Scientific Explorer Crime Catchers Science Kit

I bought this on Prime Day for something fun and interesting to do with my kid this summer. So far, we finished the first mystery, and it was HOURS of fun. It lets kids practice all kinds of skills, including measuring, investigating, exploring, learning about (and testing!) PH, and even extracting DNA!It says its'f or 8+, but my 6 year old loved it and didn't miss a beat. I plan to gift this to a bunch of kids for Christmas or birthdays this year. It's a fantastic and affordable gift!One note: the kit doesn't come with everything you'd need, but are some pretty common household items: rubber band, dish soap, coffee filter, rubbing alcohol, etc are all some things you'll need to have on hand, but it comes with just about everything else you'd need!This kit is fantastic!

Fun kit!! I gave it as a gift to a 9-year old, who is being homeschooled. She loves it! The included directions are pretty good, and most of the items needed are included (you will need some additional things - see picture of list). There isn't much info on the science "behind the concepts", but as long as you realize what this kit can be used for, it is great. I highly recommend this product. Please mark if you find my review helpful. Thank you so much!

This kit is a really fun activity for kids to solve a mystery using forensic science. It has two different mysteries and each one will probably take somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half. I used them with my Girl Scouts and they had a really good time with them. There are enough materials to solve each mystery once, so I put together kits for the girls with extra materials, most of which are easy to come by.The kit covers chromatography, observation, DNA extraction, some basic chemistry with citric acid, measuring, fingerprinting, testing for acid/base, etc. It has some supplemental activities for kids to try as well. My girls are 4th graders and it was the perfect age for them. They needed some help/guidance, but did most of it on their own. Younger kids would definitely need more help. There is a lot of reading and instructions to follow and some of the steps messed up all the girls. I can imagine slightly older kids having fun with it, too. Maybe up to 8th grade. Older kids might enjoy some of the experiments, but it probably won't provide much of a challenge, and the mysteries have results that are completely unrealistic. Even my girls rolled their eyes.This would make a nice gift and is perfect for an afternoon or two of exploration, especially if you do some of the supplemental activities. It contains almost everything you need, but you will also need strawberries, rubbing alcohol, dish soap, and water.

Overall this product was AWESOME! My 8 year old is really into spy, science, and escape room adventures right now. There is a story to guide you through the activities. It takes some time to complete the entire first mystery, but science takes time to work properly. We set timers with Alexa and were golden. Kids read while they waited two 10 minute periods. You will need some things on hand like a piece of fruit, a ruler or measuring tape, liquid dish soap, and more. Overall though, perfect summer morning activity. I’m thinking of buying a few for future birthday presents.

I got this for my 5 year old and she loves it. Yes, it is clearly labeled for 8 years and up - so for her age, it requires a little more parental assistance and guidance. We have only done the first mystery so far - but had a blast. The experiments are fun and the kit provides enough extra so that you can experiment on your own. The book has side notes to give you ideas for other things you can explore beyond the mystery at hand. We used the Ph test strips to compare vinegar and baking soda this morning.The first mystery included using special glasses to find hidden clues in a picture, solving a code, measuring a shoeprint, testing Ph of water and extracting DNA from fruit.I think this was a great purchase and for the quality of time that I got to spend with my daughter and showing her different ways to explore her world - PRICELESS! I would even buy the same kit again for her in a year or two.

The activities are interesting, but they require an adult to set up. The setup instructions are extremely poor. No mention of various additional items you need - like strawberries and rubbing alcohol that needs to be in the freezer for 30 min prior to use. The first experiment requires a ruler or measuring tape and none is mentioned or included. A simple paper ruler would suffice. One part requires use of a pH paper strip. There are great pH strips that have distinct colors for different pH values. The one included could barely change color from one solution to another so difficult to read. Some simple additions and better instructions would make this a great experiment for a budding scientist.

It was fun to do with both the 4 year old and the 8 year old grandkids. They loved it, especially the treasure map. It would be great to do in science class as well.