Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Experiment Kit, 11 Mind Blowing Science Activities and Experiments (Ages 6+)

I got this kit for my 5-year-old daughter who loves doing little experiments and I decided to try this kit out. It comes with a set of items that facilitate a range of relatively easy and fun experiments. The kit contains: red cabbage juice powder, citric acid, baking soda, color tablets, cross-linked polyacrylamide crystals, vegetable oil, corn starch, 2 sheets of goldenrod paper, 2 cotton swabs, 3 test tubes and caps, 3 clear plastic cups, 1 pipette (in the form of an eye dropper), 2 stir sticks, 1 small plastic scoop, and 1 medium plastic scoop. The experiments also call for some basic and easy-to-find household items such as water, baking flour, plate/tray, tape, red and blue pens, grape juice, coffee filter paper, etc.An older child may be able to conduct these experiments by him/herself though I feel adult supervision is necessary (it is also recommended by the manufacturer). I had to help my daughter with some parts of the experiments, especially those involving the use of citric acid. The experiments included here are:Dancing PowdersColor changing liquidsAcid or Base? - involves testing some safe household liquids to determine if they are acids or bases.Colorful Jiggle Crystals - we had so much fun with these! It does require patience as it takes up to 2 hours for the crystals to absorb the water and form into soft crystals.Test tube sunsetGiant Jiggly CrystalsColor Changing Volcano - this was awesome! We started on a modest scale making a small volcano, then I adapted the recipe and made a bigger one with bigger fizzy effects, to my preschooler's delight!Underwater VolcanoColor Changing PaperColor Changing GrapesMagic OozeMix Colors with your eyes - mixing colors without them touching each other.Each experiment comes with detailed step by step instructions, and also a segment titled "Mind Blowing Science Secrets" which I found quite educational.Final verdict - this is an excellent beginner science kit that will motivate young children and enhance their interest in science. The experiments are easy to produce and great fun - definitely worth the money!

If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. My grandson requested a Science experiment for Monday. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, so I ordered this not really knowing what I would get. He loved it! Played with it yesterday and played with it again today for 1 1/2 hours!!! He’s five! Cleaning up is a breeze!!!! I highly recommended it!

My two sons, five and three, are so excited by this kit. We've done about half the experiments. As a home school mom, here is what I like: 1. The concepts build so that first the kids learn about acids and bases in a simple way and then return to concepts with more "complicated" experiments.2. Some of the experiments require waiting, so we can write a little something about what we've done and what we guess will happen next. Some of them are fast, so you can do it and be done.3. The instructions clearly reinforce the ideas from previous experiments.4. Mostly everything you need is in the kit (one "issue" if I'd even call it that is that we don't use wheat flour which is called for in one of the experiments at our house because of celiac disease, so we'll try brown rice flour and see how it goes...a chance to test a hypothesis).This isn't the most thrilling or complete kit, but for the price, you get a few little tools, cups, and chemicals and a booklet that very clearly walks a person through each step. My boys were very pleased with the "gel crystals" and they're excited to do the next experiment. Their enthusiasm makes me like this product more, and based on their enjoyment, I will likely give this other kids at birthday gifts. It is a great way to spend a few bad weather days and introduce kids to the concepts of measuring and following directions, waiting, guessing, and recording results (if you choose to have them write or draw anything or dictate things for you to write down)I give four starts because it would have been nice for them to include a second larger measuring scoop, wheat flour, and lids for the test tubes instead of suggesting plastic wrap.

Are the majority of these experiments something you could do yourself with some citric acid and baking soda? Absolutely. In fact, my daughter used some of my household supply to extend an experiment she had done in the kit.Sure, you can make your own red cabbage extract... but if you are like me, you won't. Because you did for a homeschool experiment 10 years ago with your oldest child, and you still remember what a horrible mess it was.Some of the experiments are repetitive, but that's a good thing for early childhood.And cornstarch and water? Everyone knows that one. (if you don't, google it. Too much fun to miss).But the point is, I had not done any of these experiments with my daughter until we got this box. This has everything in one box, with all the equipment-- including a stand for the test tubes, which another review didn't have for some reason. (And get a little bag superabsorbent polymers, too. Those little buggers are fun but somehow end up everywhere). It's fun, it's easy, there are some experiments that require patience, which is really good for this age group. We are most of the way through the kit, doing maybe three experiments a week, and now I am shopping for more kits. Because even though I have the equipment, the books, and the education to diy the whole thing... the kit is easy, fun, and we actually DO it.