Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (65)

DEAD BUGS
I purchased this for my 7 year old daughter for christmas. I was guarenteed 3 live larve.They are all dead and I can not get ahold of the company. I would rate this a big Zero

Butterfly Garden
My sister gave this to my 8 year old daughter for her birthday.I also have a 4 year old daughter.This is one of the best gifts my children have ever received!From the start, both of my children were enthralled with the metamorposis from caterpillar to butterfly.The bonus is that there is very little that is required of parents except to make sure the instructions are followed.The caterpillars come in a plastic container that has all the food they require to grow and change.Even though one of the chrysalides fell off the paper disc under the lid, it still was able to continue metamorphosis at the bottom of the butterfly observatory.We just released our three beautiful painted lady butterflies yesterday after three weeks of wonder and excitement.Luckily my daughter's birthday is in July so we could release our butterflies when the weather is warm and the flowers are in full bloom.I recommend that you keep your butterflies safe in their observation chamber for at least two days.Two butterflies emerged before the third one did and I was afraid they weren't eating the food I provided (sugar water).Not wanting the first two to starve, I had my daughters release all of them less than a day after the third butterfly emerged.That third butterfly didn't seem ready to fly off yet and stayed in the garden on a post unmoving for a long while. I watched it to make sure it was unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief when it finally flew off.I couldn't have asked for a more fun and educational gift!

Excellent
I purchased this for my daughter's 4th birthday. The caterpillars arrived on her birthday, which she loved even more. They are now in chrysalide form and she is so excited because she can see them grow and grow every day. This is an awesome toy and have reccomended it to everyone with and with out kids. I also bought a book called "From Caterpillar to Butterfly" and it describes the metaphorsis excellently to her. 2 thumbs up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Bugs    5. Butterflies   

Reviews (20)

GREAT Butterfly Kit!
I have been rasing butterflies for 5 years and I LOVE this kit! It's so cool to see them chow down on their nutrient and then change into a chrysalis. I have a suggestion:DO NOT move your caterpillars around a lot, they are delicate and when moved too much, it kills them. Keep them in a quiet, warm place and watch and learn! I have chrysalids right now and they are almost ready to hatch! Tip: mist your chrysalids every other day. This increses the chance that they'll emerge healthy!

Wonderful--Raise generations of butterflies!
My son (age 5) got this from his grandparents for Christmas and it has been terrific fun for all of us.The first set of ten caterpillars grew visibly day-by-day, then pupated and emerged as butterflies in a few weeks.There is a lot of great information about painted lady and other butterfly species online and having this project got my son very interested in how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly so soon I found myself showing him multi-colored pictures of imaginal discs (the larval structures that produce the butterfly wing, leg etc. during metamorphosis) online at websites I found--a great way to get him interested in developmental biology.The first time we talked about this he decided they were actually "magical discs", given what these groups of cells can do...the whole process has been very entertaining for the whole family....It is also really fun to have butterflies flitting around and caterpillars growing in the pavilion in the kitchen when it is gray and wintery outside.

How to raise more than one generation of critters inside:
Since we sent our coupon for larvae out immediately after Christmas, we had butterflies dancing around the pavilion and mating in February when there were no plants outside to collect for the next generation of caterpillars to eat.Anticipating this, I ordered a mallow plant and some additional larval food from Carolina Biological Supply Company at about the time when our caterpillars turned into chrysalises:there is an online store and the stuff to get is the L918 culture medium (144040).This will feed about 80 larvae.(Unfortunately the Insect Lore company, which makes the Pavilion, only sells caterpillar food in small quantities along with additional larvae, which we certainly didn't need).

