Science Materials & Discovery Activities

18 months & up. Children can explore the behaviors of light and color through the pieces in the Light and Color Cylinder set. Smooth, transparent pieces made from solid acrylic are sized just right for little hands. Enhance building activities while encouraging the development of simple math skills like patterning. Combine with other Light and Color sets to expand the possibilities for meaningful play.

18 months & up. Children can explore the behaviors of light and color through the flat pieces in the Light and Color Disc Set. The smooth, transparent pieces made from solid acrylic are sized just right for little hands. Recognizable shapes enhance building activities and encourage the development of simple math skills like pattern building. Stack two different colors together to explore color relationships. Combine with other Light and Color sets to expand the possibilities for meaningful play.

3 years & up. Strengthen memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills with the Shadow Matching and Memory Game. This engaging game encouages children to match familiar objects to their corresponding shadows while building important cognitive and visual discrimination skills. As children compre shapes, identify silhouettes, and make visual connections, they develop critical thinking, concentration, memory retention, and observation skills through hands-on gameplay. The interactive matching format encourages children to think carefully about object characteristics and visual differences. Perfect for individual exploration or small-group learning, this game supports collaborative play, turn-taking, and communication skills. The set includes 2 double-sided boards and 36 matching tiles, perfect for use with 3-4 players.

3 years & up. Encourage children to explore the five senses with this interactive, easy to follow game. This game will also help children with identifying facial expressions and parts of the body. Use this game in an interactive lesson about the five senses and how they help us function. Includes 2 game boards, 40 laminated game pieces, and a draw-string bag for easy transportation and storage. Made in the USA.

3 years & up. Light up learning with the Wooden Preschool Tabletop Light Box. Designed for early childhood environments, this compact light box provides an illuminated surface that enhances exploration of colors, shapes, textures, and patterns. Children can layer translucent materials, experiment with light and shadow, and investigate cause-and-effect relationships, building foundational STEM skills through play. The durable wooden frame offers stability while the evenly lit surface ensures consistent brightness for clear, vibrant exploration. Its tabletop size makes it easy to integrate into learning centers, small group activities, or independent play. Pefect for use with manipulatives, sensory materials, or art supplies, the light box supports creativity, fine motor development, and critical thinking. Minor assembly required. Measures 26"W x 7"H x 26"D.

3 years & up. Take a closer look and explore the world around you with the Kaplan Magnifiers with Built-In Light! This set of three magnifiers feature 3x to 5x magnification of objects. Turn on the built-in light to improve visibility. Magnifiers measure 5.75", 6", and 6.75" long. Each individual magnifier requires 3 AAA batteries (not included).

2 years and up. Inspire hands-on discovery and early science exploration with the Organic Textures Ocean Discovery Set. Designed for toddlers, this 22-piece collection of realistic natural replicas-featuring shells, fossils, seeds, and coral-invites children to explore textures, shapes, and patterns through tactile play. Perfect for use in sand, water, or classroom environments, the durable pieces encourage curiosity, observation, and critical thinking. Ideal for STEM learning and sensory development, this open-ended set helps young learners make meaningful connections to the natural world while building foundational cognitive and fine motor skills. Largest piece measures 4.1"W x 1.3"H x 3.8" Diameter; smallest piece measures 2"W x 2"H x 3" Diameter.

2 years & up. Encourage experimentation and curiosity with an authentically inspired set of Big Bones. Exploration of big bones can be an engaging and educational experience for young children, sparking their curiosity about the natural world and fostering a deeper understanding of anatomy, history and science. Children can take this easy-to-clean, weighted set outside for exploration with messy materials like dirt, mud, or water, or use inside during loose parts activities. A variety of lengths encourages the discovery of size relationships, counting, and patterning.

12 months & up. Alter the world around you with these Easy Hold Discovery Viewers by Learning Advantage. Different lenses provide different views. Change the color of everything you see with the red, blue and yellow lenses. Distort and magnify things around you with the giant magnifier and the two different types of mirrors. Frame size: 7.25" x 4.75" x 7.5" (insert size is 3.25" in diameter). Included: 6 Easy Hold Discovery Viewers: Magnifier (3x magnification), Concave Mirror, Plane Mirror, Transparent Red, Blue and Yellow Lenses.

3 years & up. Spark curiosity and hands-on discovery with the Wooden Preschool Light Table. Designed to encourage exploration through light, color, and transparency, this illuminated learning center invites children to investigate translucent blocks, natural materials, art projects, and other manipulatives while building observation, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Ideal for STEM investigations, sensory experiences, and collaborative play, the sturdy freestanding table comfortably accommodates up to four prism bases for engaging group activities. Its compact footprint makes it an excellent choice for classrooms, while the lower storage shelf keeps materials organized and within easy reach. Prism bricks and prism plates are sold separately. Minor assembly required. Measures 23"W x 24"H x 23"D.

