Make Science Fun with National Geographic's Dig Kit and Crystal Lab

Freddy loves anything to do with science and has a very inquiring mind. He can often be found Googling things and watching YouTube videos, absorbing fascinating facts about the world, the animal kingdom and the solar system. So he was very excited to get hands-on and try out the National Geographic STEM science sets from Bandai.

National Geographic is a well-known, trusted and reputable brand. Their range of experiment based kits support the STEM subjects, making science accessible, exciting and fun to children aged 8 and over. The kits include expert learning guides and cover subjects that kids will find fascinating. Each kit includes a real piece of the natural world for kids to examine and learn about. The packaging is also really lovely. The sturdy boxes are embossed with glossy images that grab the attention and raise interest.

The Dino Fossil Dig Kits bring out the paleontologist in any child, giving them a chance to look at genuine artifacts from the past as they include three real fossil specimens: a Mosasaur Tooth, a fossilised dinosaur poop and a dino bone. The three specimens are embedded in a dinosaur head shaped dig brick. The kit includes an excavation tool and brush along with a magnifying glass. A glossy booklet gives plenty of facts and information about paleontology, fossils and about the specimens inside the dig brick.

Freddy absolutely loved excavating the specimens. The tool worked really well, cutting through the brick, which was just the right consistency. If the brick is too hard it can be soaked with a little water to make it easier to work with. With some patience and a delicate touch, the fossils can be gently removed ready for examination. A quick wash removes any remaining brick dust. The guide book gives some really fascinating details about the artifacts. Freddy was particularly intrigued by the thought of having a dinosaur poo fossil or coprolite as it is scientifically known!

Other Dig Kits include a Gemstone and a Shark Tooth variety, each with genuine artifacts to discover and explore.

The Crystal Growing Kits provide everything needed to grow and inspect an amazing crystal, and also include a real Fluorite, Amethyst or Calcite crystal.  Freddy received the Fluorite Glow-In-The-Dark Crystal Lab. It includes a bag of glow-in-the-dark crystal growing powder, a seed rock, a magnifying glass, stir stick, display stand and information guide along with the genuine fluorite specimen.

The experiment to grow the crystals takes 7 - 10 days to complete, but after this time you should have grown some genuine fluorite to compare to the sample included in the kit.

The Learning Guide booklet includes lots of information about crystals and the science behind their structure and formation. Our experiment to grow our crystals is ongoing, and it is really exciting for children to witness chemistry in action!

The National Geographic kits shown are just £9.99 RRP. In addition to the Dig Kit and Crystal Growing Kit, there are also Geode, Build Your Own Volcano and Ultimate Play Sand Kits. I love the fact that they support the learning of science, one of the STEM subjects, in such a fun, exciting and engaging way. The sets encourage children to explore the subject matter further and hopefully this will instill a love of science, which will continue through the years to come.

Stockists include Tesco and Amazon.

Electro Dough - Introducing Electronics to Kids

Nesta is a charity that backs innovative projects and has recently launched a campaign "Make Things Do Stuff" which aims to encourage young people aged between 9 and 18 to become creators of digital technologies and invent their own ways of doing things so they become tomorrow's creators and not just passive consumers.

The website – www.makethingsdostuff.co.uk – includes free step-by-step tutorials on how to code & create, as well as info about clubs that kids can join and events to go to. They  also have a number of like-minded partners who are working together to reach their target of getting 100,000 kids creating this summer, providing the tools and support needed to make and share things.

As part of the Make Things Do Stuff campaign, we were sent the Electro Dough kit from Technology Will Save Us. It does not include any dough, but the kit shows you how to make conductive dough – containing lemon juice rather than sugar – and allows you to create your own responsive & interactive sculptures using LEDs, batteries & dough.  You can also use non-conductive dough as well to make more elaborate sculptures without ruining the circuits.

The kit contains all the electronic components to encourage kids to get creative with technology.  Gadget mad dad Ian was really excited to see the set and said that he wished they had had toys like this when he was a kid!  He volunteered to help 10 year old Kizzy get to grips with electronics and create her own light up model.

A fold out poster gives information on the components, circuitry and electronics but the actual instructions are a bit vague and without Ian's knowledge I think we would have struggled to make anything connect up and work, but it encourages exploration and experimentation.  To be honest, I felt a bit intimidated looking at the components and wires, but 10 year olds have no fear of technology and with a set like this, they can open up their minds and use their imaginations to get creative and construct an electronic sculpture of their own design.  Nurturing an interest in science and technology at a young age will pave the way for youngster's to become tomorrow's creators.

We discovered that Playdoh is actually conductive so we could use that instead of making dough. Kizzy used cutters to make shapes and linked them up to make light up sculptures with squishy circuitry!