How to do it:We set the mallow plant in the pavilion and the butterflies laid their eggs on the leaves where we could watch them darken and emerge as very tiny 1mm long new caterpillars.After 4-5 days of watching the caterpillars eat the mallow plant (making little tracks on the leaves) we prepared them new homes in caterpillar media.To do this, you can use either the original plastic containers that the first generation larvae are shipped in (clean them out and dish wash them) or use another small clear-sided plastic or glass jar with a lid.Clean the containers well (I wiped the inside with a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol on it after dishwashing to kill bacteria, which will contaminate the food and make the larvae sick).The food will come in two plastic containers (nearly full).One of these can be frozen for subsequent generations.Transfer the contents of one container to a covered microwaveable container and heat on medium in the microwave (swirling every 10-30 seconds to mix and avoid overheating) until it is a solution.Pour media into the bottoms of the larvae containers to a depth of about a quarter inch (this will make 4-5 new containers).If there is a lot of condensation on the sides after the media has hardened, you can wipe this away with a paper towel--I did this, but then again alcohol-wiped the inside solid surfaces and lid above the media.Cover the containers loosely (leave the lid slightly ajar) and put them somewhere to dry.I laid a clean paper towel over the collection of covered jars to keep dust/dirt from drifting in given the activity level of the children here.After a couple days of drying, these were ready for larvae.If necessary (ie., if not using the previously shipped containers) make very, very small air holes in the lid.Then use a toothpick or matchstick to collect each 2-4 mm long larva off of the mallow plant leaves and tap to drop them into the new container.Put a clean paper towel over the top of the container (under the lid) and re-cap the jar--now the paper will serve as a scaffold for new chrysalises to hang from and will allow air in while preventing the tiny caterpillars from escaping.Try to be relatively aseptic about this.

It appears that we're going to get about 20-30 new caterpillars from the first generation, which I should be able to accommodate with the larvae cups made above...hopefully by the time we've run out of this food and been through a couple more generations it will be summer and warm enough to release all of the butterflies we have outside.The pavilion is well made and sturdy enough that it should accommodate many other projects involving insects.All in all, we've been entirely pleased with this--a great gift that's had my son on the phone describing his butterflies' recent development to grandma and grandpa several times!

One more tip:the adult butterflies seem to become upended on the floor of the pavillion at times while they are flapping around and have trouble gaining traction to right themselves on the slick nylon surface.This shortened the lives of several of ours until I saw it happening and put some packing material (like easter straw) in there for them to stand on.

Wonderful for child and parent
My two daughters, ages 5 and 8, each received one of these as a Christmas present.We sent away for the caterpillars and they arrived in one week.I have to admit that even I, as an adult, really enjoyed watching the progress of the caterpillars as they transformed into beautiful butterflies.My only compaint is that we weren't prepared when two of the butterflies became entangled in the webbing surrounding the cocoon.There was nothing in the instructions about what to do so we had to watch the butterflies suffer until they finally died from exhaustion.We told the kids that it was simply part of nature.Other than that, what a great experience! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Bugs   

Editorial Review

Treasure seekers, begin your quest for valuables armed with thislightweight metal detector. This silver-and-red metal detector extendsfrom 24.5 inches to 39 inches long and features a sensor ring that foldsand swivels for easy storage. Insert a 9-volt battery (not included),adjust the unit for your height, and sweep over the ground to detectforgotten treasures. Coins, keys, and even rings register with a beepand a flashing red light. Whether it's the thrill of discovery or thepromise of riches soon to be discovered, this metal detector is sure toplease. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Awesome Metal Detector for the price!
When we got this metal detector through the mail it was in perfect condition and worked perfectly! We got it for our son for his 7th birthday. Whether it's nuts, bolts, or even tin foil this detector really find just about anything. It detects about 5" in depth. It was great for our little treasure hunter! He loves it and is thrilled finding his treasures! Thanks amazon and toys-r-us!!! 5 stars all the way!!!!!

Excellent for Starters!
We got this metal detector through this website. It came without any damage and works perfectly. We got it for our sons 7th birthday and he loves it. Whether it's nuts, bolts, drill bits or tin foil he still calls it treasure because he found it. So far we figured out that it detects about 5" in depth, believe it or not. I have even used it and I even love it!LOL! This is a great investment for a child that is really curious about treasure and adventure. Great for the price!!! Highly recomended for children between 5 through 12. Five Stars all the way!!! Thanks toys-r-us and amazon!!!!

