Nancy B's Microscope & Activity Journal Nancy B's Microscope & Activity Journal

Nancy B's Microscope & Activity Journal

byNancy B

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$49.95

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about

Experience science with Nancy Balter!
Nobody knows science like Nancy. Her brand-new line of scientific tools and real-life journaling activities provide hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life.
Scientific experiences designed for kids ages 8–11

Microscope and Activity Journal includes 40+ piece dual microscope (2 LEDs transform the dissecting microscope into a light microscope) with magnification from 30x to 400x and twenty-two-page journal including activities and space for drawings, such as examining cells, looking at crystals, observing bugs, and viewing critters in water. Requires 3AAA batteries

Product name:Nancy B's Microscope & Activity Journal Dimensions:8.75" H × 9.25" W × 4.25" LShipping weight:1.2 lbs.Requires:AAA 3 Batteries - Not IncludedUPC:086002053503

Appropriate for ages: 8 - 12

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Reviews

Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great gift for my daughter! I love that my daughter can use this on her own and it's encouraging her to love science!
Date published: 2017-11-21
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Good quality microscope for kids It's not easy to find a good quality microscope for kids that isn't too expensive. Nancy B's Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal fits the bill! The microscope comes with four prepared slides and my son poured over them so much that I ordered additional prepared slides. I was impressed by the clarity with which we were able to view the slides. I also liked the activity journal that came with the microscope. It showed us how to prepare our own slides and continue learning. The activities were fun for my son yet easy for me to assist him with so I considered the journal to be a valuable addition to the microscope.
Date published: 2017-11-05
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great for suggested ages and also for older kids as well I ordered the Educational Insights Nancy B's Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal and was mainly looking forward to utilizing for the science section of school for my kids (we homeschool our kids). The night we received it and took the microscope out of the box, I was amazed at how eager all of my kids were to get their hands on it! My fourteen year old son was especially excited about checking out different things under the different magnifications. When I was a kid, I had a microscope but, instead of a built-in light, I had to rely on a quarter-sized mirror at the bottom of the unit to reflect light across the specimen. Thankfully, this microscope is self-lit and it makes viewing the items on the slides a HUGE breeze! This item is great for my younger homeschooled kids in grades 1st and 3rd, but this has also proved helpful with my son's experiments in 9th grade Biology. Thanks for making such a fun and easy to use product. I anticipate relying on this tool throughout the school year and just for fun :)
Date published: 2017-10-29
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Greta for future scientist! Very life like... lots of stuff to see. And capabilities of exploring new things to see.
Date published: 2017-09-29
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great gift A wonderful gift, my daughter loves science
Date published: 2017-07-28
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Wonderful product This microscope is wonderful. It is perfect for my daughter who loves science. I love that this product line is geared towards girls. So nice!
Date published: 2016-12-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love it! Education Insight's Nancy B's Science Club® Microscope and Activity Journal is an absolutely wonderful product for kids! As a homeschooling mom I've been on the hunt for the perfect microscope for my daughter. She absolutely loves nature and learning about new things so I knew Nancy B's Science Club® Microscope and Activity Journal would be something she'd really enjoy. I'm blown away by the quality of this Nancy B's Science Club® Microscope. I've seen many microscopes on my hunt for the perfect one and none of them even compare to this one. I love that it has a light both on top and on bottom. It works perfectly and does 30x, 100x, and 400x magnifications which is perfect for viewing even the tiniest of things. I also love that it comes with a few sample slides so you can begin using the microscope right away. You can also use the blank slides to create your own slides which is my daughters favorite thing to do. My daughter enjoys finding new things to view and is extremely excited to use her Activity Journal to document her findings. Nancy B's Science Club® Microscope and Activity Journal is a fabulous set. I highly recommend it! It comes with everything you need to get started and is sure to be enjoyed for years to come!
Date published: 2016-02-24
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Fantastic Product! I LOVE THIS! My kids and I spent hours looking at things like fly wings, saliva, cotton, couch fibers, etc. My eight year old wants to collect different leaves and compare them now, while my six year old wants to look at the hairs from the cats, dogs and rabbit we own to see if they look different. They can keep notes on what they see and compare and contrast them, which I think is GREAT! This is a fantastic product, especially for the value! It is easy to use and my kids were able to use it themselves with very little to no help from me. I would definitely recommend this and gift one to a few friends!
