Sphero's educational SPRK robot just got a lot more kid-proof.

Designed to educate and inspire children through connected play and coding, the next-gen SPRK+ is now scratch-proof, shock resistant, and watertight.

But it is more than just an indestructible ball: Powered by the Lightning App, the new gadget teaches foundational programming through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and design, math) activities.

An improved version of the Lightning Lab app—with more than 150 new exercises—is now available to download via the App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore.

Users can learn to code, complete hands-on activities, and share creations with the global community. Programmable sensors inside the transparent ball create a visual and auditory experience and "bring a fun new dimension to coding," according to Sphero.

"SPRK+ and Lightning Lab teach students valuable skills for the future under the disguise of play," David Millage, general manager of education at Sphero, said in a statement. "Learning is evolving and we are seeing a transition from consumption to creation in the classroom. Our robots are being used to teach everything from art to physics in a fun and hands-on way that engage students on a new level."

The $129 SPRK+ is now available to buy directly from Sphero as a single ball or in bulk (for schools and academic programs). Interested consumers can also look for it at a number of US retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Brookstone, Target, ThinkGeek, and Toys R Us.

Sphero's other robots—the original SPRK, Sphero, and Ollie—are also on sale online and in stores, and compatible with iOS, Android, and Kindle devices.