It broke soon after Santa delivered it...
My son was so thrilled with this present on Christmas morning, "All of my dreams came true!!" and it worked pretty well, for about an hour.The unit wasn't mishandled, it simply stopped working (it was a constant "beeeeep" as if it were detecting metal everywhere).Too bad we had to ship it back to the north pole. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Gadgets    4. Geology   

Reviews (5)

U CAN GET A BETTER TELESCOPE! ! !
I Do Not Like This Telescope Its For Babys
ITS NO Hubble! Do Not Buy It If U Need A Good One
Just Get A GALILEO 800mm x 80mm Telescope Its One Of The Best Out
There, Look 4 It Here At Amazon.com You Will Not Be Sorry With This
One I Hope My Review Can Help U :)

P.S. This Astrolon Telescope Only Has
CONS: Its NOT TO HOT!!!!!

Disappointed
This is really a poor quality unit to the point of being unusable. We bought it for our 12 year old daughter and got it assembled but several of the pieces were so badly made that you literally had to hold it together while you were using it. This was not an assembly issue, it was a problem with poorly built components. I would stay away from this model.

Not a good purchase
We bought this telescope as a Christmas present for our 9 year old son.He was very excited, but the telescope was a big bust.First, the assembly was difficult. Once assembled the locking mechanism would not keepthe telescope focused on an object.The moon was the only object in the night sky that we could keep the telescope focused on.Lastly, the telescope has a carrying case, but you have to completely disassemble it to get it in the case.I'd rather spend twice the money and get something that a 9 year can actually use. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Astronomy    4. Space   

Editorial Review

People have been fascinated by rockets since the first ones were launched in China almost a thousand years ago. Now your kids can observe the principles at work behind rocketry with the Meteor Rocket Kit from Scientific Explorer. The kit contains everything rocketeers need to build a rocket and send it shooting to heights of 100 feet. Rather than using gunpowder or liquid fuel, the Meteor is powered by baking soda and vinegar, so it's safe and can be launched again and again. A specially designed fueling module lets kids experiment to find just the right vinegar and soda mixture. The informative guide gives detailed instructions as well as information on rockets, chemistry, and suggestions for experiments. This Scientific Explorer kit is a 1999 Parents' Choice recommended toy. --Lisa Whipple ... Read more

Reviews (16)

This Rocket Rocks!
Quick to Assemble; Launches with Vinegar and Baking Soda; Use over and over again; this rocket soars!
Tip: When tightening the launch stopper, use plyers to hold the bolt in place while you tighten the screw nut

it is ok
the rockets i usually launch go about 1500-3000 feet inthe air so this to wasn't as good ,but then the rockets i like have fire come out of the bottom and are more fun yet the get lost to easy you have to go a big place to luanch them and the engines are sold separtly. Then again this has to do with house old items and is cheaper.

its ok
if i was you i woud save your money on something better ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Models    3. Rockets    4. Learning    5. Science    6. Vehicles    7. Activity   

Editorial Review

You are about to begin a new amazing hobby that is sofantastic it staggers the imagination! You will create instant life!Single-handedly, you will give rise to the world's only living,breathing, instant pets--live sea monkeys! The instruction book for theSea Monkeys Ocean Zoo is an entertaining read, packed with enthusiasticrevelations about those ubiquitous brine shrimp from yourcomic-book-reading days. They're fascinating creatures, able to live up to a yearor more, reproduce ("dozens of adorable babies!"), even "performtricks" in their 5.75-inch magnifier-studded "Micro Vue" aquarium. Thekit comes with shrimp eggs, food, plasma, a water purifier, and ahandbook. Just add pure water. A great set of pets for a smallishdomicile, they'd also make a scintillating science project. Plus,they're just plain fun! --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (62)

great item
Sea Monkeys are the best! They are so easy to raise! It only takes about a day to prepare the tank! Speaking of tank, the tank is so cool! It has a flip light, and lots and lots of magnifiers.



Sea monkeys are great for kids who are allergic to fur. Be careful to not spill the tank! And remember to feed your fine little friends!

