Disclosure: This box was received free for review.
The box shipped in a large brown box. Everything for the project was inside a plastic container.
The Book
There is an informative workbook that guides children through learning about germs. The sticker can be stuck in their sticker books or their book bag.
There is an introduction to microbes and the International Space Station.
There is information about the International Space Station (ISS) and the experiment they did on germs.
There are a couple more pages about microbiology and different types of bacteria.
Once you get to the pages on the experiment, there is information about the experiment, the space kit, and the scientific method.
Your child can write down their hypothesis before they begin the experiment. There are two different sets of instructions, one for a microwave prep and the other using a hotplate. We used the microwave method.
There are details instructions for every step, including, how to wipe the cotton swabs on the Petri dishes. Your child will take samples of germy areas around the house and then watch how the bacteria grow over the course of 15 days.
As you watch things grow, there are examples of how to observe your Petri Dishes.
There are final observations and questions to note on the last pages.
The Supplies
The kit includes a sleeve of 13 Fisherbrand Petri Dishes.
This is one of the Petri Dishes.
The plastic bags are used to hold each Petri dish during the growth and the tape is used to tape the lid onto the dish.
There were plenty of cotton swabs in the kit, enough for 6 swabs.
We got 3 pairs of rubber gloves, so you don’t have to reuse them.
There is also a disposable apron to protect your clothes. The code on the piece of paper is used to log into the portal. There, your child can see each day of the experiment done in space.
The Experiment
First, you take the entire container of agar powder and put it in a microwavable safe container. You put in 200ml of distilled water and microwave for 60-90 mins. You get the mixture to boil for 5 seconds and if the solution isn’t clear, microwave for 10-15 secs.
This is a mixture once it’s clear.
Once it has cooled down, you filled the Petri dishes 1/4 way full.
My oldest then started swabbing areas around the house.
Each Petri Dish was tapped around the lid, flipped over and put in a clear bag. We ended up doing five samples: laptop, toilet, door handle, phone, and a remote. As the 15 days pass, I will update the review with pictures of what we found.
Final Thought While $79.95 isn’t cheap, one of the great things about this kit is that it lasts for 15 days. If your kids are struggling with boredom already this summer, this gives them an educational and fun project to do for 1/2 a month. You can grab this kit from their site and use the code sbmom25 to save $25.00 on your kit!
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