KEVA Planks
KEVA Planks are cuboid wooden block toys for children and adults. Each block is sized approximately 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) x 3/4 inch (19.05 mm) x 4 1/2 inches (114.3 mm). The blocks are available for sale in maple, that is produced in the United States, and less expensive imported pine versions.[1]
KEVA Planks started out as a simple construction set that is unusual because they only use one piece and no connectors in glue, in contrast to other building sets that often have specific instructions and require sorting. It has developed into a teaching tool used in classrooms and enjoyed in homes.
A number of museums have KEVA exhibits for hands on experience with design and construction including:
- Da Vinci Science Center of Allentown, PA[2]
- Exploration Place of The Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center of Wichita, Kansas[3]
- Fleet Science Center in San Diego, CA[4]
- Kalamazoo Air Zoo of Kalamazoo, MI[5]
- Lawrence Hall of Science at University of California, Berkeley, CA[6]
- Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, NY[7]
- Science World (Vancouver) in Vancouver, BC[8]
- Kaleideum of Winston-Salem, NC[9]
- Discovery Park of America in Union City, TN[10]
The tallest tower built with KEVA planks was 51 feet, 8 inches constructed at the National Building Museum in 2006.[11]
KEVA planks is a privately owned company located in Virginia. Mindware, a division of Oriental Trading subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is the exclusive licensee of many KEVA Planks products.[12]
KEVA Planks in Educational Settings
KEVA Planks are used in schools, libraries, museums, and maker spaces. They are a teaching tool that can be used as a manipulative to teach subjects including math, science, geography, history, and humanities. They were featured at Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2011.[13]
Beginning in 2015, KEVA Planks traveled with Share Fair Nation STEMosphere events and was one of the most popular sessions in the professional development workshops.[14] STEMosphere highlights innovative and creative teaching tools.
KEVA Planks were named number 3 in Worlds of Learning's Top Ten Makerspace Favorites of 2016.[15]
They have been used as "de-stressors" at libraries at Duke University and the University of Virginia.[16]
References
- "KEVA planks Products". Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- "Da Vinci Science Center KEVA Exhibit". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "Exploration Place KEVA Exhibit". Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "What Can You Build?". Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Exhibits & Experiences | Air Zoo Aviation Museum & Science Education Center of Kalamazoo, Michigan". www.airzoo.org. Retrieved 2017-05-29.
- "Design, Build, Test | Lawrence Hall of Science". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- "Rochester Museum and Science Center KEVA exhibit". Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "Science World KEVA". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "SciWorks KEVA Exhibit". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- "Simmons Bank Children's Exploration Gallery". Discovery Park of America: Museum and Heritage Park. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- "KEVA FAQ". kevaplanks.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-24. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- "KEVA planks Company". kevaplanks.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- Destination Imagination (2011-05-27), Keva Planks at Destination Imagination Global Finals 2011, retrieved 2017-03-07
- "Chicago/Evanston Share Fair Nation 2015 | Northwestern Center for Talent Development". www.ctd.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- "Top Ten Makerspace Favorites of 2016". Worlds of Learning. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- "College". KEVA planks. Retrieved 2017-03-07.