Science Kits for Summer Activities

This is one of the more impressive chemistry kits out there. The manual outlines 387 different experiments. It includes quality glassware, safety gear and several chemicals. Most chemistry kits today are limited in scope and quality. This kit brings back the days when chemistry kits actually make an effort to teach a student basic chemistry.

Educational Insights has a complete line of "Adventures in Science" kits. They are small, inexpensive modules that have several projects collected in a plastic case. Each module includes a teaching manual and easy to use instructions.

This is a smaller science kit that focuses more on the science of Ecology. Learn environmental topics like acid rain, Greenhouse Effect, photosynthesis.

This electronics kit is a comprehensive introduction to electronics. The breadboard layout and spring connectors make connecting wires simple without soldering. My college electronic lab kit wasn't this well equipped. It comes with a three courses each with an illustrated laboratory manual with literally hundreds of projects. An entire summer could be absorbed in this kit. Note: this kit requires 6 AA sized batteries.

Rock tumbling can be a good place for anyone to start learning about geology. People who get into tumbling quickly go from "That's a pretty rock" to "That's a semi-precious stone called an agate from the quartz family..." Once you start looking closely at rocks, you usually find them interesting and want to find out more.

Glow in the dark projects are popular in our house. The same could be said about crystal growing projects. This product combines the two elements.

Another great crystal growing kit. The picture shows a sushi-style platter of different crystals, but you can grow the nine different crystal types separately from each other. We had good luck with this set.

This project was a hit in the college microbiology lab. Before class would start, the liquid would be spread on some piece of laboratory equipment. After the student finished the simple experiment, out came the black light. Everyone would be amazed just how much they spread around the lab in such a short amount of time when they were supposedly practicing clean laboratory techniques. It is perfect for showing how you can spread germs from one place to another. An added bonus of this set is the UV flashlight instead of the fluorescent light stick we use at home.

Yes, it IS rocket science but it is rocket science anyone can do. This kit has a reusable rocket where you convert tap water into clean burning hydrogen fuel. It also includes complete instructions and enough fuel packets for many flights.

Robots are cool, but robotics can involve high end electronic theory and mechanical engineering. That's where robot kits come in. OWI makes many different robot kits, but the Jr. Science Series of robots are easy models to construct and run on solar power. I personally like the crab but my daughter likes the grasshopper.