March 2011 New Specialty Toys — Educational

“Meet Einstein” introduces young minds to what scientists do, helping kids make connections in things they see and experience, and teaching them that science is all around them. With colorful, playful illustrations, the book portrays Einstein as a likeable, approachable character.

The Drum Therapy® Kit, designed to help autistic and special needs children and adults develop retention, coordination, self-esteem, fine motor skill, sensory integration, social skills, and physical and cognitive functioning, can also help children get better grades in school, and make homework much easier. "[Used by] Doctors, School Systems, and Therapists throughout the world," Pat Gesualdo, President/CEO of DAD, told TDmonthly.

Discover rare glowing fluorescent minerals. Shine a UV light on these fluorescent minerals and what looks like an ordinary rock suddenly becomes a brilliant display of fluorescent color. Only 15-percent of the world's minerals are fluorescent, making for a fun challenge to go hunting for more of these rare minerals. Kit includes a portable, battery powered UV lamp, 6 fluorescent minerals that glow in beautiful colors and an information packet filled with fun experiments. Requires 4 AA batteries.

The Mega Shark Tooth Comparison Kit contains five real fossil shark teeth from an assortment of species: Mako, Tiger, Bullshark and more. It also includes a full-sized museum quality replica of one of the largest Megalodon teeth ever found. At over sixty feet, Megalodon was the biggest predator to ever live. Shark info guide included.

Fossils take millions of years to form and provide a record of the past. The Ultimate Fossil Kit features six superior quality fossils including an iridescent ammonite from Madagascar, a trilobite, a Mosasaur tooth from Morocco, a giant sharks tooth, two polished ocean fossils, and an info guide.

Fossils take millions of years to form and provide a record of the past. The Basic Fossil Kit features 10 specimens which include plants, sea creatures, dinosaur bones, sharks teeth and more. Also comes with a 25-page information guide.

Geodes are formed by prehistoric bubbles in lava. Over time, surrounding minerals penetrate the bubbles forming crystals. The adventure is in cracking open these real geodes to reveal the crystal caverns hidden inside. The basic kit contains six geodes from one mine. This kit includes safety glasses and instructions.
Awards: 2009 Informal Education Product of the Year Award; 2010 Museum Tour Excellence Award

Geodes are formed by prehistoric bubbles in lava. Over time, surrounding minerals penetrate the bubbles forming crystals. The adventure is in cracking open these real geodes to reveal the crystal caverns hidden inside. The Ultimate kit includes 15 geodes from three different mines for a wider variety of crystal formations which could include: quartz, fluorite, calcite, or even amethyst. This kit includes safety glasses and instructions.
Awards: 2009 Informal Education Product of the Year; 2010 Museum Tour Excellence Award

Dinosaur fans can dig up their favorite bones using a plastic chisel and hammer. After assembling the pieces, they'll have a museum-quality display piece.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Toys That Teach award

Kids use a plastic chisel and hammer to unearth the bones of extinct animals, then assemble the pieces into a skeleton. The finished piece can be used as a display.
Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center Toys That Teach award

A new series of Superstructs, plastic rod-and-connector-style construction toys, called Arc-A-Teks from WABA Fun will have kids as young as 3-years-old creating, building and imagining. Each of the three Arc-A-Teks sets comes with 40-42 pieces, enough to build two Arc-A-Tek characters simultaneously. Children can also build a third character from each set, and instructions can be found online using a special code included in each Arc-A-Teks set. It’s a thoroughly non-violent, character-building construction set made with bigger parts for littler hands.

This compilation by Susan Magasmen uses a developmental skills model called the 6Cs™ that was created by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff to help parents and teachers see the immediate links between learning and play.  The stories come from families and educators at Goddard Schools around the nation.