Entertaining and Fun
Before I begin, please note that this is from an eleven year old's point of view.
Sea Monkeys are really great! They are perfect for kids who aren't allowed to have furry animals.
Sea Monkeys Ocean of Light comes with exactly the following-no more, no less:

-aquarium with flip light
-instructions in a variety of languages
-water purifier pouch
-instant egg pouch
-growth food pouch
-plasma III pouch
-food and egg spoon

The kit is great for starters who don't wan't to get too fancy-just using what you need. The tank is really great, with the light and built in magnifiers, but beware that the lid is EXTREMELY loose. For those who don't know, Plasam III is some powder that will make your sea-monkey babies grow faster.
The instruction booklet has its ups and downs. It's packed with advice and science facts are crammed in, making it fun. However, the box clearly states that it has a 32 page booklet, in full color, but I did not find any.
I took one star away because the kit was simply not enough for a serious beginner trainer. For instance, an Aqua-Leash will let you transport your critters from one place to another, and the Million Bubble Air Pump is a handy device in which it pumps air. I was slightly dissapointed when I did not find either in the kit. But, I went onto the official sea-monkey website, www.sea-monkeys.com, where they sell the leash and the pump, plus other great stuff. Go on there to buy and to get valuable customer care information.
All in all, the Ocean of Light is really a pretty good kit, and sea-monkeys are the BEST and easiest to raise!

"IDidn't really get it but i had some thing like it"


It was really cool waching the sea monkey's swiming in the water it wasn't much of a problem feeding them either it was a fun thing to look at and past the time.I think my parent's will buy this for me again.I think this gift would be a scientific experiece for any child.Tip:keep younger kids away if they arent smart they'll think its a glass of water and drink it.
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Animals   

Editorial Review

This board game, which can be played at four different levelsof complexity, is a good way to introduce young kids to prehistoriclife on earth. It's played a bit like Candyland: You roll a die andmove your fossil playing piece over colored spaces. Progress around theboard coincides with the extraordinary evolution of dinosaurs thatroamed the planet as far back as 570 million years ago. As the animalsadapt and change, players can land on squares that advance their path("Develop lungs. Swim ahead three spaces.") or hold them back ("Bittenby Plesiosaurus. Paddle back two spaces."). When you land on acreature, collect the matching creature cutout and place it on itsskeleton on your side of the board. The winning player is the first tocollect all nine of his or her allotted cutouts. (In more advancedlevels of the game, players have to answer questions about the dinosaurbefore collecting the cutout.) --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great intro to science, history, and dinosaurs
We first saw this game at the NAGC (National Assoc for Gifted Children) conference this year and were intrigued. Our son is 4 and loves to play the game. We have all learned so much about the different eras and the history of the dinosaurs. Definitely recommended for children interested in science and/or dinosaurs. The different levels of questions allow the game to grow with the child.

This game is cool!
By combining a puzzle with a game we found this to be really fun to play.My kids wanted to play it again and were thrilled to be able to answer more questions the more they played.My youngest childeven caught me frombehind and ended up beating me!The reading,web site and museum list inthe instructions was a great added bonus.I would recommend this for anyone who likes dinosaurs.

Could be fun if it wasn't so long!
I bought this for my daughter (age 4) for Christmas, and she was thrilled to be getting her own game, and about dinosaurs, no less!Unfortunately her enthusiasm (and mine, my almost 6 year old son's, my husband's, and mymother-in-law's) quickly died out as we played.It is advertised assimilar to Candyland, which it is.But unlike Candyland, there are veryfew ways to change the order of the players--once someone gets out infront, they stay there.Even playing at Level 1, when you don't have toanswer the questions, it is just too long.And as for thequestions...well, there is one question card for each area on the board. On the card is a question for each color on the die.So if everyone rollsthe same color (which did happen when we played), then everyone gets thesame question.So basically, we are pretty disappointed with the game. The best part about it seems to be fitting the dinosaur puzzle pieces intoeach side of the board. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Animals    4. Dinosaurs    5. Learning    6. Science    7. Activity   

