Secret Science Team Kit review/giveaway

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

PENNY W

HAVE A GREAT LEARNING ADVENTURE!

OUR GROUP OF "MAD" SCIENTISTS

As a home school mom I am always on the lookout for new things to energize our schooling time.  I know I get bored with the same 'ole thing all the time.  I was excited when I came across Ectropy Science and their Secret Science Team kits. 
Science has never been my strong subject.  Every time, YES every time, we tried to do an experiment, it would fail.  Fail miserably.  I'd have to explain to the kids that this is what was supposed to happen and this is why according to scientific laws.  Finally we figured out if I never touched anything, then the experiment would work!


I am interested to see what will happen with this Secret Science Team Mission Kit I was sent to review. Maybe if I keep my distance all will be fine.


When the package was delivered the mail woman said, "wow, you're receiving  top secret packages now!"

Nothing like a top secret package to get the neighborhood talking!

Contents of the "top secret" package:  storyline sheet, case file instruction booklet, data recording sheet, test tubes with caps and test tube rack, plastic beaker, chromatography paper, pH paper, test liquids and other reagents.

 

After looking  over the contents, reading the assignment and getting a "feel" for what was involved, I decided to have a 'Science party'.  I invited 4 other families to join us to complete this Science Kit.  

We had 13 children, ages 4 - 16.  

Our assignment was to find out who has stolen Dharma and Pippa's red bicycle.  From Ectropy website: "The girls think they have a lead in the case when they see the boy next door with a new blue bike that looks alot like theirs and find a rag soaked with a red liquid in the neighbor's trash."  After performing 3 experiments, the students were asked to come to a conclusion.  When a conclusion is reached the student has to sign into the Secret Science Team website to find if their conclusion is correct.

I set up 8 stations and divided the children into 8 "teams".  Because of the age difference I put an older student with a younger one.

The students were instructed to open their brown envelope to find the "official case file".

We began by reading the assignment.  Then moving onto the first experiment.  Here are the children "experimenting and reasoning"

The students worked intensely to figure out who stole the bike.  Each "team" successfully completed the 3 experiments to come up with the correct answer.

This Science Kit was very enjoyable.  The instructions were clear and easy to follow.  We worked through the first experiment together then the students worked on their own.  Each experiment explains the science behind the process.  This kit is more than just science experiments.  It is a science experience. It teaches children how to use science and develop analytical reasoning.  Definitely a fun way to learn about science!  

I feel the best age for this kit is  8-12 year old students because they enjoyed it the most. The instructions are clear enough for them to work on their own with little supervision.  The younger children needed a lot of direction and the older ones felt it was a bit "lame".  

The only drawback I found was there was not enough test liquids and other reagents.  With 8 stations, there were only 2 sets of test liquids and reagents. The students had to wait until another team was finished with the liquids.  I would recommend at least 4 sets of liquids.  

I highly recommend these kits!  We had a wonderful time together experimenting and using our reasoning skills to solve the case!

Ectropy Science has generously offered one of my readers a single mission kit.  Add a little fun into your science class!  OR just have a bit of fun with the kids!

To enter you MUST:

Be a follower of this blog and visit Ectropy Science to check out what else they have to offer and comment about what you find there.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1.  Follow For One Another on networked blogs

2.  Follow For One Another on Twitter

3.  Like Ectropy Science on Facebook

4.  Visit Ectropy Science blog and comment that For One Another sent you

5.  Blog about this giveaway and leave link

A random winner will be drawn on December 6, 2010.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond with address.  If no response, an alternative winner will be chosen.

*****PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER!!!!

*Thanks to Ectropy Science for sponsoring this giveaway. I received a complimentary kit to review.  I was not obligated to post a positive review, but it was easy to do :)