Date published: 2015-11-05
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Fantastic What a great microscope, we used the slides it came with to look at, and it is such detail. The kids were amazed at how much they can see, and were surprised at what simple things looked like when they are magnified. The work book is great for getting involved in more details, and doing your own experiments. We are working on getting the onion peel right now, and seeing all the cells. Fantastic!
Date published: 2015-10-31
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Overwhelming "Wows" from my 7 year old daughter. My 7-Year-Old Daughter unpacked this Microscope and could instantly identify what it was. As we reviewed what the slides were and how to adjust the magnification, I popped in the Fish Scale sample that comes with the kit. I heard her give an audible "ahhh, wow!" As a Dad, these are moments we live for. To see our kids find wonder in things we once did. I love the science kit that accompanies this instrument, as well as the journal. There are a lot of examples on how to collect samples, and what to look for. I'm looking forward to going exploring more things we can investigate together and feel this will help to foster that sense of wonder for Science. Overall, the equipment is sturdy, it has bot an under-light and an over-light. It allows you to be your own scientist. Nice Job EI. This is a big win.
Date published: 2015-10-30
Rated 4 out of 5 by from This is a great toy version of a true microscope This is a great toy version of a true microscope. I really liked the durable and safe plastic slides and slip covers. It is really nice that it comes with some pre-made slides for immediate learning and exploration. The light is bright enough to see the images and the magnification for a plastic toy is fantastic. I was surprised by the quality and ability of this microscope and the magnification. One recommendation would be to include a box/case for storage of all of the small parts. I imagine they will easily get lost/broken/or misplaced without somewhere for them to live. I'd recommend this toy for budding scientist explorers
Date published: 2015-10-30
Rated 5 out of 5 by from My son rated it AWESOME!!!!!!! It's his new favorite toy. I got the Nancy B's Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal for my curious first grader. When my son saw it, he was so excited and couldn't wait to try it. Although it's purple and teal and seems designed more for girls, it didn't bother him at all. The microscope comes fully assembled but needs three AAA batteries. It's small and lightweight; a child can carry it to the table. This microscope has a bottom light (light microscope) and a top light (dissecting microscope) with three different magnifications: 30x, 100x, and 400x. Also included are various tools (no sharp edges) as well as a 22-page activity journal. It's sturdy and looks like it can stand up to rough play. There are prepared slides as well as blank slides with cover slips and slide labels. I do wish it came with more prepared slides, a storage case for the microscope, and a reusable bag for the tools. The first thing my son did was view the four prepared slides (stoma, peacock feather, wool, & goldfish scale). He was able to adjust the light source, magnification power, and focus by himself. The 30x and 100x had good views, but we had trouble seeing things with the 400x. This magnification would probably be more suitable with cheek cells or microorganisms. The journal is very thoughtful and well written. Besides teaching you how to use the microscope, the scientific method, and documentation, it also includes interesting activities. The language is easy for children to understand and the activities are straightforward. Various user tips and fun facts are also found throughout the book. Many parents may not have the time, knowledge, or inclination to create activities for the microscope on their own. Don't worry about it; it's already been done for you. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars, an excellent toy. He said, "Mom, Nancy B makes the best toys ever!!!!!!!" (He said to include seven exclamation points.) We received this product in exchange for an honest review.
Date published: 2015-10-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great science tool for kids! I'm a homeschooler and was thrilled when I found out Educational Insights has a line of science tools that were affordable and kid-friendly. The microscope and book work well together. The activities were easy to accomplish and manageable as far as suggested materials. My 1st grader loves it! I appreciate that it increased her enjoyment of science and exploring.
Date published: 2015-10-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great for my 8 year old! The Nancy B. Microscope is great for my 8 year old and I love that she still has many years to grow into it. The activity book is perfect and helps her and I have in-depth conversations about science, but the best part is that the microscope is still fun for my 5 year old and she can be included in the activity as well. I love that both my girls are now excited about science finding things around the house that they can look at in the microscope. As well, the activity book helps mom (a non-scientist) teach and learn with them.
Date published: 2015-10-27
