Setting Up We were sent the Learning Resources Primary Science Set to review. It’s a 12 piece set of lab equipment that is made from plastic and designed for little hands. There are a series of activity cards too that detail the experiments. You will also need some other bits and pieces: food colouring, baking powder, vinegar, seeds, raisin, celery, lemon juice, fizzy drink, coins and insects. We had most of these around the house.
In Play H was so excited by this set as he is very keen on science and nature. He loved the fact that the equipment is the same as adult equipment, but just a bit chunkier and safer. As suggested by the set, we spent some time talking about the names of the equipment (don’t worry it tells you what they are called).
We then did the coloured water experiment. We only had 2 food colours and I think it would have worked better with the third colour as suggested in the pack. This is a useful exercise in mixing colours, but I recommend covering up (or stripping off) to do this one as it could get messy.
We’ve done an experiment most days since we got the pack. There’s the dull coin one where you leave one coin in lemon juice and the other in water and compare the result. Most spectacular is the red volcano one.
What stopped play? The tweezers were too big to fit inside the test tubes which caused a minor problem, but it was easy to get round. You may not have all the extra ingredients in the house so it would be worth checking what you need and stocking up so that play isn’t interrupted. Some of the experiments take a few days to prepare e.g. the one to look at seeds, although most take very little time. It would have been useful to have more specific instructions on the volcano experiment: it says add 2 spoonfuls of baking powder, but it doesn’t say what size. There is only one set of goggles which might be a problem if you have more than one child, but you could use diy goggles if you have them as a second pair.
Overall This is a great learning toy and I think it would be good for home educators too. H has been very keen on it and you can do the experiments multiple times so it isn’t just a one hit wonder.
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We get out and about to see the wonders of science in our surroundings
We use baking and gardening to help teach our eldest son about science and nature. He is very curious and enjoys learning about the world.
Exploration – so my children can discover for themselves! As a primary school teacher, I know that this is the best and most exciting way for children to learn!
my little one love this
my little one love this she in to Science
We read fun books, catch bugs, watch birds & animals, got to museums, bake and find things out on the internet
we went to the science musuem which was fab and made things really interesting
We always talk about whats going on outside with various things as we are walking to school etc. Eg the trees growing and what the rain and bees are good for.
Should be good fun immersing my 5 old year in some science
My son loves anything that blows up!! Lol
My 2 love being in the garden, exploring wild life, worms and such, they also love help baking in the kitchen, helping to weigh and measure xx
These look fab. I try to use different colours for different things like making pancakes or cakes. Also putting water and freezing it, etc. Just the basics. x
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I work with 3 and 4 year olds and they are fascinated by experiments, we recently did the vinegar volcano, and they were amazed.
With practical science kits
Exploring the properties of things in the kitchen cupboards, like mixing cornflour or custard powder with a little water and seeing how hard it goes when you press it … or chromatography with pens and food colourings and some filter paper
I try to use our local enviroment as much as possible, and cooking, but also we are lucky because we are only a short train ride away from london’s science museum.
I make science fun by doing mini experiments with them, such as putting a polo in a coke bottle and watching all the fizzy explode into the sky
we do mini experiments using things we have in the kitchen
We built a little pocket rocket together.
We love to try experiments at home, most of the ideas come from a science for kids book. Other than that we often go to our local museum and also attend the local science fair that happens yearly in the Town we live in.
We do lots of nature trails & gardening!
I have put cut flowers in dyed water and we’ve watched the petals turn to the colour of the dye.
I dont have to try and make science fun for my daughter …. she LOVES it! We go to science museums, read books, discuss things, watch discovery channel. We have books which tell us how to make things so we do that too.
We have a Usborne book Science Things to Make and Do, my son picks one and we love making and understanding the science of it, also we love to go for walks and explore
allow them the freedom to discover!
