of bricks/elements
Available Lesson Plans	40 Lesson Plans Click here to view	29 Lesson Plans Click here to view
Competition Level	FIRST LEGO League Explore www.firstlegoleague.sg	FIRST LEGO League Challenge www.firstlegoleague.sg
Price	SGD$689.62 (incl. GST) Buy here	SGD$895.07 (incl. GST) Buy here

Key Features and Classroom Integration

Both sets are part of the official LEGO Learning System, providing a seamless experience as students progress in their LEGO education journey. SPIKE Essential kits are smaller and more manageable for younger hands, integrating storytelling and simple robotics. SPIKE Prime kits offer more sensors, motors, and advanced programming, supporting competitive teams and after-school LEGO workshops.

Teachers can use free or purchasable lesson plans designed for both kits, covering everything from basic builds and logic to creative engineering challenges. For younger learners, SPIKE Essential’s lessons emphasize play and visual coding, while SPIKE Prime’s resources encourage experimentation, advanced robotics, and participation in programs like FIRST LEGO League.

Real-World Classroom Experiences

Educators report that SPIKE Essential builds a foundation of coding, logic, and teamwork, reassuring hesitant students as they enter the world of robotics. As those students grow, transitioning to SPIKE Prime presents advanced building challenges, introduces Python programming, and cultivates problem-solving skills needed in higher grades and competitions. Many schools deploy both kits for continuous growth in STEM.

Additional Resources

To learn more about how LEGO Education kits like SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime fit into modern STEM classrooms, or to book a demo, contact Duck Learning at 

learn@ducklearning.com

 or call 6747 4236.

You can also explore more about the LEGO Learning System here