Science Kits

Another fun one from Tedco’s line of Smart Boxes Ein-O Science kits, this crystal growing kit is pretty advanced. It’s for ages 10 and up, but even the younger kids will enjoy this (as long as they have some grown-up guidance.) Kids can do four experiments dealing with growing crystals. The first one is a basic experiment about simply growing crystals. The Ein-O Science guide is excellent so if you do the experiment while following along in the book, your kids are bound to learn more than they realize. The second experiment has kids making a string of salty crystals. Most folks don’t realize that sodium chloride (NaCl), or common table salt is actually a crystalline structure. Of course, after doing this experiment they’ll know it.

The other experiments have you growing a crystal tree and growing crystals out of a rock. Not turning a rock into crystals, but preparing a rock such that the crystals will emerge from it. Pick up one of these cool science toys from your favorite store selling educational toys and your kid will have some fun. For about $12 US, it’s a pretty good value.

First I thought Wild Science had really outdone themselves with their Ant-Lantis ant habitat. But this kit is really amazing and I think it’s is even more interesting and educational than Ant-Lantis. The Eco Dome is basically an entire green ecosystem. Everything from the real world is simulated– plants, dirt, rivers/lake, clouds, rain, sun, etc. First, you put it by a lamp or near a window to provide it’s source of energy (simulating the sun). This “sunlight” will cause water vapor from the lake to evaporate which will then condense when it cools off (at night or when you turn the light out). When this condensation reaches the top of the enclosure rain droplets form and water the plants and keep the dirt moist and then run off back into the reservoir (simulated lake).

The Eco Dome is an expensive kit for around $60 US but it’s a very interesting learning tool. Plus it’s connectible to all of the other Wild Science kits such as their Ant Colony or Ant Jungle. Despite the price tag, I can completely recommend this kit for its educational value as well as its fun factor.