We love creating models as part of the learning experience, and we try to think outside the box when it comes to materials. As often as possible we use food, but Wikki Stix are one of our other top choices. If you’ve seen them before you might think they’re only for the kindergarten crowd. As with play dough, we’ve found a lot of ways to upgrade their use for older students and complex concepts.

Wikki Stix are lengths of yarn covered with food grade wax. Sounds pretty basic, but they can be manipulated in some remarkable ways. They stick to paper, windows, or any other smooth surface with only finger pressure. Since they also stick to each other, the 3-D possibilities are vast. They can be peeled up and repositioned over and over, so mistakes can be fixed easily. They don’t break or tear, but they can be snipped into smaller pieces with scissors if that’s what the design calls for. They’re non-consumable, and they last a long time.

Best of all, they’re fun to work with--almost irresistibly so. For just a few dollars, your student can enjoy a semester’s worth of imaginative tactile learning. But be forewarned: some creations are just too impressive to take apart. You might want to have a spare set of Wikkis tucked away just in case.

Note:  We have no affiliation with the Wikki Stix company. We’re just big fans of the product.