OTHER KITS & MODELS

Can you say orrery kit? That’s what this is to an astronomer. (Named for Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery in County Cork.) Your orrery has the sun and planets out to Neptune on a gear-driven 6” x 4” base. You’ll get all the parts, plus (8) paint pots and a brush. The finished model will be approx 12” wide x 4-1/4” tall. For ages 8+.

Everything you need to build a little DC motor is included in this kit (except sandpaper, screwdriver, scissors and, of course, an AA battery). The instructions are simple and explain the theory as well as assembly. Fun and educational for ages 12 and up.

Based on drawings from Da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus, this Pathfinders catapult kit uses a pair of bent wooden arms as springs to launch clay balls (included) over (4) meters at enemy fortifications (not included, go make your own enemies). The assembled model will be approx 9" tall on a 10" x 7-1/4" base. Made from pre-cut, untreated wood from sustainable forests, and built with pegs for added strength and verisimilitude. A 2013 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Winner and a great resource for STEM activities. For ages 12 and up.

Real-life pets require too much dedication for a kid on the go. Here’s an alternative. These kits let kids to hatch and grow a creature in a small clear tank (included) in as little as two days using the provided eggs, food and water purifier. Also come with a magnifying glass. You pick: the Dragon kit, with rocks for decoration; or the Micro Aqua-Saurs kit, with sand. Kids won’t have to walk these hatchlings, but regular feedings are required. Ages 6+

Jarvis Says: Full disclosure, these are the very same entertaining brine shrimp as the well-know Ocean Apes. 

Could be a new line of cologne, but in fact, it’s a clever kinetic action demo kit called Wave Wires® with magnets marked for polarity, and mounted on (4) 8-1/2” long wires attached to a 4-1/4” square steel base. Includes a dozen 1/2” dia steel disc weights, an acrylic ring and an 8-page activity booklet. The attraction/repulsion magnetic properties cause the magnets to swing on top of the wires like old-time circus acrobats. Ages 8-14. Really cool, if we don’t say so ourselves.

Now your kids can practice wilderness survival in the safety of their own home. This KidzLabs™ Survival Science Kit includes (30) pieces that will teach and demonstrate the science of wilderness survival, but hopefully won’t be actually required to save someone’s life. It’s always good to practice, though. Contains components to make a telescope, sundial, torch, Morse code flashlight (Batt. included), water purifier, compass, reflective mirror, whistle and magnifier. Comes with a carrying case, too. We’re not going to tell you how to parent your kids, but if you want to drop them off in the woods for their own good, we saw nothing. “Hey, where’d everyone go? Well, at least I have this Survival Science Kit!” Ages 9+. ! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

From Fascinations®, these small model kits are made from intricately laser-cut polished steel. Punch the pieces out from the 4-1/4" square sheet and put them together with the tiny tabs. You pick the dragonfly, with a 4-1/2" wingspan or the Black Pearl pirate ship, approx 3-1/2" long. For ages 14+, because they take plenty of small motor skills.

This is your classic dual-threaded connector tube to link a pair of plastic bottles together, demonstrate tornado action and learn once and for all about the fluid dynamics concept of a vortex. In an homage to Dorothy in Kansas, this connector tube also comes with a tiny cow and a barn included. Also a lot of glitter, which we suppose is Oz-like. Includes instructions and a surplus-inducing QR code (to see a video) that's as dead as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Sometimes if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, and that often applies to kaleidoscopes. Build your own 10” version and fill it with trinkets and baubles to create a personalized dazzling vision. Comes with a paper cone, eyepiece, holographic foil, glow stars, beads, crystals and detailed instructions. Yes, you can add your own baubles.

Learn how they did it in Hawaii Five-0 (look it up or ask your parents) every time Danno booked ’em. No crime required for this Fingerprint Verification Set. Comes with a 2" dia magnifier, ink pad, fingerprint powder, dusting brush, blower, goggles, tape, (5) 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" fingerprint cards, fake credentials, (5) 3” x 5”evidence cards and a (7)-page booklet. Ages 10+.