Trying out the circuits

A light up face

Simple sausage design

Flowers

It was interesting to experiment with circuits and find out what will and won't work.  It introduces electronics to youngsters in a fun way and incorporates an element of creativity.  I'm sure that more elaborate models will follow now Kizzy understands the rudiments of electronic circuitry. The set requires 4 AA batteries which aren't included.

It costs £13.50 for the kit, a great buy for kids interested in science and technology - find out more at http://technologywillsaveus.org/resources/electro-dough/.

Blogs Up North at The MOSI

As a family, we almost think of Manchester as our second home.  It's where my daughter has settled after graduating from university and is our nearest accessible big city being just over an hour away from our rural Shropshire home.  I am always impressed by just how much there is to do there, and last weekend we got to experience the MOSI on a bloggers' family day out with Blogs Up North.

The Museum of Science and Industry is an impressive series of buildings combining the old with the new.  Comprising of a series of galleries, it showcases the scientific discoveries and industrial innovations that Manchester has brought the world.

We met up in one of the conference rooms for coffee, cookies and an introduction to the museum.  We were visited by Forgetful Fireman Fred a costumed character who we would later see performing in the Power Hall, as he told the children about the workings of a steam engine.  My Freddy really liked his namesake, who did some removable thumb tricks for him!

The museum consists of five main buildings: The Great Western Warehouse, the 1830 Warehouse, Power Hall, Station Building and the Air & Space Hall.  Each houses a host of exhibitions, some temporary, most permanent.  There is also a wonderful steam train that runs on selected weekends and holidays on site which you can ride for a small fee.  We were lucky enough to have a ride on the train and Freddy loved feeling the wind in his hair as the train chuffed down the track, giving us a great view of all the surrounding buildings.

Experiment! is the hands on interactive zone where children can learn all about science by playing with the exhibits.  Exploring magnetism, light, sound, shapes, liquids, temperature and electricity proved a lot of fun for everyone, kids and adults alike.  

We also had our photograph taken to appear up on big screens in a huge digital sculpture which is part of the Revolution Manchester Gallery.  You get a bar code card that allows you to register and log in from home to access a series of games and challenges online, keeping the MOSI experience alive.

There is so much to see and do at MOSI.  It is all very family friendly with a focus on fun.  There is a coffee shop, picnic area, gift shop and restaurant on site.  There is also a 4D theatre and a motion simulator, Morphis (charges apply).

MOSI is open from 10am-5pm and has onsite parking (chargeable).  

Entry is free but a £3 donation is suggested to help maintain and preserve the historic site.

Find out more at www.mosi.org.uk

12 Toys of Christmas #6

Do you have a child who loves science or is a wannabe eco-warrior?  If so, Great Gizmo's have a great range of kits that encourage children to experiment while learning about the environment in a really fun and inspiring way.  Children love science and it is a great subject for both girls and boys to explore.  My 10 year old Kizzy loves science kits where she can conduct an experiment and learn fascinating facts in the process.

Green Rocket

Environmental issues are tackled head on with Great Gizmos’ Green Science range, allowing young scientists and creative minds to experiment using everyday materials. The kits focus on inspiring creativity, expanding knowledge and developing skills.  One of the kits in the range is the Green Rocket set.

The Green Rocket set lets you enjoy making and launching a rocket by recycling two drink bottles and a few magazine pages. By stamping on the empty bottle, you make your rocket fly up to 25 metres (80ft) in the air! Its's a cool green science project where children get to learn the underlying principles of the physics involved in the experiment. 

The Green Science Green Rocket Science Kit contains: 1 Stand Arm, 1 Launch Tube, 1 Flexible Pipe, 2 Bottle Connector Halves, 2 Pipe Clamp Halves, 2 Foam Rocket Heads, 12 Fin Templates, 2 Rocket Templates, 3 Screws, 1 Set Small Nuts and Bolts, 1 Set Large Nuts, Bolts, Washer and Split Washer, 1 Double Sided Adhesive Tape, a full instruction guide with fun facts. Ages 8+

What a great way to use the pop bottles left over from Christmas day!



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Wild Science Hyperlauncher Rocket Ball Factory

If you have kids who enjoy playing the mad professor and like to conduct fun experiements, the Wild Science range from Interplay will be perfect presents for them to pop on to their Christmas wishlists!

We received the Hyperlauncher Rocket Ball Factory kit to try out.  My own little scientist Kizzy was very keen to test Newton's Laws of Motion using the super elastic collision balls, which you can make using the components of the kit.

Using coloured polymer granules and snap together moulds, you can make four differently sized balls.  It is a little bit messy so it is advisable to work using an old teaspoon to fill the moulds and an old plate to catch the spills.  Kizzy worked next to the sink as having easy access to water was handy.