Editorial Review

Every child seems to go through a dinosaur phase, and this kit is perfect for those who are intensely curious about digging up bones and being a scientist who studies dinosaurs. An adult will likely need to help with just about every part of this process, from casting the 18 pieces (making sure to expel any air bubbles) to painting them to gluing magnets on the back. Obviously, assembly is only one part of this endeavor. An 11-page instruction booklet thoroughly answers the "why "questions, such as: Why are there holes in the skull? Why is the neck so short? Why do we call this dino "lizard-hipped"? Satisfaction comes when the job is done and the skeleton can be displayed on magnetic surfaces. The kit is designed to complement the Eyewitness book Dinosaur. --Sally James ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Class Project
An excellent project for your child's school report.We purchased the Velociraptor kit for our 8 year old daughter not knowing what to expect.After opening the package my wife came up with a clever idea of pouring melted chocolate chips it into the dinosaur molds, instead of using the plaster mix.We experimented with white chocolate chips and created realistic looking dinosaur bones!We buried these edible bones in ground up Oreo Cookies.What a thrill to see our daughter's 2nd grade class excavate these delectible prehistoric fossils!

Need to buy one for dad, too!!!
I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY EIGHT YEAR OLD FOR CHRISTMAS WITH A BUNCH OF THE "WHATS POPULAR NOW" TOYS. THIS BY FAR IS THE TOY THAT HAS KEPT HIS ATTENTION FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. MORE LIKE NEARLY 2 HOURS THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT OUT. IT ALSO KEPT MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND THE EVERY ADVENTEROUS 4 YEAR OLD BUSY. I HAD TO KEEP DAD FROM DIGGING AND DUSTING OR ELSE THE KIDS WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN A TURN. AFTER FINDING THREE BONES - I TOLD THEM IT WAS TIME TO PUT IT AWAY AND SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY. MY HUSBAND WOULDN'T QUIT FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES UNTIL THEY HAD FOUND AND UNEARTHED ONE MORE BONE. THEY HAVE MANY HOURS OF FUN LEFT WHICH IN RETURN WILL GIVE THEM AN ADDED BONUS--NOT ONLY ARE THEY HAVING FUN; BUT ARE LEARNING AT THE SAME TIME!! ONE CONSIDERATION IS THAT IT DOES SAY FOR AGES 8 AND ABOVE, BUT MY 4 YEAR OLD HAD HIS SUN GLASSES ON AND MANAGED QUITE WELL. HIS ONLY PROBLEM WAS GETTING DAD OUT OF THE WAY!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Now we are learning the names of the bones!
My son (now almost 6) has been a dinosaur fanantic since the age of 2.He knows the names, where they lived, what they ate...you name it, he knows it!Or so we thought, until he got this for Christmas!After having agreat time making and painting the "fossil" he read in the manualthat each bone has it's own name--so now we're learning those as well!The only problem we have with it is when the smaller pieces get dropped ona hard surface they tend to break pretty easily.They are, however, alsofixed easily with a dab of super glue. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Models    3. Activity    4. Learning    5. Science    6. Archaeology    7. Dinosaurs    8. Arts and Crafts    9. Craft Kits    10. Animals    11. Geology   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Space    3. Learning    4. Science    5. Activity   

Reviews (1)

So THAT'S how they do it!?
I ordered this for our sons for Christmas, to use next year.I couldn't resist (since our butterfly bushes are in full-bloom) & gave it to them when the box came today.It's so neat to watch them watch the butterflies have din-din...they're totally amazed with it!We've not had too many customers yet, but they've enjoyed the few that have come!Neat-o! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Bugs   

Editorial Review

This fun game will test your knowledge of astronomical science and technology. While Mars (a big red marble) orbits the outer ring of the game board, you'll navigate the inner three orbital rings in an effort to be the first to land on Mars. To take your turn, roll the red-and-white dice. The red determines the movement of Mars, the white controls your spaceship. Landing on Mars is not easy--it's a volatile planet that is constantly on the move. And Mission Control may have some bad news regarding the malfunction of your spaceship. To fix the malfunction, correctly answer a question on a Spaceport Repair Card. Each Repair Card has two questions, one easier and one more difficult; players decide at the beginning of the game at which level to play. At either level, get ready for the trip of a lifetime! The game booklet includes information about Mars as well as a glossary of astronomy-oriented words. --Wendy Slotboom ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fantastic Game
My 8 year old son got this for Christmas.What a great game! My son loves anything having to do with space and this game is fun AND provides so much information for him to learn.If you have a child who is interested in space this is a great family game for you!