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great product to introduce kids to microscopic science My 8 year old daughter is a STEM girl, and so far is really enjoying this product. The microscope came with a bunch of slides, some pre-made and some to make on her own, and a number vials, tubes and tools for exploring the microscopic world around up. The accompanying book has about a dozen experiments to try and journal about, which supports the scientific process and teaches about documenting your findings, which is great. I think my daughter also appreciated that the microscope and book were are pretty as they were functional (something she really appreciates). Unlike many of the other reviewers, we have had no issues with focusing at any of the three magnification levels - it just takes some time to get used to how it works. The bottom light seems much dimmer than the top light, which may be the way all microscopes work (I have never really used one before). Some other reviewers describe the item as flimsy. It IS plastic, but works really well. I think if it is treated right, it will last. I don't think anyone could find something with more substance (metal?) at this price point. It is perfect for a kid to get experience with microscopic science and if they take to it, you can always upgrade to a more expensive model later. I took off one star because I do wish the manual and instructions were a little bit more descriptive, with pictures maybe, of what each accessory is and looks like. The slide covers and slide labels are in the same container, with the labels on top and covers under. In the diagram, which is a side view, it wasn't clear what the cover looked like and my daughter had two slides with labels instead of covers, despite reading the instructions carefully (I read them myself and can see how she was confused by them). My other other wish is that it came with some kind of storage box (although I understand it would probably raise the price point). There are a lot of accessories/slides with it, and I am now looking for an affordable
Date published: 2015-10-26
Rated 5 out of 5 by from An amazing intro to a science wonderland We just got Nancy B's Microscope and Activity Journal. This microscope was the perfect introduction for my eight year old to the world beyond what the naked eye can see. In fact, she was the one who came up with the title of this review. The kit included premade slides with specimens that she found fascinating. Her favorite one was the peacock feather. And then she spent the next few days going through our house and garden making various slides of everything she could find. I loved the fact the she learned the difference between a light microscope (light source coming from the bottom) and dissecting telescope (light coming from top). She would look at every specimen both ways and at all 3 magnifications. She has just started the actual activity journal and is so excited with each activity. A big hit in our house!
Date published: 2015-10-26
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good starter miscrosope This is a great beginner microscope. My 6-year old liked playing with it. The prepared slides are great to start observing right away. I wish there were more included. The journal has good ideas for making slides on your own and other things to observe. For my 6-year old, I did have to help her each time putting the slide in the right spot so that the specimen comes into view (but this would be of any microscope). My review would have been 5 if this kit came with a pouch or a box to store all the small pieces.
Date published: 2015-10-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great educational toy for little scientists! My daughters love this microscope. Science class is one of their favorite so they were super excited when they received this microscope. They are constantly looking for items to put under it. Every time we are in the park, they pick up nature's things to then use with their microscope at home. Keeps them busy for hours and it's educational. Happy kids = happy mom. The microscope seems to be well built and is easy to use.
Date published: 2015-10-20
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Pretty good science toy. Pretty good for my 9 year old. She loves science experiments and this one was a hit. Everything works well except the 400X magnification was little smoky. 30X and 100X works great. We collected many different samples from outside and had fun looking at them. Our favorite one was looking at an ant. We could even see the little detail of the eye of the ant. I would way this is a pretty good toy!! Four stars just because of the clarity of the 400x lens.
Date published: 2015-10-20
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Beautifully packaged, a little difficult to use This microscope is really attractive and came beautifully packaged. My five-year old was super excited, as she's in a major "scientist" phase right now. She was thrilled to open up the microscope. The microscope came with a few prepared slides, which were great for simply unboxing and being able to use it right away. I found it a little difficult to use, having only experience with the types of microscopes used in science classes. We struggled to find a lot of the slides through the microscope, but once we did, we were excited to see them. Our favorite was the peacock feather, as it was easy to view and really was neat to see up close. I also really liked how many additional empty slides the kit comes with. I found that the entire microscope kit (including lots of instruments) was really nicely put together. I think that the actual journal will be really fun for us to go through. It has lots of great experiments that can be conducted in the yard and around the house. I look forward to doing it with my daughter, and hopefully furthering her interest in science.
Date published: 2015-10-12
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great boy toy This is a great alternative to the typical boy toys (cars and weapons)! My two boys are entertained and feel involved when playing with the microscope. They've been using it for a few weeks now. It's easy to use, designed for small hands with limited coordination, and it feels sturdy, not something they break the first time they use it. I explained how to use the toy, explained what they were looking at, and they took it from there! They don't use the journal as they are just learning how to write. The kids enjoy the zoom button and enjoy the different views on different items, it appease their curiosity and investigative senses. I highly recommend!
