Thames & Kosmos Simple Machines Kit | 26 Models to Explore Classic Machines

Explore simple machines with hands-on building

Kick off your journey into mechanical physics with the Thames & Kosmos Simple Machines Kit, a durable, modular system designed for curious minds. You’ll investigate the six classic machines—wheels and axles, levers, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, and wedges—and discover how gears help these elements work together. Through 26 model-building exercises, you’ll observe how changes in arrangement, angles, and connections alter the way forces move and how tasks can feel more manageable. This kit invites you to build, test, and compare ideas, turning abstract concepts into tangible, interactive insights.

What you build

• wheels and axles
• levers
• pulleys
• inclined planes
• screws
• wedges
• gears

Durable, reusable parts

• durable, modular construction compatible with other Thames & Kosmos kits
• pieces that can be assembled and disassembled repeatedly for ongoing experimentation
• includes a spring scale to measure how machines change the direction and magnitude of forces

Learn by doing

The 32-page full-color manual guides step-by-step construction and pairs each model with accessible, real-world context. Real examples—like a seesaw, a wheelbarrow, or a flagpole—bring simple machines to life and help you connect hands-on activity with everyday physics concepts. If you enjoy tinkering, this kit offers endless opportunities to create, compare, and refine configurations while staying grounded in observable outcomes.