CHEMISTRY / CRYSTAL KITS

Geology for those with short attention spans? The original Magic Rocks®, of course! Mix the solution in a jar of water, drop in the pebbles, and watch them grow into a forest of multi-color stalagmites. Growth starts in 10 minutes, is impressive in 30 minutes, and complete (up to 4" tall) in 2 hours. Extra credit if you can make it grow stalactites by gluing the pebbles to the bottom of a jar, then pouring the solution in and turning it upside down. Who knows? Maybe it will work. Comes with a set of marine decals to decorate the jar. Definitely not for use with living fish. For ages 10 and up.

Our micro rocket packs a lot of fun into a small package, much like hockey's original Pocket Rocket, Henri Richard, the 5' 7" brother of Maurice "The Rocket" Richard. Unlike Henri, this rocket's powered by baking soda and vinegar (not included), and actually flies quite high. Bullet-shaped, it's just 2-3/8" tall x 13/16" dia and sits on a launch base 2-3/4" tall x 3/4" ID. For rocket scientists over 5 years of age.

It's Colorful. It's Magic. That's what the package says about this 3-1/2" tall specimen, and that's more than you can say about those big, clunky un-magical trees. Just slide two parts together, stand them up in the little tray with the magical water in it, and watch your tiny tree begin to bloom with an array of multicolor crystals after an hour. Reaches full magical bloom in 12 hours. Just the thing to watch on those days when the cable goes out. Ages 8+.

Want to counter your polarizing personality with some animal magnetism? People will be putty in your hands with this Ferrofluid Lab Magnetic Chemistry kit. Comes with (3) tubes that contain ferro powder, (1) strong magnet and putty/iron filings. Try (5) unique experiments, including the creation of amazing ferrofluid and your very own magnetic putty. For ages 8+. !WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

Including bubbles as big as your grandmother. You get 2 oz of fluid; (4) straws; a mouthpiece; cubical, pyramid, star and round frames, 108" of yarn (for the bubbe-sized bubble); a tray and instructions for (11) kinds of bubble activities. For ages 5 and up.

Making stuff crystal clear is boring. Grow your own red, blue or purple crystals with these amazing Magical Crystal growing kits. You get approx 4 oz of mono-ammonium crystal, a 2-3/8" dia concave base, some appropriate food coloring flakes, a 3-3/4" x 2-3/4" dia clear plastic container, mixing stick and instructions. Recommended for ages 10+.

If they're 10 or older, and mad for science, get them this Chemistry Lab Kit from Edu-Science, with chemicals, equipment and a manual for over (80) experiments. Includes copper sulfate, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate and hydroxide, copper foil, tartaric acid and methyl orange, litmus blue powder, litmus paper, filter paper, test tubes plus holder and rack, rubber tubing, corks, beaker, funnel, small alcohol lamp, stirring rod, scoop, brush, and goggles. For ages 10 and up.

On the heels of the Pineapple Watch, comes this H20 Clock Kit that features a digital clock powered by liquids. Includes a 3/4" LCD clock display, (2) 4" vials that hold 3 oz each, lids with prewired copper and zinc electrodes, and a base with spring terminals to wire and hold everything. And yes, it will work with soy sauce apple juice, diet cola, whatever, if water strikes you (clock joke there, no charge) as boring. Also includes a 10-page manual. Ages 8+.

This is the new, improved, bigger and better CHEM C1000 beginner chemistry set from Thames & Kosmos. Follow Professor Probenius, the world's most distinguished cartoon chemistry professor, through the 80-page manual while he provides safety advice and instructions for carrying out 125 diverse experiments. Build a fire extinguisher, make water flow uphill, identify chemicals, split water into hydrogen and oxygen and much more. Includes the simple lab equipment and supplies you need to experiment with air pressure, surface tension, acids and bases, indicators, electrochemical reactions and chromatography. You add some common household materials. A superior kit for ages 10 and up. Winner of the Gold Award® from Parents' Choice.

rom Crazy Creations, this Brain Dome Kit is basically a lab for creating and assembling your own spooky creations out of hardening gel, or as the box says, turning “slime to stone.” Includes molds for spider parts and human bones, as well as a large brain-shaped device to cure the gel. Think of the brain sort of like a potter’s kiln. You make each limb individually, cure them, and then add joiner gel to create posable joints. There’s string to hang pieces from, too. Add the Crazy Creations Refill Set, a slime gel kit to go along with the Brain Lab Kit. The Refill Set comes with gel, which “sets from slime to stone” in less than 6 minutes. Contains a random (1) of (3) possible molds (skeleton, dinosaur or spider), (2) bottles of hardening slime (red and blue), and a bag of decorations, including flies, maggots and ants.

Sometimes the best STEM starts with slime. The Ooze Labs Chemistry Station holds chem lab components including test tubes, measuring cups, pipettes and more, ready for budding chemists to perform (20) experiments specializing in ooziness, sliminess and colorful goopy and fizzy fun. Comes with a 16-page manual. You add some common household items. For ages 6+.

Don't take it the wrong way—slimeball is the official designation for scientific types who specialize in slithery goop. You could ask anyone. You'll love this Alien Slime Lab, a kit that lets you mix color-changing slime, slime bubbles, glowing slime, and brainy slime. From Thames & Kosmos, the kit includes (28) pieces, (10) experiments, and a (24)-page manual. Has a base station, plastic test tubes and holders, sticker sheet, GITD and hypercolor powder, alien reflective particles and more. Ages 6+.

It’s an educational air and water show! The Blow & Blast Bonanza™ from Scientific Explorer® teaches kids ages 12+ about air pressure, air density and buoyancy. They can mix chemicals that will inflate a balloon, make a lung-powered marshmallow shooter and a hover train, and test Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy. Kit includes baking soda, citric acid, (12) PVC pipes, (6) pom poms, (4) paper clips, (3) brass nuts, (2) balloons, (2) pipettes, (2) soda bottles & caps, a clear canister, a measuring spoon and an instruction booklet with (5) activities. Adult supervision is required but come on, you know it’s going to be fun for you, too.

Forget good and evil, this Tree of Knowledge® kit is the Chemistry 60 set with, yes, (60) experiments ranging from acidity tests, volcanic reactions, crystal, magnetism, optics, liquids and solids to the ever-popular slimes and photosynthesis. Includes test tubes and rack, assorted vessels, pH and filter paper, a magnet, sand, baking soda, iron powder and much more, plus a 64-page manual. For ages 10+.

Make your own calorimeter with these parts: a 100ml Borosilicate Erlenmeyer flask; a 6-1/4” tall x 4” dia aluminum chimney with a port cut out of it; a 4-1/2” square aluminum plate with a hole to hold the flask; a plastic nut to hold the flask; and a cork and pin to hold the foodstuff you'll be igniting. You supply an alcohol thermometer.

Make a nice start at constructing your very own universe with this excellent molecule model set. You get (24) 3/4" and (25) 1" plastic balls in assorted blue, black, yellow and orange colors with varying numbers of holes for connectors; (26) white ball/rod combos to stand for hydrogen; and (27) connector rods in (3) lengths for valency bonds. Includes a chart explaining the system and a periodic table inside the sturdy storage box. Great classroom tool for ages 13 and up.