The Wild Science Kit supports the Science curriculum so children learn as they play and discover the properties of matter, cause and effect and energy transference.

The stack of balls sits on a rod ready for some serious experimentation.  There are suggestions for tests and ideas for further challenges.

As with all Wild Science kits the instruction leaflet is clear and informative with full colour illustrations.  Safety information is included and the kit comes with a pair of Safety Goggles to protect the eyes and make kids feel like a real scientist!

Once the balls are ready, they can be dropped vertically onto a hard smooth floor.  What happens is quite unexpected!!!

It was lots of fun to make the balls and Kizzy enjoyed bouncy them around ably assisted by Freddy.  The glow in the dark polymer was very effective.  The balls do need to be kept in a plastic bag or they dry out.  

Kizzy was able to follow the instructions but some of the steps were a bit tricky and needed a little adult assistance.

The Hyperlauncher Rocket Ball factory costs £12.99.  Check out wildscience.net for more challenges, ideas, product information and fun!

Making Clay Face Masks

Wild Science Face Mask Laboratory Review

Kizzy enjoys anything to do with science and beauty, so the Interplay Wild Science Face Mask Laboratory combines two of her favourite subjects!  The set, which has had a makeover for 2012, allows girls aged 8+ to discover the secrets of the cosmetic industry whilst creating their own beauty products and exploring the science behind it.  I have no problem with my daughter loving the gender stereotypical beauty industry and I like how this set endorses the idea of  combining beauty with brains!

The set includes everything needed to make personalised luxury creamy clay cleansing treatments using ingredients that are used by professionals from the top cosmetic brands.  Everything fits neatly into the smart silver workbench that keeps all the bits and pieces organised.  

The ethos of the company is very positive for girls, helping them learn about their changing skin, feel good about themselves and be independent young women.  There is positive affirmation that they are beautiful and encouragement to have the attitude to resist the pressures of destructive stereotypes.  It reinforces the idea that science is for both girls and boys.

The best place to do the Face Mask Laboratory is by the sink with access to clean water.  There is a "get your skills" section in the instruction book which teaches the child how to use the syringe and pipette, and how to measure with them.  It was a really good exercise that Kizzy enjoyed doing and ties into doing science at school.  The instructions are very clear with step by step photos.  There are even some experiments to carry out on the ingredients and some facts and hints about skin, which adds to the educational value of this kit.

Safety is very highly considered in the instructions.  An allergy test of the ingredients is recommended.  Plastic gloves and a dust mask are included for protection. There is also advice on the safety of storage of the finished product and use-by stickers to ensure freshness if you keep the face mask.   

The masks were easy to make and can be personalised with fragrance and colours to create a bespoke beauty product.  The finished masks can be applied, left for a few minutes and then rinsed off with clean water to indulge your skin and make you feel great!

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This Face Mask Laboratory set is educational, fun, positive and produces a genuinely good end product that leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean.   It would be great fun at a sleep over or a pampering party.

Wild Science produce a range of products that are educational, creative, fun and inspire children to discover the world of science. The cosmetic sets allow children to indulge their passion for beauty products whilst learning about science at the same time. The range includes a Perfume Laboratory £12.99, Luxury Soap Science £12.99, Lip Balm Laboratory £12.99 and the Face Mask Laboratory £12.99.

All Aboard the Dinosaur Train

On Monday, the brand new show Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train airs on Nick Jr in the UK.  Dinosaur Train is set in a whimsically realistic pre-historic world of jungles, swamps and volcanoes.  The show stars Buddy, a little T-Rex whose egg accidentally ended up in a Pteranodon's nest.  Adopted and loved, as one of the Pteranodon family, Buddy goes in search of his species, helped by his Mum and his siblings Shiny, Tiny and Don.  Buddy is intelligent, curious and questions the world around him.

Image from Nick Jr

Together, the family rides the Dinosaur Train in search of answers to Buddy's questions.  Buddy comes up with a hypothesis and with help from the conductor, his mum, other passengers on the train and the dinosaurs he meets at their destination, Buddy discovers answers and explores his ideas.  They have fun adventures as they explore different species of dinosaur and learn about their lives, similarities and differences.  The train can travel anywhere and anywhen!

This programme is aimed at 3-6 year olds and is really educational.  Made in conjunction with palaeontologists, science teachers and early years' education experts, it does not patronise little ones.  Instead it encourages scientific thinking and an interest in natural science.

We have had a sneaky peek at the first two episodes of the series.  I have to admit, I learned some things that I didn't know about dinosaurs!!  Have you heard of a Stygimoloch?? Freddy enjoyed the antics of the Pteranodon triplets and their adopted T-Rex brother.  The theme tune is really catchy and the animation is appealing.  This show revolutionizes how children learn about dinosaurs with detailed science delivered perfectly for kids!