Here’s a great (59)-piece STEM kit for kids who know the world doesn’t revolve around them. From Thames & Kosmos®, it’s a mechanical Orbiting Solar System with planets that revolve at different speeds according to gear ratios and their place in the universe. With this complex, 14” wide model, builders will learn how gears and wind-up mechanisms work. Each planet has printed, realistic graphics, and there’s an expansion slot for the mysterious planet #9 when it gets discovered. Comes with an (8)-panel, full-color manual. No batteries required. Ages 6+ with help, or 8+ alone. ! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

You can’t start fooling people too early. This box of tricks is for budding magicians, and includes the props and instructions for (77) tricks. Includes a magic wand, without which you can’t be a magician, plus assorted cups, balls, cards and coin-trick frames. You add a few things like money, a handkerchief, gullible friends, etc. For ages 6+.

Even the squeamish can build these jumbo kits from Heebie Jeebies because they’re skeletons—no guts—and they’re made of wood. No glue required, and sandpaper and instructions are included. Each kit, which ships in an 18” x 12” x 1” package, takes about 30 minutes to construct and leaves you with a larger than average dino skeleton. Wood can be decorated however you wish or left plain. You pick: the tremendously tall 20” Tyrannosaurus, the lengthy 28" long Stegosaurus, or the Pteranodon with an impressive 48” wingspan. Ages 4+.

And teach a kid (8 and up) the basics of solar power. This excellent educational kit from Elenco comes with (9) 0.5VDC solar cells pre-wired in sets of (3) and mounted in a 5" x 4" x 7/16" black-plastic frame with screw terminals on the bottom. The kit includes a 1.5VDC motor with leads and a mount, a fan blade and (4) plastic discs from 5/8" dia to 2" dia for mounting on the motor shaft, a 1.5V incandescent bulb with leads, a sound module with leads, and graphic cards to mount on the discs. Comes with a 14-page instruction/experiment booklet, including info on increasing voltage and amperage, powering battery charges, radios, games, etc. Lots of science project potential. "Heuristic as all get-out," Jarvis said when he saw it. Ages 8+.

Physics faculty alert: It's very small, but teaches a powerful lesson, this little diamagnetic-properties demo kit. You get (4) plated magnets, each 1/4" square x 3/32", and (2) 1/4" square pieces of graphite to float above them. The graphite may have slight chips along the edge but that won't affect the effect. Includes instructions/fact sheet.

Metal Earth® Kits are not for cowards or the clumsy. Clip the shiny steel parts from their matrix and assemble them with a tweezers. No glue or anything else is necessary, but a steady hand is required. Finished pieces will be approx 3-1/2” tall. For ages 14+. You pick the Japanese Toyotomi Armor, Chinese Ming Armor or the European Knights' Armor.

Our robotic kingii dragon (Chlamydosaurus kingii, or frilled-neck lizard) is better than a puppy because you don't have clean up after it and it won't chew the furniture. This STEM education kit has (2) motors and digital control via IR sensors to activate LED eyes, motorized mouth and pop-out neck frill, plus "Escape" and "Chase" modes, which make it retreat and follow you using IR sensors, respectively. You'll need (4) "AAA" batteries and some patience, as this kit is delightfully challenging. Finished dragon will be 13-1/2" long x 8-1/4" x 5". For ages 10+.

Solar kits like this one are great for learning about the sun remotely because learning about it in-person is such a hassle. It’s so far away, and so hot. Better to just learn down here with this Solar Cell kit from Tedco® Toys. Includes a 2-1/8" x 1-1/8" 1/2-volt solar cell, a small DC motor and a 4" dia diffraction grating disc that can mount to the motor shaft. Also comes with an excellent instruction sheet. Made in Hong Kong, assembled in the USA. Ages 9+.