Gels, polymers and phosphorescence — all words that belie the cool of a kit called Glowing Putty, Gels, & Slime Kit. This chemistry kit has 15 different experiments. Some glow, some are edible, some bounce. All sound like a good time. $15.99
It’s summer. Of course you’ve got an empty pop can lying around somewhere. This kit lets you turn it into a little robot that can actually move around. $12.59
If your kid is interested in engines, then she or he might dig this see-through V-8 engine that you build and then operate via hand crank in order to see how the pistons and valves work. $53.63
This kit lets you build a zoetrope by combining engineering, art, and animation. $29.99
One challenge of modern travel is keeping all those electronics charged. Here’s a kit from Adafruit that lets you build a USB charger out of a small candy tin. So, schedule some project time before hitting the road. $24.99
Those Altoid tins — they’re begging for inclusion in a DIY project. Check out Instructables’ guide to turning them into mini speakers. Price varies (probably depending on whether you get regular, mini, or off-brand Altoids).
Let’s keep talking about candy. A cool and delicious way to learn about crystals is to make rock candy. Here’s one set of directions for how to do it.
Teach your kids about the power of the sun with solar-powered this robotics kit. The kit can turn into a windmill, puppy, boat, and more, and the motor runs only on the sun. $11.20
This is the perfect time to talk to your kids about parabolic microphones. This kit lets you build a listening device, essentially, that picks up sounds from far off — and teaches kids about how sound waves travel through the air. $10.49
These little paper characters have electric circuits in the paper. You can tear them out, draw on them, fold them up, and watch them glow. $16
Erin Carson is a Staff Reporter for CNET and a former Multimedia Editor for TechRepublic.
