Global Science Challenge with Wild! Science #win

The Wild! Science Global Science Challenge is an exciting opportunity for one budding young scientist to win an amazing family holiday to Orlando! The prize includes a 7 day stay at a 5-star resort with car hire and entry to Disney World and to the Kennedy Space Centre to meet a real astronaut. The prize also includes a full set of Wild! Science products for the lucky winner.

To enter, all you need to do is buy any Wild! Science Kit and send a copy of the receipt along with your online application.

This is the fun bit! Applicants are being asked to design an awesome new Wild! Science Kit and to write and illustrate a basic instruction book to demonstrate how to use it. You can be as creative as you like, using drawings to make your entry stand out from the crowd. There is a printable 'My Idea' form online to help you present your original idea to the judges.

Click through for more details

Wild! Science Kits give kids aged 8 and over everything they need to create some wonderful things and do some exciting experiments, showcasing the power of science in a fun and educational way. The instruction books contain plenty of fascinating scientific facts alongside comprehensive illustrated instructions and safety information. It's great to see products that make the STEM subjects so exciting and accessible to children.

We received a Lava Lamp and Glitter Tube Factory to try out. Kids can create dazzling, optical effects by reflecting light from glitter and bubbling water. The glitter tube suspends glitter in glycerine, each tiny piece acting as a mirror, reflecting and scattering the light emitted from a colourful LED. The lava lamp uses a fizzy chemical reaction between an acid and a base to produce carbon dioxide gas that bubbles between two layers of liquids (water and oil) which have different densities. Children are learning about physical and chemical properties through creative and fun experiments and producing lovely end products.

Kezia, aided by little brother and budding scientist Freddy, enjoyed making the lava lamp and glitter tube. The instructions are very clear and they learned lots of scientific facts in a hands on and engaging way.

At £14.99 they are great value sets and with the added incentive of the global challenge, there has never been a better time to buy one.

You can find Wild! Science kits at Smyths.

Magic Nail Laboratory Review

Kizzy is very much into fashion and make-up, but also loves science and making things, so the Wild Science Magic Nail Laboratory from Interplay ticked all her boxes.  Wild Science kits treat girls with the respect they deserve, recognising their intelligence alongside their looks.  Girls can learn how to make their own cosmetics, as well finding out fun facts, professional tips, learn about keeping healthy and the science behind cosmetology.  Kizzy loves the formula for fun, learning and looking good.

The Magic Nail Laboratory includes a studio for housing all the ingredients and accessories needed to create some fabulous special nail effects including colour change and glow in the dark looks.

The set includes a nail file and buffer and gives instructions on how to manicure your nails ready for painting. There is also a toe separator so the feet are not neglected and can enjoy a pedicure and nail polish too.

The base for the nail varnishes is a white liquid that dries clear (it's a bit like PVA glue so it isn't harsh and can be peeled off without the need for spirit based nail varnish remover making it more gentle for younger children to use).  To this base you can add pigments or shimmer powder made from Mica flakes to make your own nail varnish.  The set also includes nail art stickers which use photochromic pigments which means they change colour in sunlight, and glow in the dark stickers.  Lots of great looks can be created and it is fun to mix the products and pour them into the fancy bottles.

Kizzy and big sister Ella had some fun making up the nail varnish and trying out the special effect stickers. Kizzy was very impressed with the glow in the dark ones which are a lot of fun and work really well.  Freddy got in on the act and had some glow in the dark skulls applied to his toe nails!   Kizzy really enjoyed being a cosmetologist and learned a lot about keeping her nails healthy and manicured. The instruction booklet was very informative and clearly illustrated giving a step by step guide alongside lots of facts and tips.  

As Kizzy is not allowed to wear nail varnish to school, she needed to remove it on Sunday night.  I was very impressed with how easily it peeled off in the shower, and even more impressed that it left her nails feeling smooth and well conditioned as the products are not at all harsh on the skin.

The kit is recommended for children aged 10 and over.  Kizzy was able to work independently and needed no adult help to make the products.  Younger children would need assistance in measuring and pouring and using the pigments as they can stain.  It is great that Wild Science go beyond the standard make-up sets that are available on the market.  They add something extra to the mix, focusing on the science and creation of the products rather than just the end result.

The Magic Nails Laboratory is £12.99 RRP.  Find out more here: http://www.interplayuk.com/wild-science-girls/magic-nail-laboratory

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!

`

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.

National Science and Engineering Week

March the 9th heralds the start of National Science and Engineering Week.  With my little scientist Kizzy, this is the perfect opportunity for her and other children to get scientific and have fun , learning about the world around them in new and exciting ways.

