There are many times when I am teaching higher-level science to my older children and my younger ones feel left out. Not only were the experiments hard for them to comprehend, but the discussion with my older students tended to be too intimidating for them. But that all changed when I found Primary Science Set from Learning Resources.

This 12-piece set is perfect for little hands. Included in this set are a flask, a beaker, goggles, an eyedropper, tweezers, a magnifying glass, a funnel and colorful test tubes with holders. These items are all made of durable plastic, so breakage is not a concern. Also included with the set are ten, double-sided experiment activity cards that are oversized and sturdy. Some of the suggested experiments on the cards are Color Mixing, Seeds and Sprouts, and Dancing Raisins. One side of the card lists the items that are needed, with extra items being as simple as food coloring, dull pennies, and baking soda. The other side of the card has easy-to-read directions for the experiment as well as questions to encourage discussion.

While the older children worked on their science assignments, my younger ones were also learning in a fun and creative way. My five-year-old really enjoyed having her own little science kit. My nine-year-old daughter also learned a lot from the simple experiments. Learning that carbon dioxide creates bubbles and that oil and water do not mix was made all the more meaningful when they could see it happening right in front of them. The recommended age for this kit is 4 years and older with a pre-K and up emphasis. I found it to be most useful for children ages 4-8, but older children can learn things from the kit as well. This product would be perfect for the visually driven child, and it could easily be expanded by the addition of vocabulary words, simple writing assignments, or an assignment to draw the result of an experiment. Overall, my children loved this simple science kit and will use it over and over.

Product review by Charlotte Gochnauer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2010