SmartLab Toys Outdoor Science Lab Bugs, Dirt, & Plants with 24 Hands On Nature Activities Science Kit.

We are homeschooling our three boys, Pre-K, 1st grade and 3rd grades. Every Friday is Fun Science Day.This kit is perfect! It allows the kids to explore nature and cover botany, geology, entomology (insects), chemistry, physics and hydrology (water cycle, movement and resources).This kit includes 17 different instruments for exploring nature:* bug nabber bug catcher* UV night scope* night scope attachment clip* nature scope viewer with magnifying lens* macro lens with clip* macro lens focusing base* 2 collect & store compartments* beaker* 10 pH test strips* 2 take-along ID charts* 32-page science activity bookThere are more than 21 hands-on nature activities that are all science based.Their favorite instrument by far is the custom macro lens that clips onto any smart phone. We used it with our iPhone and had great success in taking pictures. We found flowers, grass, bugs to be so interesting when that up close! The kids even had a blast photographing their skin!The take-along identification charts have detailed pictures and facts that are easy for the kids to understand. One chart helped them identify plants and rocks.Great kit for the whole family to have fun learning in our own backyard!

Bought this as a christmas gift for 6 yo granddaughter. She loves it!

I love how simple this set is, yet how many great experiments it includes more than 20 different experiments. It's great for ages 8+. but younger kids can learn too if they tag along with older siblings while doing this. I love the way the macro lens works with a smart phone, too!

Playing around with bugs and dirt has fascinated children for ages and this science kit feeds that fascination. There are many ways to get excited about learning science and the scientific method, and that is something our world can use a lot more of.Well made product with good instructions and plenty of needed supplies.

This is our first SmartLab set to try out with our nieces, and it was a big hit! Lots of outdoor science right at our fingertips, sourcing bugs, dirt, and plants from the back yard.These kid-appropriate tools are great to blend scientific method with natural curiosity. Sometimes identifying "dirt" "rollypoly" and "leaf" are just a beginning. The phone-based enlarger is very cool, and when we had more than three sets of eyes looking at enlargements, we had to take turns, the demand to see more was that high!We used the booklet as a jumping-off point which helped us keep the discussion and encouragement at the level of the kids The PH test strips were great for doing indoors as we've had a bit of unsuitable weather for an outing. This is a great set for elementary-age kids to learn about the world in their back yard that is fun. It pairs well with Honey I shrunk the Kids and some documentaries to add to the fun.

This outdoor science lab for bugs offer lot's of helpful tools as well as several experiments suggestions and information* Build Quality *Everything is from plastic, good quality one. Most of the kit looks very durable which is great as it meant to be used outdoor. The scoop however need to be handle with care as the hinges are not the best. Clip-on lens also have a downsize where the lens sometime falls off and might get lost. Also on soft devices it will be awkward to get on and positioned it properly. The activity leaflets and reading materials are well designed with easy to read and language is aimed to the appropriate age.* Usage *My kids really enjoyed scoop around some stuff (bugs and plants) in the backyard and on some hikes and put them inside the container with the magnify glass to look closely at them. It was also a good container to keep some of the bigger samples. The macro lens with the very practical focus device are really meant to be used indoor or somewhere clean and stable. Though they needed some initial help setting it up they quickly got used to get the focus right though they quickly moved to use their microscope as its easier to use. The uv night scope is a bit gimmicky and won't do much but the kids still enjoy using it when it was mounted on the scoop or when they observe the sample back hoe at dark. We follow some of the experiments which were straightforward and my older kid enjoyed reading the information leaflets.* Maintenance *The kit is very easy to clean, almost everything can be taken apart and easily wash it. I do wish they would have included some bag so you can store it or at least put the accessories you want to take with you inside that bagPros: Extensive, Quality, Provided MaterialsCons: Clip-on Lens, No storage bagOverall this kit will provide fun for those outdoor loving kids. Some of the experiments and accessories might need an adult supervision/help but the kids will just enjoy exploring stuff on their on regardless. Recommended!

Wow! The educational materials that come with this product are impressive and worth the purchase alone. There are so many experiments and nature guides. I really like that the containers are made to be accommodate any little creatures you catch - example breathing holes - you don’t have to worry about poking holes in jar lids. The bug catcher is a lot of fun, but it’s tricky because you have to hold the trigger down to keep it closed. If you accidentally let go, it flies open and you lose your bug. I think the mechanism should be reversed so that it is always closer but the trigger opens it. The micro-lense for your cell phone camera really works and is fun to use on a variety of objects. I spent 15 minutes examining my fingernails up close. LOL Overall this is a really great set! It’s fun and educational.