Put on your safety goggles and chisel away at your sand block as you excavate 6 different rocks and minerals and 5 real gemstones. Learn how different types of rocks form and the difference between rocks and minerals. Use the magnifying glass to inspect your samples. Then learn how to identify minerals based on hardness, cleavage, color, streak and luster.

Available at the following Retailers:
Target, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blain, Meijer, AC Moore, Joann, TJX: Home Goods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx

Build your own motorized robot spider with eight multi-jointed legs that duplicate the walking movements of real spiders. This engaging introduction to robots and gears allows you to study the way spiders actually crawl. Assemble the gears and wire the terminals, then attach the legs and pop in batteries to make your Robo Spider move. Experiment with different length legs to see how they change your robot’s stride. Cut and fit rubber tubing to the legs, and watch you spider climb gentle slopes. This kit includes a 23” x 17” color poster that teaches fun facts about spider anatomy, habitat and more!

Available at: Target, Meijer, A.C. Moore, Amazon and www.nsi-intonline.com

Introducing the Smithsonian Planetarium Projector by New York City-based NSI International Inc. Bring the nighttime sky into your room with this mesmerizing, dual-function planetarium projector. Just aim the projector at a light-colored wall or ceiling, and project a rotating star pattern of the northern sky. Three disks also feature 24 high-definition space images that you can project alongside the stars: planets, nebulae, moons, asteroids and other celestial bodies, as well as a satellite, space station, astronaut, space shuttle and more. Project more than 50 different image combinations. The Smithsonian Planetarium Projector features a 15-minute auto-shut-off, so you can fall asleep under a magical night sky. It comes with STEM educational content and requires 3 AA batteries (not included).

Available at:Target, Meijer, Barnes & Noble, AC Moore and www.nsi-intonline.com

SMITHSONIAN PLASMA BALL
With the Smithsonian Plasma Ball, you can enjoy an incredible atomic light show right at your fingertips. This 5-inch glass sphere is filled with gases like neon and xenon, with a high-voltage electrode in the center. Plug it in, turn it on and watch what happens when atoms collide with each other and energized electrons. Watch your fingertips create amazing light effects as you see for yourself how colliding atoms release energy in the form of light waves. Recommended for ages 8+, the plasma ball also responds to sound and music and comes packaged with STEM educational content. Requires 6 AA (1.5V) batteries (not included).

Available at: Target, Meijer, Barnes & Noble and www.nsi-intonline.com.

Take the ultimate high-tech game of tag to new heights with the Laser X Long-Range Blaster. Featuring 25-shot rapid fire, LED spotting scope and super-fast reload, the Long-Range Blaster has pinpoint accuracy up to 400 feet – day or night! Compatible with all other Laser X gear, it allows for more challenging games in larger spaces. Safe infrared beams can go through windows and bounce off walls and mirrors to hit opponents, while advanced sensors allow a voice coach to offer tips and tricks. Plug in headphones (not included) and listen to a soundtrack that makes you feel like you’re inside a video game!

Available at Target: Target – Walmart – www.GetLaserX.com

With 10 built-in games that test a player’s speed and skills, the Laser X Gaming Tower not only enhances a game of Laser X, but makes it possible to play solo. Use it for target practice, or blast the tower during a game of Laser X and hit multiple players simultaneously – from up to 150 feet away! An LED scoring display and full-color lighting effects let you track shots and hits. You can also play a high-tech game of Capture the Flag, where you not only aim to tag opponents, but try to blast the Tower to win more points for your team!

Available at: Target – Walmart – www.GetLaserX.com