I’m a primary school teacher so I try to make science as practical as possible!!
discovering nature x
My daughter loves everything about science. She loves watching Backyard Science. I showed her how syphoning works and how to get water from one bucket to another. Also how showed her how different toys that float and ones which sink. This would be a great prize.
the countryside, the stars,-night sky, and T.V
My Grand-Daughter is quite young, so at the moment we are exploring the properties of water through play.
My son loves baking and gardening and we explain science through these – he had science homework about volcanoes last week and we used baking powder to explain things – he loved that! Thanks for the chance to win such a great prize x
Fantastic prize x
Encourage them to ask questions.
encourage them to do things for themselves so they can learn
Awesome prize, my kids would love it.
Anything that goes pop whilst they are wearing safety glasses
Apart from going for walks and being in the garden learning stuff we don’t actually do alot of science so this would be great
being in the garden, exploring wild life
we have used the internet to find sites that show you how to use things you have at home, to make exciting sciency stuff. We have showed how cornflour and water can be hard yet liquid, used food colouring to show cut flowers petals change colour, the peppermint in fizzy pop, making ballon powered rockets/cars. They learn whjile playing and don’t even realise it. this looks fabulous!
we have used the internet to find sites that show you how to use things you have at home, to make exciting sciency stuff. We have showed how cornflour and water can be hard, yet liquid, used food colouring to show cut flowers petals change colour, the peppermint in fizzy pop, making ballon powered rockets/cars. They learn while playing and don’t even realise it. this looks fabulous!
I like to take my daughter to the Science Museum in London
By taking my son and showing him things. I think kids enjoy learning a lot better if you sell it to them as a game or new experience
Making it fun by being hands on with immediate results eg magnets attracting and repelling
Experiments
I struggle to find ways to get my little girl involved with Science, so this would be perfect! As far as science goes in our house atm, its growing flowers and plants in the garden and teaching her about the weather. I need more ideas!!
We do a lot of experiments involving water,they love water so they enjoy themselves while they learn
For my 6 year old son, I’m afraid to say anything relating to poo grabs his attention most so he has a number of kits where he can chip away to find “dinosaur bones” or other “fossils”. The messier the better really. He has recently become fascinated by electricity and has just joined the Science Club at school so he’s clearly enjoying this area of learning.
We do lots of different things like putting objects in the bath and guessing which will sink and which will float, my husband is also big on space so we get the telescope out and have a look at the stars.
Discovering nature
Turn science into games like which material road will make the object go down the hill the slowest to learn about friction.
My son is interested in science so I don’t have to try too hard.
We do things that make it fun for him, don’t make it seem like learning as such but like fun experiments.
the science museum is good. x
We do lots in our garden. Also loves learning and science is everywhere.
I look for messy hands on experiments to do because I find that is when my 5 year old has the most fun with it!
We do experiments with food water colouring etc we’ve hd a few mishaps but its all fun!
We grow things.
Going to be a ‘sour puss’ here, there is no ‘point’ making science fun to teach a child. You have to do the boring bits first, you need as with anything learn to walk before you can run. So science like maths(reciting times tables), English(spelling lists and grammar), you really need to teach the basics, before you can get hold of a test tube. This is how I was taught both at school and from my parents. It works. On saying that if you do the boring bits in little bite size pieces and then show what they have learn with some fun stuff that works. To much is the Horrible History approach to learning now. I hope that lot makes sense?
Mixing mud/soil in water is always great fun to see how much clay dissolves or sediment settles at the bottom!
My Love to copy Steve Spangler experiments – we have had many a fun afternoon creating explosions and mess!!!!
We try to apply it to real life, cooking, gardening, etc.
By guessing and estimating how things will work out in everyday life and discussing why they do or dont x
Nature walks and baking, thanks for the giveaway.
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We take our children out for walks and encourage them to take an interest in the nature around them.
We like to keep science messy… who doesnt like mess?
It looks like a great educational way to learn and have fun. Great I’m in.
I try and help my son apply science to everyday life, like guessing whether something will sink or float and why, or growing vegetables from seed.
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we would watch educational programmes made for children
we do a lot in the garden & make rockets out of fizzy pop bottles
Helping your children to learn is one of the greatest things you can do for them.
