April 2012 Notable Toys — Science & Nature

Grow dozens of dazzling crystals and conduct 15 illuminating experiments with this classic science kit. Experiment with four chemically different crystals each with different properties, including potassium alum crystals that form regular octahedrons, rapidly growing sodium sulfate crystals, long needle-shaped sodium acetate crystals, and plaster which is made from gypsum crystals. Mold fun plaster shapes and mix the dyes to grow a rainbow of custom colored crystals. Measure how the crystallization of solids out of a solution, and the dissolution of crystals back into solution, affect the temperature of the solution. Learn about the energy of crystallization. Investigate solutions, crystallization, and the chemistry of crystal growing. Learn about the structures and geometries of different crystal shapes. This kit is thoroughly tested and safe: Over one million units of this kit have sold worldwide. A full-color, 32-page experiment manual guides your experiments in crystal chemistry and Earth science. Launch date: Summer 2012.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that kits from Thames & Kosmos are one of their top-2 bestselling educational products. They sell dozens each month.
— Mary Porter Green, owner of Curiosity Zone in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a March 2014 survey that crystal growing kits were a best-selling products.

Blast off on a mission to explore outer space and the objects in it with a wide array of cosmic experiments. Launch three types of rockets, using balloons and chemical reactions to learn about rocket propulsion. Build a telescope and star map to investigate the stars and constellations. Assemble a model of the solar system, and learn about the planets that share it. Find out how Earth's rotation creates day and night, how Earth's axis and revolution around the sun cause the seasons, and how the moon's rotation around Earth gives us the phases of the moon. Kis will see for themselves how meteorites formed the craters on the moon. Make a moon flip book and a moon calendar, and find the "man in the moon." Model lunar and solar eclipses. Build a sundial and a solar collector to experiment with the sun. Grasp a comet's tail, and learn how meteoroids become falling stars. See how the universe is expanding with a simple model. A full-color, 48-page experiment book guides the exploration. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Earth is constantly changing. Massive pieces of its outer layer are slowly sliding under, over, away from, or past each other. Earthquakes shake the continents and oceans, and volcanoes spew out the molten insides of our planet. By studying these awe-inspiring and devastating natural phenomena, kids can learn more about the inner workings of Earth. Build and erupt a model volcano with plaster-based "lava" that hardens after each eruption. The volcano can be erupted multiple times, and the volcanic cone builds up with each eruption, like a real volcano. Kids will learn about the different types of volcanoes, build a working seismograph, and fake some 'quakes to see for themselves how scientists measure earthquake forces. Discover plate tectonics, and see how volcanoes and earthquakes are caused by the constant movement of the planet's parts. Assemble a plate tectonics puzzle and a geological globe. Play a volcano quiz game to learn about well-known volcanoes. A full-color, 48-page experiment manual is included. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Kids experiment with fascinating soap bubbles to learn physical science fundamentals in a fun way. For countless generations, people have been captivated by the unique properties of soap bubbles. Now kids can see for themselves why these elegantly simple structures of soap, water, and air are still studied by scientists, modeled by mathematicians, emulated by architects, and immortalized by artists and writers. Blow giant bubbles, mini-bubbles, bubbles within bubbles, chains of bubbles, and bubble blankets. Mix the perfect bubble solution. Learn about the love-hate relationship between soap and water, and the scientific phenomenon of surface tension. Observe the subtle colors of bubbles, and discover how a bubble's color can reveal when it will pop. Make geometric bubble shapes and build soap film domes, roofs, and bridges. Kids can also learn some tricks and games that they can play with bubbles. The full-color, 48-page book guides you through 29 experiments. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Kids can explore chemistry as they cook up candies and chocolates in the kitchen. Users will perform a number of sweet experiments and learn important physical science principles related to candy and cooking. Discover why sugar crystallizes to make rock candy. Learn about specific heat and the phases of matter by molding chocolates. Use a thermometer and learn about heat and temperature while boiling sugar. Gain experience with measurements and conversions, volumes, and weights. Investigate the chemistry of gummy bears. Learn about the mysterious phenomenon of triboluminescence with wintergreen candies. Make gummy candies, chocolate shapes, and hard sugar candy using the special tools included: plastic and metal molds, candy thermometer, spatula, dipping fork, and more. Finish them with foils, paper cups, sticks, and wrappers. The 48-page, full-color manual provides instructions and explanations. Does not contain hazardous chemicals or food items; users supply the safe ingredients from their kitchen. Launch date: Summer 2012.

Safari Ltd.® offers a wide variety of vibrant, richly detailed educational posters that feature a diverse array of subjects. Some encourage the awareness of fundamental aspects of an animal's life, where others allow children to learn key scientific information on man fascinating topics. All are a perfect complement for lesson plans and are also ideal for any classroom wall. All posters are available non laminated, laminated in 3 mm plastic, rolled & sleeved or laminated rolled & sleeved. Featured poster is Prehistoric Marine Life Laminated. Size: 24" W x 36" H [61 x 91 cm]. Poster title is Multilingual. Launch date: 2012.

Add a recycled magazine and two plastic bottles to this kit and blast a paper rocket up to 80 feet high. Exclusive to Toysmith in the U.S.
— In a January 2015 survey, 2 out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that 4M, distributed in the US by Toysmith, was their best-selling brand of STEM toys.