Montessori At Home - Parent’s Montessori Shelf

Based on the classic design at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK, this elegant design has been used for hundreds years around the world. In fact Leonardo Da Vinci invented a swing bridge in the 1400's! Swing bridges are still used widely around the world.

Using a wooden bevel gear, the bridge swings open and closed, just like a real swing bridge.

Great for wooden trains and car sets, kids can learn about gears and have the neatest bridge on the block.

·  Kit comes complete with easy to follow instructions, all you need are some scissors.

·  Comes with great educational information and links to learn more about levers and bridges.

·  Easy to make in an hour or two, and has stickers for signs and the road

Probably the coolest bridge we make, this is a replica of the Joseph Strauss design that was made all over North America in the 1920's and 1930's. Well known bridges of this type are the Johnston Street (Blue Bridge) in Victoria, B.C., Wishka River bridge in Washington, the Ashtaula Bridge in Ohio, the Cherry Street bridge in Toronto and the Third Street Bridge in San Francisco.

Sized to fit the wooden train sets, this bridge is an elegant reminder of the cool truss bridges that used to be built years ago and are still in use! Great to use for school bridge studies, and learn more about interesting linkages, this kit will bring a new level of sophistication to playing with wooden cars and trains. Graffiti is not included, but that gives you the chance to be creative!

The bridge was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci between 1485 and 1490, to be built rapidly with local trees, that could be easily slid into place, lashed together, and then crossed quickly, making troop movement over rivers speedy, creating a surprise factor that was critical to success in battles.

Leonardo applied the laws of statics, which he had developed during his architectural research. In his journals he wrote laws about friction, one of which stated that if the load on an object is doubled, its friction also doubles.

Interestingly, when weight is applied down, it gets tighter and stronger, yet when lifted it falls.

One of Leonardo’s most iconic images, the Aerial Screw (also known as the Helicopter) illustrates the ingenuity of Da Vinci, and indicates (along with many other drawings!) his obsession with flying.

While this 15th Century (!) idea may never have got off the ground, for some basic technical reasons, it gave us an insight into the different ways in which Leonardo considered the challenge of human powered flying, and defines him as an inventor well ahead of his time.

While it is often referred to as a helicopter, the premise of the lift to make it rise is more like Archimedes’ screw than the rotors of a helicopter.

Flying has always been a dream of humans, and Leonardo’s fascination with birds and flight was evident in his studies of birds and different human powered flying machines.

His ornithopter design has captured the imagination of people for generations, and we have combined his cool flying machine with one of his bevel gear designs to make a neat working model with flapping wings and a pilot with moving arms and legs.

While it remains a mystery if his ornithopter design was ever fully made or tested at the time, there are many ideas (hanging in museums around the world!) of what it might have looked like, and we have added our ideas as well.

Dimensions: 17 x 23 x 12 in

Great for STEM programs and perfect for home learning too!

Considered by many to be the most powerful and destructive of all the siege engines, the trebuchet took many forms throughout the Medieval world, hurling huge rocks, giant fireballs and even diseased animals at (and into) castles.

This model, based on the Warwolf, is a tabletop working replica of a trebuchet made in the 13th Century.

Standing 26 inches (67 cm) tall by 18 inches (48 cm wide) this model will shoot balls of plasticine (included) over 20 feet! Please be careful of what (or whom) you take aim on, this thing can really let loose.

·  Model is pre-cut and each joint is drilled for super strong connection.

·  Comes with a leather-like sling and some soft modeling clay for safe hurling!

The catapult has a long and interesting history. It has been around in many forms, evolving since about 400 BC. This model is based on the medieval styles that were used during the middle ages.

Standing 15 cm tall and 12 cm wide, this siege engine can shoot a plasticine ball over 15 feet!

Adjustable pads on the crossbar allow you to change the trajectory angle. The rope, strung through the middle gives great power to the swing arm!

·  All pieces are pre-cut and drilled so the model is incredibly strong!

·  All you need is glue and scissors.

·  Can be made in about an hour.

·  Great for beginner siege builders!

Great for STEM programs and perfect for home learning too!

The Siege Tower was use by invading armies to breach the walls of the castle they were attacking. They varied in size and construction, (some up to 135 feet tall!) but the one we have here is typical of the styles used from about 900 BC to the medieval times as attackers tried to get over the walls of a castle.

This incredibly sturdy tabletop model will give hours (years!) of reliable sieging around the house and back yard. 

Like all of our kits, this one is pegged for great strength and authenticity and will give you that cool siege feeling with the firing catapult on the top.

·  Each piece is pre-cut and pre-drilled for ease of assembly and strength.

·  An easy to raise and lower drawbridge, and a fully working catapult in the top.

Trojan Horse From the Ancient Greek Legends 

Ancient Greek legends have many references to the Trojan Horse – a huge wooden horse that was left in Troy – with warriors inside.

When it was brought into the walled city, the warriors came out (late at night when everyone was asleep)and took over and opened the doors to the entrances – allowing the the Greek warriors hiding in the area (outside the walls) to overrun the city.

Based on drawings and written records, this Trojan Horse model allows you to re-create one of the most epic tales of ancient Troy – although on a much smaller scale.

Dimensions: 30 cm Long x 31 cm Tall

Great for STEM programs and perfect for home learning too!