A Good Family Game
We gave this to our daughter last Christmas. She's 9. It's one of the first games she wants to play on game nights. She's a good student, but not a genius by any means, yet still wins this game more often than her parents. She gets just the right mix of learning & play to make this a favorite game.

Great Game
Bought this for my 7 year old proto-astronaut... she loves it, she learns from it, and thanks to her lucky dice rolling, she usually beats me. Great game for kids interested in space/astronomy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Science    4. Space    5. Learning    6. Activity   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Bugs   

Editorial Review

The marvels of the microscopic world around us are accessible tochildren over age 8 through this high-quality microscope made of metal and hardplastic. This model includes three rotating optical glass lenses and a 10xeyepiece for variable magnification power of 40x, 100x, and 400x. A rotatingdiaphragm and an adjustable small mirror underneath the instrument work tocontrol the lighting, and there is also an additional battery-powered light fordirect illumination (requires two AA batteries; not included). The focusingknobs and spring clips to hold slides are easy to use, and a clear directionsheet describes the microscope's use and care. A set of 10 slides is included:five prepared slides and five blank slides for individual experimentation. Amicroscope is a basic tool of scientific inquiry, and this sturdy, well-builtinstrument provides an excellent introduction to microbiology for any curiouschild or young adult. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children'slibrarian ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't waste your money!
I bought this for my eight-year-old daugher thinking it would be a decent entry-level microscope for her.It turned out to easily be the most disappointing Christmas gift I got.

First of all, it's very cheaply constructed almost entirely of plastic.More importantly though, the focusing knob didn't work at all.Right out of the box there was no way to adjust the focus.It was completely useless.What a disappointment!

(...)

Don't go into the light! With a Meade 8200
This could be a very nice item for its intended use.However, a major drawback that would have me express concern to future buyers and recommend against its purchase has been mentioned before in these reviews.The light not only doesn't work, but the batteries fit loose with over 1/4" of play.This was apparently designed by a committee who could not decide whether to wire them in parallel or series because neither is complete.The whole mechanics of the light is dangerous to sell to the intended market as it can result in an 8 to 12 year old attempting to repair and wind up creating an excessive and dangerous amount of heat.Since "only" 40% of the buyers of the Meade 8200 have a problem with a crucial part of the microscope according to these reviews, it equates to a coin toss on receiving a Meade 8200 that is not defective.I would recommend caution to those whose light works and be aware of not leaving it on unattended.If the manufacturer left contacts and tension springs out of mine, et al, there may be workable ones that are inferior also.Since this was a gift for my niece I bought her a small light and a mirror to reflect to the microscope.

No Problem with Mine
We have not had a problem with the light or batteries. This microscope works as we expected and we have been very pleased with it. The quality of the images is very good. The manual is very easy to follow, even for my nine-year-old. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Microscopes    4. Astronomy    5. Biology    6. Activity    7. Space   

Editorial Review

Although this game is about nature, Bioviva also manages to incorporate other layers of learningand strategy into its objective. Players move game pieces on a colorful and informative world map boardthat details Earth's diverse habitats. Players gain "Eco Points" by answering questions correctly. Naturetrivia questions are divided into categories, such as "temperate forests" and "tundra and polar regions." Allquestions are true, false or multiple choice. For example,"What is birch oil used for?" Answer: to treatcertain skin diseases. Or, "A tree produces more carbon dioxide than it consumes." Answer: false. The firstplayer to collect 12 Eco Points in various categories is the winner. This environmentally sound game haswon numerous awards, including Best New Talent 1997 from the International Toy Fair and Toy Oscar Award of the Year, 1998, Special Mention. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent for educating your child
This game is not only a lot of fun and educational for the whole family, it will help your children to think independantly. In this world where journalists and media are afraid to disseminate the truth, we need more than ever to teach our children how to think and reason for themselves. Bioviva does that by helping young minds see the unobvious complex interelationship between all aspects of nature.