3 years & up. It's easy to go on an adventure with the View-Master! With bigger and brighter images, this favorite childhood toy has a fresh new look. Take a safari through Africa, swim with dazzling fish, or experience pre-historic life with each View-Master reel. Venture beyond the deep ocean and explore amazing 3D images of marine life. Reels are compatible with all View-Master viewers. Includes: View-Master Viewer, Set of 3 reels containing a total of 21 3D images, Set of 3 Marine Life reels containing and a total of 21 3D images, and a Storage Case.

Birth & up. Nurture multisensory play with this set of Sensory Reflective Balls! Engaging and vibrant, the reflective surfaces of these balls change color in the light as children manipulate each sphere. Providing a slightly distorted reflection in their iridescent surface, these mirrored balls will fascinate children and encourage explorations in facial recognition, descriptive language, and self-esteem. Smooth, lightweight, and easy for small hands to grasp, this set is chemical-free, non-porous, and easy-to-clean. Made of durable, tarnish-resistant, stainless steel, these sensory balls are ideal for all play environments. Measure 2.4", 3.2", 3.9" and 5.9" diameter.

3 years and up. Learn about the weather without interrupting playtime. This set of Explore the Weather Counters depicts 6 different weather patterns (lightning bolt, snowflake, cloud, raindrop, wind, and sun) for children to investigate. The child-sized pieces are perfect for small hands, and each weather pattern has a different surface pattern to spark sensory stimulation. As they play, children will gain valuable scientific knowledge about the world around them.

18 months & up. Explore shapes and patterns in nature with this set of 12 wooden leaf tiles. Bring the outside in by using the tiles to make leaf rubbings, printings and molds of each leaf species. Includes 2 tiles of 6 different leaf patterns: oak, birch, aspen, maple, sweet chestnut and beech. Made from sustainably sourced beechwood. Tiles measure 2.5".

3 years & up. These colorful Magnetic Marbles are so much fun to play with! Set of 24 Magnetic Marbles are great to use in learning activities at school and during at-home play. Incorporate Magnetic Marbles into sensory play centers, early science explorations, counting, sorting and fine motor development activities. Assorted colors; red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple. Each marble measures 0.625" in diameter.

2 years & up. Create your own sensory tubes with this set of 4 clear tubes with dual openings. Includes 8 solid lids (two red, two blue, two yellow, two orange) and 4 vented lids (red, blue, yellow, orange) to let children explore their sense of smell. Lids easily twist on and off, and hold liquid securely inside. Contents shown are not included. Each tube is 12"H x 2" Diameter.

Birth & up. Iridescent discs change color in the light. Children love observing their reflections. Mirrored multi-color discs with slightly flattened centers and graduated sizes provide a distorted reflection. Constructed of stainless steel, they're lightweight, smooth and durable. Improves fine motor skills, dexterity and problem solving as children manipulate these smooth discs. Can be used for stacking, sorting and sensory play. Sizes from 2" - 5.5" diameter.

4 years & up. Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close with the Butterfly Farm. Each Butterfly Farm kit comes with a voucher that you can redeem to receive 5 baby caterpillars, their food, and a Chrysalis Holding Log™. After you transition the caterpillars to the Butterfly Farm, watch them go from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly! Please note that live caterpillars can only be shipped to destinations within the Continental US and Alaska. Caterpillars cannot ship to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Canada. Pop-up habitat measures approximately 12"L x 12"W x 12"H.

3 years & up. Learn about magnetism, develop visual matching skills, and improve eye-hand coordination. Each ring is magnetic -- one side positive and the other negative. When the rings are stacked, they either attract the next ring and pull them together, or repel it and cause it to float. Includes 40 pattern match challenges, 10 magnetic rings, a stand, and a storage bag.

4 years & up. Look like a bug! See like a bug! These unique hinged prismatic glasses let you experience insect sight through compound eyes. Flip the lenses back when you want a clear-eyed view . Bug Goggles Buzzerks® Eyewear portrays super realistic insect detail. Features antennae, mandibles and legs that double as earpieces Made of durable plastic and measure approximately 4" x 5" by 3.5". Colors may vary.

4 years & up. Show children the life cycle and metamorphosis of a living organism with Ladybug Land! Ladybug Land is just what it sounds like, a habitat where ladybugs can grow from larvae into adults. Each habitat comes with a voucher you can redeem to receive a tube of 10 to 15 living ladybug larvae and the food they need. Once they are in your habitat, watch the larvae eat and drink from special gels, form cocoons, and emerge as adult ladybugs!

3 years & up. See the world through kaleidoscope eyes. You can see color prisms while looking through the optic scope. Great addition to the science center. Each teleidoscope is approximately 1.625". Colors may vary.

3 years and up. Bring all four seasons into children's hands with this collection of Changing Seasons Sensory Tubes. These tubes are an excellent way for children to investigate how the seasons change the environment. Each tube has a tree, so children will see what happens to that tree throughout the year from the buds of spring to the snow of winter.

Birth and up. Keep babies calm and captivated with these Calm Down Bottles. Each bottle has a glittery liquid inside that will swirl and sparkle as babies play. In addition to glitter, the liquid contains small objects such as stars and snowflakes that reflect a rainbow of colors off their surfaces. So, babies will receive visual stimulation as well as emotional relaxation. The set includes bottles in blue and mint colors.