I really love these trains and your kids will too! 
These sets provide a hands-on and playful way to introduce fundamental coding concepts like sequencing, looping, and conditional coding.
​Children learn to understand cause and effect by placing action bricks on the track, which then influence the train's behavior

What I like about them...

• Hands-On Learning: LEGO DUPLO bricks provide a tactile and engaging learning experience, which is particularly effective for young children. Most kids already know hoe to use Duplo!
• Curriculum Alignment: LEGO Education provides curriculum-aligned lessons that support educators in using the sets effectively.  
• App Integration: The optional companion app enhances the learning experience by providing additional activities and challenges.  
• Social and emotional development: Working together to solve problems, and creating stories with the train, helps children develop social and emotional skills. 

What I don't like about them...

• They don't have a lithium battery. So changing the batteries can be quite laborious. You need a small Phillips-head screw driver, lots of triple-A batteries and a tad of patience. I have used rechargeable AAA's and they seem good. It's just a lot of work! One set of charged batteries can last all day, though. I have run 3 x 90-minute sessions back-to-back without recharging. 

The Coding Express App

The app is OK, but not brilliant. Once we pull out the iPads, a lot of the kids sort of get quiet and creativity and excitement slows as they all wait for their turn. Often I don't bother with the app if the session is 75 minutes or shorter. If we do use the app, I have a 90-second timer that I use so kids all get a fair turn. (One iPad per train).

Getting organised!

​Because I already had a lot of Duplo, I started by buying just two Coding Express kits. I discovered my other Duplo Train was compatible with the app, so I bought two more of those, because they were only $AU99 as opposed to Duplo Express which were around $AU500. 

So I sat down with all my track, and all my trains and all my duplo and I tried to split it 5 ways. 
I decided to get 5 tubs for some common items. And I stuck a coloured sticker on each important piece. SO there was a red kit, a green kit, a white kit, etc. 

I had enough track to give each of my 5 kits, 18 curved bits and 12 straight. You might think I am crazy, but I put a coloured sticker inside each track piece! But I really want each group of kids to have their own track, and I want to try to keep the kits equal in size. One goal is to make sure the kids keep an eye on the stickers, and give me any bits that don't belong in their kit. 

Then I decided that each board needed some important pieces that I also wanted to keep track of. 
​
So I gave each set:
2 crossing gates
1 track switcher
1 crossing ramp 
3 end of line buffer stops

I then created a laminated image with all those bits and stuck it to the back of a green base board. The idea is that, when we pack up, the kids put all those pieces on the laminated image to indicate they have all their main pieces.

They also need to account for all the "people" and trains and coloured reaction bricks. So there is an image on top of the tub for them to put those things on when we pack up. Initially, the only thing they stick in their tub is the track. I show the kids how to pack up at the end of my demo at the start of the session. 

packing up goal

When I have checked nothing is missing, (even after the kids have left the room) we can put all the bits in their tub. 

I made 6 "track" boards. They are great to get the kids started and keep all the kids and their pieces in one area. 

Coreflute available in most hardware stores

I use heaps of Core Flute in many of my robot workshops.

I have a large tub of Lego that children can access after they build their track. I also have some "special vehicles that groups can have, once their track is complete. Each group can have have 2 special vehicles which they can swap later, with other groups if they want to. 

People and Animals

Each board is give 8 Duplo "people"which they can swap from a case out front. They are told every board can only have 8 people, so you must swap people, rather than just take new ones. 

The animals are VERY popular! I bought some extras from eBay and K-Mart. I limit each board to adding 6 animals. (Because I have 38 animals and 6 boards)

Robot Man Video

If you go to my YouTube Shorts you will see some of my Coding express trains in action

Resources Home

Bookings