CLOSED Review and GIVEAWAY: Uberstix Uberpult

The Uberstix Uberpult (for ages 8 and up)---a kit obviously designed with learning in mind. The Uberpult comes with everything you need to build and test your very own catapult, including 177 Uberstix, an instruction booklet, 2 plastic spoons, 4 rubber bands, and even a lab sheet for recording your results. The kit also includes a little explanatory sheet on simple machines and instructions for making a “Minipult.”

I found the instructions simple to follow, though my almost-10-year-old pointed out they were a little vague in a few places…since the kit is intended for ages 8 and up, I’ll have to bow to his judgment. He said he would prefer larger pictures, with the new pieces being added highlighted, and to be told ahead when multiples of a particular construction are needed. I would also like to see actual instructions on how to fire the catapult. It is not completely obvious from the construction and the only clue you get is from the picture on the front of the box.

The catapult went together fairly easily (a few pieces were hard to slide together and required Mommy power), though my son, who is already a skeptic, ahem, insisted throughout that arm was much too long to get any real distance. He was right, of course. But the makers of Uberstix thought about the need to modify the design. They actually include more pieces than you need to complete the catapult as directed. David created a shorter arm (he didn’t even have to disassemble the original one) and the catapult went from firing the projectile a couple of feet to over 10 feet! Pretty impressive.

A few notes:

• The Uberpult is a tad unstable when firing on a hard surface (you’ll want to fire with one hand, and hold the Uberpult down with the other), but was perfectly fine on a carpeted floor.
• The Uberstix themselves are flexible and might be prone to breakage, though none have broken on us. Uberstix, very cleverly, touts breakage as an advantage! Broken Uberstix can be trimmed, sanded, and transformed into unique pieces otherwise unavailable.

And what do I love about Uberstix?

• They have been engineered to work with any of the major building systems already on the market and a number of household materials, greatly expanding the creative possibilities.
• Many of their kits encourage the use of recycled components, like plastic spoons and plastic water bottles to create functioning projects.
• Moving joints make your creations do something, and they give educational support for understanding the why behind it.

I received one free Uberstix Uberpult 183 piece set from www.AllChildrensFurniture.com for review and promotion purposes, and the promise of one identical set to be sent to the winner of this giveaway. I received no compensation. The opinions expressed in this review reflect the experiences of me and my family.

Buy it:

The Uberstix Uberpult is on sale right now at www.AllChildrensFurniture.com for $19.29! That’s 23% off the retail price.

Win it!

www.AllChildrensFurniture.com has generously offered to send one Uberstix Uberpult to one lucky reader! This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

Please read the instructions carefully. You must leave a separate comment for each entry. If your email is not visible in your profile or you use the anonymous option, you must leave your email or web addy in your comment so I can contact you (you can use the name at somewhere dot com format). If there is no contact info, you will not be included in the draw.

Entries will close on Sunday, March 28th at midnight EST. Each comment will be assigned a number and one number will be chosen at www.random.org the next day. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email. If I don’t here from him/her before then, a new winner will be selected.

1. Mandatory: Visit www.AllChildrensFurniture.com and tell me about something you like on the site. (No other entries will count unless you do this one.)
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Win an Uberstix Uberpult from AllChildrensFurniture.com at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds: http://tinyurl.com/uberstixgiveaway Ends Mar28