Excellent on all fronts
Excellent game.I've just finished playing with my nearly 9 year old and while I did beat her, it was pretty close.Definitely a game that can be played by a span of ages (very important in a household with two adults and kids ranging in age from 9 to 20!) without discouraging the younger ones or boring the older ones.

eco play = eco fun !
this is the best I've ever played in my life! My family & friends just love it! We miss new questions, help!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Learning    4. Trivia    5. Geography    6. Science   

Editorial Review

Ever wonder what it would be like to play Trivial Pursuit with JulesVerne? Well, take a seat around Peoples of the Planet, the time-traveling triviagame that lets intrepid anthropologists tiptoe around the globe, answeringmultiple-choice questions culled from world cultures past and present. Playersattempt to assemble an "Explorer's Great Book of Ages" by correctly answeringone question in each of nine time periods, from 3 million years B.C. to Y2K.Querying whether fennel seeds in England circa 1084 were used for invincibility,a popcorn-like snack, or odor-eaters or whether that five-ton meteorite that hitRussia in 1888 dissolved, was eaten by the locals, or has since been coveredwith vegetation, the deck of 252 Exploration Cards amuse, amaze, and educate.Factor in the ingenious formula for movement of tokens (there are dice, but nogame board per se) and you'll be begging for a booster pack of question cards.Whether the subject is Mesopotamians or Manhattanites, Peoples of the Planet isout-of-this-world. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia    4. Learning    5. Science   

Editorial Review

The Zometool Creator Kit is an advanced construction system which allows building in 62 directions in space, using the same proportions found in growing cells, crystals, and other natural forms. Inquisitive minds will marvel and discover mathematical connections between space and the natural world. Capturing beauty and mystery, the Zometool Creator Kit encourages exploration of complex mathematical concepts through manipulating 968 pieces (struts and nodes), building relationships in space, and creating beautiful models. The colorful, sturdy plastic struts and nodes easily connect to holes with matching shapes, making it possible to engineer even intricate models with ease. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step, illustrated directions are included. The Zome System is used in schoolsworldwide--elementary through college--and by leading scientists, artists, mathematicians, engineers, and creative kids! Lesson plans for grades 1-12 are also available. The Zometool Creator Kit is a recipient of the Parent's Guide Children's Media Award. --Christine Aiken ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Zome System Creator Kit
My son received this set for his eighth birthday.It was frustrating for him, as well as myself, at first as the rods have to really be pushed hard into the balls in order for your creations to not fall apart easily.Afer hours of working with the set we have found it to be truly contagious.He has made some really amazing "buildings" and never wants to dismantel them so the 900+ piece set is very handy to have.I have a hard time seeing the price value in this product.It appears to be a very inexpensive product to manufacture and it sells for a fairly steep price.

Top's K-Nex by a long shot!! Incredibly easy!!
Just an incredible set. The pieces are well shaped and fit together not only easily but logically, the pieces are color coded so there's no bending or frustration when they don't fit (like K-Nex) and the ball connectors areuniversal so you don't have to change them in order to add more.

Irecently experimented with this set and found it veryentertaining and addictive, your creativity can just take off and there'sno limit!!

What you get is more than you see.
This construction set has been a staple in my elementary gifted classroom for nearly two years. The students love the creativity and impressive structures they can build. I love the fact that the materials require thatyou put a subtle twist into your thinking in order to succeed. Butfree-style construction is only the beginning! We have investigated themeaning and variations of tetrahedra, explored the shadows of studentconstructions, made bubbles that blow you away, and challenged one anotherto construction competitions. (Please don't tell my kids that they arelearning!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Science    3. Construction    4. Building Sets    5. Learning    6. Wacky   

Editorial Review

The Magic Castle Aquarium is small enough to hold in your hand, but large enough to provideshelter for a village of sea-monkeys. It all starts with a packet of dehydrated sea-monkey eggs. Once ahome has been prepared, stir in the eggs and watch them hatch right before your eyes. Their home isactually an underwater castle at the base of a clear container to which you add pure bottled or boiled water.Air holes at the rim of the container keep the water oxygenated. The set also comes with a water purifier,sea-monkey food, Amazing Plasma III (no one knows quite what that is), a measuring spoon, a largedroplet for agitating the water, a magnifying lid, and more. These sea-monkeys are guaranteed to live atleast two years, if properly cared for. The set is supplemented with a detailed instruction pamphlet and anorder form for the 32-page Official Sea-Monkey Handbook on the box. For children under 8 yearsof age, this kit will likely require parental assistance to set up. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (45)

