February 2015 Notable Toys — Science & Nature

Each Z-Strux set can make four possible builds. This set includes 395 pieces, including two construction-worker figurines. When completed, the build is 26 inches tall.

This great new science kit from Science Wiz lets kids accomplish college-level experiments with sound by building an Edison-Style phonograph and downloading free apps from the web. There are twenty different activities that kids can do with this kit.

With this kit, kids can create an arcade out of electrical circuits - and then have fun playing with their creation! It's like two toys in one. Combining lights, sound, and motion, this is the most elaborate Snap Circuits kits yet!

Dinosaur habitats include a high-quality figurine, and environmental base, and prehistoric slime, like lava, swamp slime, tar, or swamp water! Dinos can be slimed, and demo beautifully thanks to their themed base and hands-on slime.

LightUp combines the best of both worlds by bringing together an engaging hands-on electronics platform with an interactive iOS mobile app. LightUp kits introduce key STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts, teaching kids how to explore their world with electronics and code. Snap together magnetic blocks to build circuits in seconds (no soldering or wiring needed). Download the free LightUp Learning iOS app for project ideas and personalized guidance. See electricity flow with the in-app augmented reality LightUp Lens. Learn 100+ key STEM concepts about electricity, circuits, and engineering with the Edison Kit.

Geocaching is a GPS based treasure hunt. Containers of various sizes are hidden and the co-ordinates are recorded and logged on www.geocaching.com. These co-ordinates are loaded into handheld GPS devices. Then the GPS device directs you close to the location hidden geocache, then you must look for the hidden geocache. The Geomate.jr comes preloaded with 250,000 geocaches covering all 50 states (or your country.) Just switch on the Geomate.jr, then follow the distance and arrow to the closest Geocache. See, we told you it was easy! The Geomate.jr will display the 20 closest geocaches to your location. The Geomate.jr also gives you information about the geocache such as cache ID, difficulty, terrain and size.
Worried about getting lost? Don’t! You can set and save your home waypoint with the Geomate.jr so you can always find your way home. The Geomate.jr also saves your found caches, so you can review your found list at any time.

Discover exciting new worlds with your epicly sized 28 in long ZOOB® Galax-Z™ Z-Star Explorer™. Your 2 Zoobonauts, Gamma and Helio, are ready to explore uncharted space in dual cockpits! Contains 316 pieces and easy Instructions for 3 alternate builds.

Get preschoolers excited about science and introduce them to the miracles of magnification with My First Microscope! Magnify any small object – flat or dimensional – at 8x with this real, working microscope designed especially for little kids! Encourages scientific exploration; Rewards curiosity ; Introduces kids to a key scientific tool.
— Matt Peel, manager of Toys & Co. in Greensboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that the GeoSafari line from Educational Insights was their store's best-selling STEM toys.

4 popular kits in one big box! This ultimate box contains Ball Blast Bouncers, Dazzle Dino Crystals, Jelly Wiggle Bugs. Includes 2 ball molds, 4 packets of ball powder, 2 re-sealable bags, 2 bug molds, 2 colors of magic jiggly gel powder, paper dinosaur, paper tree, magic crystal liquid (.7 fl oz), plastic tray and easy instructions. SMALL PARTS. Not for <3 years.
Launch date: Spring 2015

Science Wiz presents their new Sound Science Kit. Joining a stable of bestselling titles, Sound lets a child build, record, play and explore sound vibrations. 20 activities are included with a 48 page book and materials. Building a working Edison Phonograph is the center piece of the product. For ages 8 years and up with a suggested retail of $29.95.

Science Wiz presents Cool Circuits Junior the follow-up to the mega hit, Cool Circuits. 40 brand new puzzles, 8 3-D puzzle pieces and 6 orange barriers bring the difficulty level down a bit from the original. Connect the circuit and the game board lights up and plays music. Solution book and batteries are included. Recommended for ages 6 years and up with a suggested retail of  $24.95.

All you need is sunshine, water and your creativity to make unique and beautiful sun art prints! Place natural objects like flowers, leaves, shells or even man-made objects on the sun-sensitive paper. Set outside on a sunny or overcast day or even indoors in a sunny window. Sit back and watch as the sun turns the paper a beautiful blue! Includes 15 sheets of paper and a clear acrylic sheet to hold your art in place. Perfect for school art project, science fair or for home schooled creative fun! Available in three sizes. Made In USA!
Award: 2014 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award

Native to Australia, chalamydosaurus kingii or frilled lizard is one of the wackiest lizards to roam planet Earth. So in order to keep young lizard enthusiasts out of harm’s way, OWI has created a freakish robot lizard that is actually fun to play with. The Kingii Dragon Robot is a smart super lizard with artificial intelligence (AI). Similar to the original from Australia, when this robot feels threatened, it gapes its mouth, flashes its eyes, and dramatically spreads and flaps its frill (pleated material that encircles its head) in a threatening manner. If you are not intimidated by these shenanigans, it then turns around, front and back legs erratically move as if it were scampering away from danger.

Kingii Dragon Robot by OWI has an infrared sensor that is programmed to “escape” or “follow-me”. If the infrared sensor is activated in the “escape” mode the robot will automatically act “shocked!”, spreading its frill, dropping its jaw, illuminates its bicolor LED eyes and will scurry away from you until it escapes to a safe distance. If the infrared sensor is switched to the “follow-me” mode using the 2 way function switch, then the robot will assess danger by bluffing the attacker (unfurling and shaking its frill). When the robot does not sense danger it will proceed to follow you like a pet lizard. Thank goodness, that unlike the wacky frilled lizard that roams in Australia’s tropical woodland, OWI’s Kingii Dragon Robot is whimsically kooky and fun to build.

Tilt the can to feel the power of an earthquake in your hand. Earthquake shakes, rattles and rolls when set down on a flat surface. Crazy shaking fun.