August 2012 Notable Toys — Educational

The state of Earth's atmosphere affects us all, which explains why the weather is one of the most popular topics of conversation and scientific study. Build a model of Earth and its atmosphere and then use it to conduct experiments that show how the global wind system works. Trace air currents from the icy cold poles to the warm equator and back with a wisp of smoke. Model Earth's heat reservoirs, thermals, and global and local winds. Recreate ocean currents in a small basin of water. Simulate Earth's rotation and revolution to learn how the sun affects the weather daily and seasonally. Learn about the climatic zones and the composition of the atmosphere. Experiment to see how carbon dioxide levels affect temperature. Explore the hydrological cycle to learn about humidity, clouds, and precipitation. Build a simple barometer, set up a rain gauge, and track the temperature. Full-color, 48-page manual featuring 23 experiments.

Put this glow-boratory to the test with 20 experiments that will help you answer questions like, what makes a glowing ball bounce and, what does fake snow have in common with spaghetti? View the experiments with a hand-held black light, build a lava lamp, and create glowing alien blood. Test out projects that teach about these 9 principles of science: fluorescence, phosphorescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, polymers, non-Newtonian fluids, carbon dioxide reactions, crystal formation, and nucleation. This kit includes: a handheld black-light activator, 4 glow sticks, mix-n-measure scoop, fluorescent ink, beaker, mixing cup, 3 creature molds, 2 test tubes and stand, funnel, bouncy ball mold, glow-in-the-dark powder, bouncy ball polymer, jelly balls polymer, fake snow polymer, star stickers, and a 24-page Lab Book.

Snap parts together to build different circuits, and watch the different pieces light up. Includes fiber optics over a light organ that can be connected to an iPod; the lights will flash to the beat of the music. Includes strobe lights with different plates so kids can experiment with strobe patterns, white LED lights, glow in the dark and lighted fan blades, a light up egg, and more.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

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Duple is a quick-thinking game of symbol matching and word-finding. Players flip letter cards in turn until the symbols on two players' cards match. Matching players face-off by being the first to shout a word which contains the letters on both cards. Correct answers must be at least 5 letters long and conform to ever-changing categories. Wild Cards and Cascades create unexpected face-offs and the All Play card gets everyone facing off a once. Distributed by Everest. Launch date: February 2012.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

How can kids move a ball into a target with 2 high walls from 2 feet away? Build a ramp? A catapult? A trampoline? A zip-line? There are no right answers and we provide no solutions--it's up to kids to use ZOOB pieces (and other materials that they choose) to build contraptions that solve the challenges. The ZOOB Challenge features 175 ZOOB pieces, string, wheels, a ball, rubber bands, a foam play pad, and 25 challenges based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) skills-skills that educators have targeted as essential to helping the US compete successfully in the 21st century.

Includes 44 magnetic pieces. Children can play and learn alphabet, spelling and reading words with pictures. Extra pieces included for free-writing.

It’s a robot riot. These futuristic fighters are here to save the world. Follow a simple legend and add cool foam pieces to these droid destroyers so they can squash the bad guys. Arrange the army in different battle formations and take out evil once and for all. This kit includes 10 FlipMotion™ stickers to add real movement to these mosaic masterpieces. Launch date: March 2012.

It’s time for a dragon duel. These deadly dragons are breathing fire and sharpening their talons. Follow a simple legend and add cool foam pieces to these battling beasts. Hang these magical dragons on your bedroom walls for some truly monstrous décor. This kit includes 9 FlipMotion™ stickers to add real movement to your mosaic masterpieces. Launch date: March 2012.

Salmon are anadromous, meaning that they migrate between freshwater and saltwater habitats, while their relative, trouts, remain in freshwater for their entire life cycle. Salmon is a popular food both because of its delicious taste and versatility and its high nutritional value. Consuming salmon is considered to be healthy because of the fish's high protein, high Omega-3 fatty acids, and high vitamin D content. Salmon flesh is generally orange to red in color, although there are some examples of white fleshed wild salmon. The orange color of salmon results from carotenoid pigments that wild salmon get from eating krill and other tiny shellfish. The Salmon Scramble Squares® 9-piece puzzle is likewise adaptable. It is a beautiful, enjoyable and healthy activity for children, adults and seniors. The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4” square pieces into a 12” x 12” square so that the realistic graphics on the pieces edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

This Bald Eagles Scramble Squares® puzzle, provides an appropriately awe inspiring depiction of this majestic symbol of the United States and America’s national bird. The Bald Eagle is unique to North America and is among the largest birds in North America, growing from 29” to 42” long, weighing 7 to 15 lbs., and possessing a dramatic wingspan of 6’ to 8’. Females are larger than the male Bald Eagles. The Bald Eagle is listed as a "threatened" species in the lower 48 states, its population having fallen from an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 in the early 1700s to levels of less than 500 pairs by the early 1960s. The object of the Scramble Squares® puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated 4” x 4” square pieces into a 12” x 12” square so that the realistic graphics on the pieces edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

This exciting activity kit includes the Sing Along Sing Alone COLORS Song book that includes music and activities. Twelve 27" square nylon IDEAScarves, one of each of the following colors: red, royal blue, orange, yellow, pink, kelly green, black, white, medium blue, grey, purple and sunset lavender swirl. Colors Music CD and Data CD (with all songs and activities ready to print), crayola crayons to color the music pages and an instructional/informational insert. Launch date: July 2011.

Learn English, Spanish, and Chinese by singing at the same time, using this immersive Singing Approach with story and animation DVD. Launch date: January 2012.

Brainetics teaches how to MASTER all the vitally important learning SKILLS (focus, concentration, problem solving, thinking outside the box, organizational, increased mental capacity and memory) that are rarely taught in schools and people lack throughout their lives. Brainetics TRAINS two different parts of the MIND to work simultaneously yet independently of each other. One part memorizes information while another part is sorting and processing new information. The mind will begin to work much more efficiently and be more powerful giving Brainetics kids a huge advantage throughout their academic lives and beyond. Brainetics can either be learned alone, or entire families can learn together. Package includes 5 DVDs, Parents Manual, Playbook with practices and exercises, flash cards, and playing cards.
Awards: Parents Choice Gold Award; Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys 2012.