oh fates! why have you forsaken my monkey!?!?!?!
There is nothing majestic about the Sea Monkey Magic castle.It is a dark tower of sea monkey doom.Let me explain.Too many times have I summoned the monkey apocalypse ravaging death by toppling over the traditional ill-balanced monkey worlds.I purchased the magic castle because the round base of the castle appeared to be a solid and stable foundation, one in which the monkey Peter could build a church to ward off the careless gyrations of their insane deity.To this end, the magic castle served its purpose faithfully. However the fatal flaw of the castle lies in its miniscule dome-like opening which confines the monkeys' exposure to oxygen slowly and callously depriving them of life.As I am a benevolent god, the cruelty of this "magical" world was denied to my monkeys as they were lacking enough air for Genesis -- stillborn into their primordial ooze.Desponded and despaired, I await the evaporation of The Flood so that I may resurrect the corpses of my fallen children in some sort of necromancer zombie-monkey darkness.Sitting in my throne, snorting lines from the mysterious packet of powdery Amazing Plasma III to invoke visions of The Second Coming, I puzzle at what evil denied the inclusion of the thousand-bubble aerator to the Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys Magic Castle.There are dark things at work beyond the light visions of the Creator.

READ THISABOUTMY SWEET LITTLE BABIES!
I never knew I could love shrimp so much. They are adorable! I read other reviews saying they were ugly, and I don't know what they mean, but mine are growing up differently! They look like tiny little shrimp, not those cute things with legs sticking out of the sides. Mine must be more fairy shrimp than brine shrimp, because their tails are curled like the shrimp you eat. I think they are a sucess! I don't care what they look like,though. They're my babies. Anyway, it's the most increadible thing I've ever seen. Tiny life-less specks turned into teeny, tiny white cones with stubby legs. Yes, they look like icecream cones,and boy are they attracted to in-direct sunlight! If you love teeny,precous,cute,sweet,active,amazing seamonkeys, buy this! I'm a tough critic and I already give it a billion stars.
YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH OUT TINY SALTY,WATER FRIENDS!! BBUUYY!!!!!

Adorable Little Shrimp! I love them so much!
I finally bought these little shrimp! At first I didn't see anything when I put in the eggs, but when I put it in the sun, THEY WERE THERE! I was
so excited! I fell in love with them because they're tiny. Right now I'm looking at them, so tiny and adorable! The only downside is I'm afraid my cat will knock them over, but he doesn't even care about them. He walked right past them 34 times. Any way, I love them so increadibly much.GET THEM! THEY'RE GREAT!I HAVE HUNDREDS ALLREADY! SO TOTALLY SATISFYING!!!!!:) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Animals   

Features

• Best Toy - Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
• 1993 Parent's Choice Foundation
• Over 75 sets of safe experiments

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Chemistry   

Reviews (7)

Horrible and disappointing
I got this for my son. He is so in to science so i thought he would like this. When we opened, we could feel it was plastic. He couldn't get it 2 work, so i tried. The light is poor, the mirror is useless, the directions are bad, the "educational" cd is just a list of the products they have. The lens quality is poor. The slides all look the same in it. It is a piece of junk. Do not buy it. I am returning it immediatly.

Do not buy, it does not work!!!
I purchased this microscope, hoping for it to be fun!
I unpacked and was already disappointed, it was all plastic!
I couldn't see anything with it! I returned it for a refund! First of all, you cannot see anything! The light is very poor. The picture doesn't change when you change the slide!
...

Do not waste your time or money!!!
The microscope was a nightmare.Don't buy.It's a piece of junk.Very hard to focus and can't get a clear image of anything...not even on low power.I am returning it and getting a better one today.Buyer Beware!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Activity   

Features

• Over 300 exciting experiments in Physics, Optics, Solar Engery and Magnetism
• Includes: mechanic tools, test tubes, mirrors, magnets, solar cell and much more
• 256 page instruction booklet
• Ages 8 and up

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Chemistry