The best science experiments for kids put curiosity right in their hands. Erupting volcanoes, stretchy slime, and lemons that light a bulb are all perfect examples.
Abacus Brands pairs hands-on experiments with augmented and virtual reality, so kids can try out the science before they look at it from an entirely new angle.
Here’s a variety of kits worth exploring, plus a couple of extra experiments to try.
See the Abacus Brands science kits in action:
What Makes a Great Hands-On Experiment?
A good experiment gives kids something to make, test, or observe as they’re introduced to a real scientific idea. The activity should also leave room for the inevitable question, “What happens if I try it again?”
Abacus kits add VR and AR to the traditional hands-on fun. First kids build or mix at the table, then they get to explore places and processes that could never squeeze onto a countertop.
Run 30 Experiments with Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit
Got a kid who wants to try everything? Bill Nye the Science Guy’s 50-piece kit includes 30 experiments ranging from a lemon battery and gooey slime to activities involving color and gas. An 80-page project book and AR features guide kids through the experiments, and VR takes kids above volcanoes, inside crystal caves, and into a hot air balloon.
Bill Nye's
VR Science Kit
Try 30 hands-on experiments, from building a lemon battery to making gooey slime, then use the VR goggles to soar above a volcano or explore a crystal cave. The 80-page book and augmented-reality guidance walk kids through each activity. This STEAM Toy of the Year winner covers chemistry, physics, and space.
Shop NowBill Nye’s Chem Lab VR Digs Into Real Reactions
This 23-piece set lets kids who love mixing things together focus on chemistry. A 44-page book explores matter, reactions, and pH with plenty of hands-on activities. Meanwhile, the 360-degree VR viewer takes young chemists inside a virtual lab for a closer look.
Bill Nye's
Chem Lab VR
Get hands-on with real chemistry by mixing reactions, testing pH, and exploring the properties of matter. Then step inside a 360-degree virtual lab for a closer look at what’s happening. The 44-page guide walks kids through each activity, so the set stays approachable even for first-time young chemists.
Shop NowBuild and Erupt a Volcano with Volcano Lab VR
Does any experiment deliver a payoff quite like a homemade volcano? In this DIY project, kids build a volcano with plaster, then erupt it using baking soda and citric acid. They learn all about the chemistry behind the fizz in the process. Next, VR takes them to volcanoes on Earth and even Olympus Mons on Mars.
STEAM Lab
Volcano Lab VR
Create a plaster volcano, then bring it to life with baking soda and citric acid. After the eruption, kids can use VR to explore volcanoes in Russia, Hawaii, and Asia before traveling to Mars to see the solar system’s largest volcano. One memorable project combines building, chemistry, and immersive exploration.
Shop NowProfessor Maxwell’s VR Science Lab Packs in 25 Projects
Kids who love bouncing from one topic to the next will be thrilled with the 25 projects in this 48-piece kit. They can make slime, build a lemon battery, launch a balloon rocket, or even experiment with density. Thanks to AR videos and VR scenes, they can watch the science unfold.
Professor Maxwell's
VR Science Lab
Explore 25 science projects in one kit, including a balloon rocket, gooey slime, and a homemade lava lamp. The augmented-reality book adds short videos to the experience, while 360-degree VR scenes take kids above an active volcano. It’s a wide-ranging set for curious kids who enjoy trying a little of everything.
Shop NowHatch a Living Fossil: The Triops Grow Kit
Not every experiment needs to fizz. A Triops grow kit lets kids hatch prehistoric tadpole shrimp. Then they get to watch them grow and see them shed their shells over several weeks. With their slow transformation, these tiny creatures turn everyday observation into a hands-on biology lesson.
Build a Working Circuit: Snap Circuits
Snap Circuits let kids build working electronics without soldering. Made by Elenco, the color-coded pieces snap onto a grid, so kids can create projects like a doorbell, light, or small radio. They soon see for plastic how electricity moves through a circuit.
Which Science Kit Should You Choose?
Unsure how to select the right science kit for the child on your gift list? Start with what already grabs their attention.
Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit and Professor Maxwell’s VR Science Lab offer variety, but Chem Lab VR is better suited for chemistry lovers. The options don’t end there. Volcano Lab VR delivers one big build, Triops turns observation into a biology lesson, and Snap Circuits appeal to children who love to tinker.
Bill Nye's Science Kits
Run real experiments, then step into a 360-degree VR lab that shows what a countertop cannot. From volcanoes and slime to chemistry and space, the Bill Nye line is the heart of the Abacus science range.
Shop CollectionWhere the Best Science Experiments for Kids Come From
Remember when you were a kid? The best experiments usually began with something like, “What happens if I try this?” Hands-on science gives today’s children a chance to answer that question.
When you start with a subject your child already loves, a little fizz, flash, growth, or surprise can keep the questions coming long after the experiment ends.