We explore outdoors as much as possible and watch science related programmes such as Discovery.
He loves to find out how things work
My favourite is buying white carnations and popping some food colouring in the water and them watching the petals change colour!
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Making things explode and burst is generally a great way to get giggles and interest
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By getting really into it, not just helping but showing a real interest.
we love visiting our local techniquest!
We approach science the same way as other educational subjects. We go to museums and exhibitions and talk about it as a family
We are luck enough to live close to a number of nature reserves, so my children can always learn first hand.
For history; they do what everyone else does – watch horrible histories.
as my son is not yet 5 we mostly look at science through the wonders of nature!
encourage them to experiment and get their hands dirty
We explore the garden and cookery. It is amazing what sorts of biological and chemical extravaganzas you can find in the kitchen.
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I don’t think you need to make science fun, it is fun. I think its more about the parents having the patience and the time to plan and supervise the experiments/messing and clean up afterwards. Its not always easy particularly when kids can get through your planned activities faster than you can clean up and stick the next one in front of them! But if you can get a balance between stuff like this and sticking the child in front of a DVD so you can catch up then I think you’re doing okay!
As I studied Biology at uni and my mum is a Biology teacher, I try and follow her example. She taught me Science by using examples in the nature. It was fun!
@LilinhaAngel
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My two children are really beginning to get interested in how things work and the world around them, this would be a great set to ignite this fledgling interest and something we could all have fun with together whilst learning something new (maybe even me!)
My kids love science. It seems to work best if they don’t know they’re learning.
We have lots of kids science experiment kits and a microscope and go on plenty of nature walks!
We try to make science fun for our children by doing a variety of exciting things at home, from experiments in the kitchen (for example making floating eggs, vinegar volcano’s to more baking orientated experiments looking at melting chocolate – do the different types of chocolate melt differently etc), using the garden for science and learning about the word around them by growing plants, making a sun-dial, growing vegetables and fruits and learning about the different types of seeds. We look for mini-beasts in the garden and study them, we have ladybird boxes, bee boxes and go for lots of walks in the countryside looking for wild flowers, birds and animals! There are lots of lovely ways to make science interesting and fun!
I involve her in it, science is in everythink so i always explain the what, where, when & why when we play.
we have an experiment book that we use to make weird smells and things!
I make it more fun by allowing them more freedom to try mixing different food stuffs to see what happens. My 9 year old made a cake yesterday without following any recipe and just experimenting, and it turned out tastier than mine!
I think to make anything fun, it mustn’t be forced. So I just actively encourage the children to explore their environment every day and I’m always on hand to answer any questions they may have. I thoroughly enjoy discussing the why of everything with them and at the moment they lots of questions about space and the universe… which keeps me on my toes!
my grandsons loves anything that bubbles smokes goes poop and smells it keeps him entertained for ages he just loves it
we love getting out and explore the country , science at home we find things around the house to have fun with and a bit of recyling in there then x
I find out what they are doing at school and try to help further that and add to it with trips, pratical games and stories. As long as it doesn’t feel like learning they love it.
By letting them get hands on and experiment for themselves.
My children already think that science is fun and like to experiment with anything!
we watch Nina and the Neurons ~ my son likes to ask questions about what they do on there, and we do little experiments just like the ones on television so he can see first hand how they work.
we watch discovery channel and then try to do it at home
my daughter would love this.
We like messy science activities like cornflour putty with different food colourings
We just try different experiments with mixing and making potions, currently we are into a ‘freezing’ phase and my freezer is full of all sorts of strange things!
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fun facts
my little one love this she in to Science
we make it very ‘hands on’, lots of trips out and lots of making.
Going on Nature Trails in the peak District, visiting Magna and other science museums as well as carrying out experiments at home
My kids love learning anyway and anything that gets a bit messier makes them love it even more
Digging for worms in the garden.
i try to explain how things work!
We try and make it fun by not forcing it on them, they do what they find interesting.
We do trial and error, She loves the “what if” factor