Science Get a 360-degree view of growing plants, from the roots up. The Hydroponics Lab, by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS, reveals the magic of plant roots. The set includes three growing tubes as a mess-free way to explore hydroponics. The transparent seed baskets allow users to watch the seedlings grow from the top and bottom, while the water in the shatterproof plastic tubes creates an amazing, magnified view of the roots.
Kids can discover how compressed water works as potential energy in PERISPHERE AND TRYLON’s Water-Powered Vehicles. The kit includes plans to create 13 water-powered vehicle configurations. The vehicles can be built with self-contained propulsion systems for indoors, or can be propelled by water jets for playing outside. The company also introduces kits featuring windpowered machines, solar-powered vehicles, electric vehicles, and electric constructions.
The Big Bag of Science, by BE AMAZING! TOYS, is a giant kit designed to whet the appetites of budding young scientists by allowing them to set up their own science lab. The kit includes more than 70 unique, fun, and hands-on science activities, such as making water disappear, having liquid flow uphill, creating a 30-foot soda geyser, balancing six nails on the head of one nail, and more. Experiments cover three areas of science (physical, earth, and life), as well as activities in chemistry, physics, magnetism, weather, biology, geology, and flight. The included zipper bag can be reused to store all of the kit’s components when it’s time to put the lab away.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
S14
In Magic School Bus Back in Time with the Dinosaurs, Ms. Frizzle and her students take young scientists back in time with the dinosaurs through multiple experiments. The kit, by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB, includes everything kids need for activities such as creating a timeline, designing a diorama, building a wooden dinosaur replica, making cast and mold fossils, molding clay dinosaur teeth, simulating a dino dig, folding 3-D dinosaurs, and more.
MAY/JUNE 2010