Date published: 2015-10-08
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great Science Practice! Got this for my science-loving, almost 9-year-old daughter. The journal is wonderful - walked her through how to use the microscope and included enough activities to get her comfortable with the tool and kept her engaged for quite some time. Sturdy and well-made. I foresee her using it for years to come. Would make a great birthday or holiday gift!
Date published: 2015-10-04
Rated 5 out of 5 by from A great introduction to scientific study There are many ways that the beauty in intricacies of the world can be introduced to children, and many science and educational toys work to accomplish this. However, one of my favorites has always been the microscope. Instead of focusing on one particular facet of science, like insects or rocks or cells, the microscope can allow children to see that there is a deeper layer of understanding for any object within their grasp. A drop of blood, dash of salt, a scrap of paper, a strand of hair. Almost anything, when studied through microscope, reveals a whole new world beyond our usual perception. Not only is this interesting in and of itself, but it also opens the door to conversations about deeper, more fundamental structure of matter. Any microscope designed for children can accomplish this, but I was particularly impressed with this model for a number of reasons. Considering the cost, it is well designed and well constructed. The option of lighting from above and below the slide is particularly useful for a variety of specimens, the lenses and magnification are easy to work with, and its compact and sleek design make it difficult to destroy even by eager young fingers. The focus knob and the zoom lever are easy to find, and the rubberized bottom makes it much more practical for use on table surfaces without the risk of sliding or toppling. The journal, which I was expecting to be a throwaway inclusion just to pad things out, was in fact a beautifully designed introduction to the scientific method and proposed a variety of activities enhancing the use of the microscope in ways I had not even considered. It was far more approachable and insightful than most of the grade school textbooks I have seen, which means a child fully using the materials with this microscope would get a better education than going to class. Seriously, though, the journal is also of particular effectiveness for parents who do not have the time or knowledge to help guide their kids through getting the most out of this elegant and genuine scientific instrument. My complaints, what they are, are extremely minor. One is that the 'dissecting' (from above) light is a fixed piece with the part that holds the slide, which means that it is very difficult to look at the surfaces of larger objects under the microscope because they won't fit in the limited staging area. The field of vision shifts to the left and right when the focus knob is turned, especially at high-power, which can be a frustration, though the movement is relatively minor. While I have a daughter, I could see how an insecure boy might be put off by the teal and purple color scheme, though I enjoy it. The white interior surface had small smears of the teal outer paint on it, though this again was very minor and does not affect performance. Considering that those are all the issues I could find, this is a wonderful product. If you are considering something to get the kid in your life excited about science, this is a great one.
Date published: 2015-09-25
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great beginner microscope for young kids I am writing this as a reviewer of the product, but all views are my own and that of my family. Our almost 7 year old and 4.5 year old girls had a great time learning about microscopes and how they are used. They were super excited to receive it, and were immediately curious about all the various parts. The best part was watching them trying to get all sorts of "specimens" to look at under the microscope. It comes with a few samples (as a parent, I wish there were more) but I suppose half the fun is getting the kids to make their own slides. The microscope is well made for its modest price. I read other reviews about its construction and I think it is fine for the price and target audience of young kids. You supply your own three AAA batteries and in addition to the microscope, it comes with a package of other items including vials, test tubes, dropper, tweezers, scalpel, scraper, pre made and blank slides, and necessary stickers/labels. It is pretty inclusive but make note that the tools are for young kids so the scalpel, tweezers and scraper are not sharp at all and fine for young hands. Our girls found it pretty interesting as they rotated from 30x to 100x to 400x. It does take some adult help to adjust the magnification so that it becomes clear at the various magnifications but I enjoyed being involved with them. The only annoying aspect I discovered so far is that the adhesives for the slides are difficult to peel off when you are making your own slides, so I wasted a few already but I think it is possible to buy additional blank slides so hopefully they come with additional adhesives and labels. Overall, a great beginner microscope and my 4.5 year old daughter asked me if she could become a scientist one day after playing with this microscope so I am pretty happy about this!
Date published: 2015-09-22
