Weather Lab Science Kit by Little Passports ~ A Review
My daughter and I had the pleasure of testing one of Little Passport’s newest products – the Weather Lab Science Kit! M loves science kits of all kinds, so this was perfect for my 6-year-old.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, but was given a Weather Lab Science Kit at no cost to review. I am an affiliate of Little Passports, and will receive a small commission if the links on this page are used to make a purchase.
The Weather Lab Science Kit from Little Passports costs $24.95 contains three projects: A Pet Tornado, Make Your Own Instant Snow, and Build Your Own Erupting Tornado. Each project includes a colorful card so you can teach your kids about tornadoes, snow, and volcanoes, and where each occur in the world.
Pet Tornado
The first thing we tried right out of the box was the Pet Tornado. M thought this was great fun – it took a few tries to get the spin just right (it’s all in the wrist) but I was able to get the tornado going inside the bottle.
It might help you to know that the directions are in small print next to the title label. Of course, my engineer husband got a good tornado going on the very first try!
Instant Snow
The instant snow was a big hit with my daughter and two nieces. Three girls ages 3 to 6 sat and played with the fluffy stuff for quite awhile. My 3-1/2 year old niece helped me make it – all you do is add water! They were having so much fun I eventually made the whole package (they were having a little trouble sharing just one pan).
Believe it or not, it makes 2 cups or more (an estimate – I didn’t measure it), and lasts quite awhile – months, according to the package. It does feel a lot like snow, and you can put it in the freezer to make it even more realistic! I’m saving ours in a plastic zip lock bag, and as of the writing of this post it is still play-able.
Erupting Volcano
The fact that we had made an erupting volcano from play dough a year or so ago did not diminish the excitement of making the one included in this kit! It actually doubles as a craft kit because your child gets to mix the clay, mold the mountain, then paint it once the clay is dry. The included watercolor paints didn’t work too well for us, so we used some washable tempura paints I had on hand. (But the little watercolor box and brush were so cute – perfect size for her dolls!)
The step-by-step directions are very clear and easy to follow. The directions suggest using wax paper to protect your work surface, but I used an inexpensive baking tray instead. This keeps the liquid from running all over your counter or table when you pour in the vinegar/baking soda mixture. It also made the mountain easier to move out of the way while the clay and paint were drying!
You will need to provide water, tape, red food coloring, dishwashing soap, baking soda, and vinegar. Although the directions said to use only 1/4 cup of vinegar for each eruption, after a few tries with this amount we increased it to 1 cup. It worked great – see the video below! After M was finished making the volcano erupt over and over again, I took the clay mountain off the baking tray and set it aside to dry. It’s still in great shape (it fared much better than our play dough mountain) and can be used again.
Erupting Volcano Video
If you have a child who enjoys science or crafts, you may want to try this kit – it’s a great Christmas or Birthday gift idea! The Little Passports Shop also has other science kits and gift ideas. My daughter also receives a subscription to the Little Passports World Edition; she looks forward to it every month and always wants to open it immediately. It’s a fun way for both of us to learn about different cultures around the world, and geography, too!
Copyright 2015 Kathryn Depew
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, but was given a Weather Lab Science Kit at no cost to review. I am an affiliate of Little Passports, and will receive a small commission if the links on this page are used to make a purchase.
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