Scientific Explorer Review and Giveaway!

*giveaway closed – winner, Julie
We love science around here. It isn’t just a subject in school. In fact, if you come over to our house, please ask before you eat or drink anything you might find in our kitchen. It might be an experiment!

Most of our science experiments are done with household items. I’m just entering the world of science “kits”. There are lots to choose from, it turns out. That’s why I was so pleased that the gracious folks at Scientific Explorer let us try out a few of their science kits.

My First Backyard Explorer Kit

Nature studies are my favorite. I always have the kids in the backyard or on a trail somewhere. I love it when we can use new tools to make our explorations more interesting.

One of the coolest tools in the Backyard Explorer Kit is the the two way microscope viewer. It allows us to see not just the top of captured bugs and crawly things, but the bottom too! It’s pretty awesome to see the legs of millipedes move from the underside.

The kit also comes with other tools like a bug net, tweezers, a collecting case and a booklet with different activity ideas. We enjoyed examining seeds and leaves and making our own sundial!

Ice Cream Kit

This is a great kit for summer! The booklet gives information about the science of ice cream, such as what makes the ice cream smooth or icy and what makes it dense or fluffy. You can also experiment with your own recipes and do taste testings. At each step in the ice cream making process, there are interesting things to observe and ways to experiment to make each batch of ice cream just a little different.

Who knew there was so much science in ice cream?!

The Meteor Rocket

The kids and I usually do our science during the week when my husband isn’t home, but we waited for the weekend for this one because we knew he would want to be involved. I mean, what guy wouldn’t want to launch a rocket?!

The kids and my husband worked together to assemble the meteor rocket. They talked about each part and why it was important. Then, it was time to launch. The directions say that the rocket could go as high as 100 feet in the air, so we decided to take it to the park so we wouldn’t be scaring the neighbors or retrieving  the rocket from the woods, creek or roof.

Using varying amounts of vinegar and baking soda, we were able to have some pretty impressive launches.

View the You Tube video HERE

The kids said this was one of the coolest science experiments ever. My husband agreed.

Ready to try one of these kits for yourself? Scientific Explorer is giving a blessed Homeschool Village reader their choice of one of these kits!!! Enter to win by leaving us a comment telling us your favorite science activity to do with your kids. For extra entries, see below. Winner will be drawn at random on August 6th.

For extra entries, you can do the following and leave us a comment letting us know:

1. Subscribe to Scientific Explorer’s YouTube Channel. (You can learn more about Scientific Explorer’s science fairs. There are prizes!!!)
2. Follow @SciExplorer on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway: I have entered to win a @SciExplorer kit from @theHSVillage http://bit.ly/qNFC4l  #homeschool
4. Subscribe to The Homeschool Village and receive updates in your email !

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