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Happy to see my 8 year old playing with a microscope! My 8 year old daughter received this as a gift just before a long week end. She spent the entire week end using the microscope. She figured out how to use it herself. It is so user friendly, but sophisticated enough to engage her for hours! It came with a great activity journal that kept her and her friend busy exploring things around the house for hours. Plus it inspired them to write their own. Although it is plastic, it is durable and easy to pack to take along to the park.
Date published: 2015-09-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It is a easy to use microscope for small I was given as a review item. All views are my own. When I was little I was not a girly girly girl. I didn't play with dolls. I played with cars and building blocks. Girl toys didn't interest me. My room was wall to wall shelves with dolls I never even played with. Stuffed critters covered my bed but never were played with. Then one year for xmas my dad got me a microscope and computer. It would change my life later on. I loved them. I would sit for hours playing with my microscope. I want my kids to get that same feeling. Nancy B Microscope has been a great way I have been able to teach and connect with Rowan. I was so tickled to get to review this product. It is a full set with blank slides and everything you need to make your own. Don't worry the scalpel and tweezers are plastic and safe. It is a easy to use microscope for small hands. Comes with a Journal to write down what they see and discover. Has three different miginfing settings. A cover for eye lens to keep it clean. both upper and lower lights for better viewing. Has three pre-made slides to get you started. This has Rowan loving looking at things in a different way. He really loves learning about what things look up close. It is a well make educational toy. Will last for years. Can be use with your homeschool curriculum. As a great way to get your child into Science. Even if you don't homeschool it makes a great gift for any child. Make it a gift that could change their life for the better. Here is more on Nancy B Microscope : Zoom in on the fun with our microscope! This 2-in-1 light and dissecting microscope gives up-close views-30x, 100x, and 400x magnifications-of anything you can imagine, from peacock feathers and goldfish scales to your own skin and cheek cells. The included keepsake journal features 22 pages of fun science experiments for kids and activities from observation to creative writing, drawing, and more. Shh...They're Learning! Introduces learners to a real science tool Conduct safe and fun science experiments/activities Parent-free learning Encourages self-discovery Cut to the Chase 2-in-1 Light and dissecting microscope with 30x, 100x, and 400x magnifications Full set of science tools: tweezers, scalpel, petri dish, spatula, stirring rod, test tube, pipette, 7 cover slips and slide labels, 4 prepared slides, 7 blank slides, and specimen vial) Rubber eye cup ensures comfort while observing 22-Page activity journal Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included)
Date published: 2014-11-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great tool for a child to explore The microscope is simple to use and is a lovely design. It also comes with lots of accessories which really help you collect your samples and manipulate them. The microscope has varying magnitudes as well as a top and bottom light for viewing objects differently. We were impressed with the quality of the magnified images, the detail was clear, which makes this a lovely science tool for a child to have and learn from. It comes with both blank and pre prepared slides which is great and really helps to give you an idea of what sort of things to look at and how to put things on the slide. The activity journal is a huge bonus as it really starts you off with some simple ideas and has lots of ideas to try, but of course the possibilities of what to view are endless, making this a lasting gadget with lots of value and uses. My daughter loves it and we'd really recommend this.
Date published: 2014-07-23
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Learning Toy! Both of my girls (4 and 10) enjoyed this Microscope. works well enough to get kids interested in science and microbiology.It really does function quite well, especially for its purpose, which is to introduce children to science. It does the trick very nicely, and is sturdy enough to hold up to rough handling.My older daughter is all into science so this was perfect for her. she can spend hours makings slides and looking into them. It would be nice if it came with a pouch or box to keep all the slides and vials together.
Date published: 2014-01-18
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Christmas surprise look! My granddaughter was uncertain what she had received until we put the first prepared slide nto the field. She loved the experience and thought of many other things she wished to view. I had looked at other microscopes that were more powerful but believe the design is perfect for a 7 year old
Date published: 2014-01-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love this microscope! We gave this to our 8 year old daughter for Christmas. She absolutely loves it. It's small and lightweight so it travels easily for her to grandmas house and I'm certain it will be headed to the beach with us on vacation this year. Definitely worth every penny. I was skeptical because of the size and all of the plastic, but it has quickly proven that it is a capable little microscope. I'm sure we'll be getting a bigger, heavy duty microscope in years to come for our little science lover, but this is perfect right now.
Date published: 2014-01-06