Best science sets for children
Amusement Park Engineer
Kids First, £39.99
A great kit for KS1 children, this comes with a storybook-style manual. By following the story you build models of 20 structures and machines (including a Ferris wheel, a carousel and a roller coaster) and understand simple physics concepts by experimenting with different tracks, slopes, bends and weights. The sturdy storage case for the pieces is a great extra!
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Weather Station
Green Science, £13.99
Build a mini weather station and use your growing meteorology knowledge to conduct experiments and find out about climate change. The set includes plastic parts for assembling a wind vane, an anemometer, a thermometer and a rain gauge and explains how to create a terrarium by recycling a bottle. You will never need the forecast again!
National Geographic Break Open Geodes Kit
National Geographic, £34.99
They look ordinary from the outside, but cracking open a geode reveals beautiful crystals, formed over millions of years. This hands-on kit contains 10 geodes, ready to be opened and examined to compare different crystal formation. Safety goggles, display stands and a full-colour learning guide are included in the kit.
Build Your Own Internal Combustion Engine
Haynes, £37
Got a car-mad child (or parent!) in the family? The mechanically-minded can get hands-on with this kit from iconic British brand Haynes and construct a fully working model of a car engine, complete with ignition sound and illuminating spark plugs. All the tools needed are included in the box, along with 100 parts and step-by-step assembly instructions.
Creepy Crystals
Horrible Science / Galt Toys, £6.99
Make your very own (creepy) crystals tree, discover the science behind crystals (and some gruesome science facts too, of course) and grow some crystals in a bottle. You'll make plenty of mess, too – essential for a horrible scientist! A great pocket-money kit.
My First Lab Duo-Scope
My First Lab, £199
An excellent first microscope for future biologists which allows 40X, 100X and 400X magnification. The two-light-source construction means it acts as both a biological scope (allowing you to look at specimens on a slide) and a traditional dissecting microscope (to magnify solid objects like coins, stamps, insects). The microscope package includes real optical glass lenses (plastic is often used in kids' microscopes), dual focusing knobs and 10X eyepiece 4X, 10X, 40X objectives.
Solar System Planetarium
KidzLabs, £11.99
Build your own solar system (model) from scratch, painting, assembling and adding glow effects, then turn out the lights to see it in 'space'. A wonderfully science-themed crafting activity, the kit includes planet models to work with, a brush and paint pots, a stand with rotating arms, nine steel bars, sand paper and a ring template (for Saturn's rings).
Genetics & DNA
Thames & Kosmos, £29.99
Find out what DNA is, why each of us is different and how genetic information is transmitted from one generation to another with this kids' genetics set. The activities, aimed at children aged 10+, include isolating plant DNA from a tomato, learning about dominant and recessive genes and building a DNA model.
SmartLab Squishy Human Body
Smart Lab, £17.99
Conduct an interactive examination of the human body with this 12-inch model of a human skeleton with removable squishy organs as well as skeletal, vascular, and muscular systems, so you can literally see how it all works! The accompanying fact book offers illustrations, diagrams and information; as a budding medic, can you study the theory and then open up your 'patient' and put them back together again?
Kids First Physics Lab
Thames & Kosmos, £29.99
Mechanical physics is explained through 22 hands-on experiments for children aged 8+, starting with building small models to learn abour forces and simple machines (gears, levers, pulleys, wheels). Step-by-step instructions help young engineers experiment with forces by examining how objects roll, fly, fall, crash, balance and spin around!
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