We were sent some great science sets for her to try out and she was thrilled to take on the role as chief tester. The first product to really catch her eye was the Perfect Perfume Laboratory from Wild Science.  It is one of their range of sets targeted at young girls combining science with beauty...a winning combination in Kizzy's eyes!

The set includes everything you need to extract fragranced oils and use them to make crystals, scented slime and vials of perfume.

The instruction booklet was very clear and well illustrated, taking you step by step through the process.  Jasmine, Rose, Mint and Eucalyptus infused cards can be used to extract their essential oils to be used in some simple, fun experiments.

My Scientist

Kizzy donned her safety goggles and enjoyed getting into experimental mode.  The experiment to make sublime scented slime was Kizzy's favourite one.  It involved extracting the scent and filtering the solution before mixing with the special slime powder.

Following Instructions

After stirring for quite a while, the slime begins to come away from the side of the beaker and is then ready to transfer into eager hands for squishing, stretching and oozing between the fingers!

Stirring the Slime

It is an intriguing substance encouraging the young scientists to explore states of matter, evoke their senses and test the elasticity of the gooey slime!  There is plenty in the set to do more experiments and ideas to expand your activities.

Multi-Sensory Science Fun

Next up for testing was the Green Science Weather Station which allows children to explore the nation's favourite conversational topic...the weather!  Recycling an old pop bottle, the kit allows you to build your own mini weather station.

The contents include a mini weather vane, an anemometer, a thermometer, a compass and a rain gauge which fit together and go onto the lid of an empty bottle.  There is instructions on how to turn the bottle into a mini-greenhouse by planting a suitable plant in it.  This looks really effective and is pictured on the lid of the box.  It is something we may do later, to explore the world of plants with a terrarium in a bottle!  For now we've filled the bottle with water to weigh it down.

Kizzy's Weather Station

This is much more of a long term project allowing a child to record the weather conditions over a period of time.  They can learn lots of weather facts and take a very hands on approach to a fascinating subject.  The Greenhouse effect can be explored with some further experiments to show the effects of global warming.  It may encourage a future environmentalist or meteorologist!

Ready for Recording the Weather

Taking the Temperature...12 degrees!

Our final kit to try out was the Electric Plane Launcher from 4M.  This piece of kit is a serious piece of equipment designed for teens.  Once built, it has the power to launch a paper aeroplane at 50kmh!  It lets children look at aerodynamics and design the perfect plane!

A series of spinning motors and plastic disks create the method of launching the aeroplane.  Ian was really excited about this one!  It took some skill and know how to build the launcher, so Ian helped Kizzy make the circuit and construct the mechanism to propel the paper planes.

Building the Launcher

The two rubber discs spin around so that when you push a paper aeroplane through them, they grip on and propel them through, launching them at a great speed across the room!  It was quite impressive seeing them shoot around.  Kizzy researched paper aeroplanes and tried out various designs including some that looped the loop!

These sets are all excellent ways of getting children involved in science, technology and engineering.  I loved how they captured Kizzy's imagination and got her excited about experimenting with perfumery, aerodynamics  and meteorology.  She had a lot of fun and learned a lot of facts and practised scientific techniques.

Kizzy said "Science is sometimes seen as a subject that boys like, but girls can enjoy science just as much.  I really loved playing with the sets and exploring all the different things in a fun way.  We do science at school but I think it is good to be able to learn more about it at home too.  I love science!"

How will you be celebrating National Science and Engineering Week with your little ones?

Wild Science Face Mask Laboratory

Kizzy loves science and beauty...so when Toys R Us sent her the Face Mask Laboratory it combined two of her favourite subjects!

The set includes everything needed to make luxury clay packs using ingredients used by top cosmetic brands.  Everything fits neatly into the workbench.   Products can be tested and personalised and are completely safe for the skin.  

The ethos of the company is great.  It is very positive for young girls and is not aimed at encouraging girls down the fashion and  beauty route.  Instead it helps young girls learn about their changing skin, have fun, feel good about themselves and be independent.  There is positive affirmation that they are beautiful!  Wild Science Girls aren't 'fashion sheep' and they have the attitude to resist the pressures to conform to destructive stereotypes.

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.  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.

An allergy test of the ingredients is recommended.  Plastic gloves and a dust mask are included for safety.  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 mask was easy to make and can be personalised with fragrance and colours.

Big sister Megan acted as Kizzy's guinea pig and tested out one of Kizzy's clay masks.  

This Face Mask Laboratory set was educational, fun, positive and produced a genuinely good end product that left the skin feeling fresh and clean.  

At £14.99 from Toys R Us, this is an excellent gift for girls aged 8 and up.