Ad / UK Giveaway! Science Mad! Chemistry Lab and Planetarium Review - And Crystal Growing Lab Giveaway

We've always been a family that enjoys science, and once the kids get a bit older, Science Mad! caters for the more mature junior scientist, taking things up a notch and using equipment like real glass, fire and chemicals, and language that they'll hear in secondary school.

We've been sent the Chemistry Lab and Planetarium Star Globe for review, and I have a UK giveaway for one of my personal favourites - the Crystal Growing Lab. 

The Science Mad! Chemistry Lab is not a new addition to our house, we actually bought this exact set ourselves a couple of years ago. It's great to see the manufacturer has swapped out the plastic insert for cardboard - nice one.

The set is suitable for age 10+ and it contains a real spirit burner, which runs on methylated spirit. It's illegal to include it in the set, so you will have to get it separately - but you can buy methylated spirits cheaply all over the place (supermarkets, homeware or decorating shops, including Wilkos). It has a million uses, although we tend to use more pleasant-smelling products to clean things nowadays. All you'll need beyond this are commonplace items like vinegar, salt and turmeric. 

There are several glass items, so that you can use some more exciting chemicals without wrecking anyone's kitchen equipment or compromising your scientific results. You also get tiny measuring spoons for precision, corks, test tube holder, and glass rods for stirring dangerous mixtures. 

There are 11 exciting jars of chemicals, litmus paper etc. with child-safe lids (although you can't easily come to harm with anything in the set). Everything is clearly labelled.
The enclosed booklet contains 13 different chapters with a series of experiments in each. They have themes, such as making dyes for cloth, sugar Chemistry, different coloured invisible inks etc. It's an exciting set. 

The instructions are really easy to understand, and there's plenty of space for notes. Any good science should have things you want to note down. Personally we also find post it or other sticky notes or labels are useful for labelling experiments in progress. 

The Science Mad! Chemistry Lab is a brilliant set. It's by far my favourite 'kids chemistry' set for the 10+ age group. They are ready to start heating and mixing slightly more exciting concoctions by this age, and this set fits the bill. 

The Planetarium Star Globe packaging is minimal, protects well, and it's easy to open. The set needs 6 x AA batteries (2 for the Pointer and 4 for the Star Globe), so don't get caught out or Christmas morning might have some of the sparkle rubbed off. You'll need a small Phillips screwdriver and 5 minutes, then you're ready to go.  

There is a spare bulb for the pointer in the box, and it's a very simple "twist" to turn it on/off, which actually really demonstrates to your kids how electrical circuits work. Added science value.

The Planetarium has 2 sliding buttons. One turns the light on/ off, and the other selects off/ rotate/ sound/ rotate with sound. When the light is on, it projects the constellations around the room, and you have some adjustment underneath, so you can tilt it to match the sky above most locations on Earth.

Sound 'on' starts a gentleman's voice, and he tells us all about the Sun, Earth and the other main planets. There isn't any way to pause or fast forward, and it's maybe around 15 minutes in total. It would be nice if he told us about constellations. I found that a little disappointing. 

The Science Mad! Planetarium Star Globe projector works very well. You can clearly read the names and see the constellations. It works best at the distance which equates to being on a bedside cabinet, and fills my son's bedroom ceiling and walls with stars. The light itself is low enough that it makes an excellent 'going to sleep' light. 

Science Mad! sets are available now from toy shops in store and online, including at Smyths Toys. The Chemistry Lab costs £29.99rrp and the Planetarium Star Globe costs £24.99rrp. 

Science Mad! have offered one of my readers their very own Crystal Growing Lab (age 10+, rrp £19.99) as a giveaway prize - Anthea over at The Toy Scoop has a review so that you can find out more (and her own giveaway too!). To enter this giveaway, please use the Gleam form below:

The giveaway is open to UK entrants only, and will end at midnight Sunday 7th November, when a random winner will be drawn. For a link to help if you are new to Gleam, or to see my current UK giveaways, please see my giveaways page. Full terms and conditions are at the bottom of the Gleam form: 

Science Mad! Crystal Growing Lab (age 10+) Giveaway

We were sent our Science Mad! sets for review.