Solar Energy

by Poof Slinky

Product Features

• Discover the power of the sun!
• More than 25 experiments!
• Not recommended for children 3 and under
• Ages 8 and Up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006O8DKE
• Item model number: 2010
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,634 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #83 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Solar
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Solar Energy

Product Description

Build your own solar energy lab. -- Comes complete with solar energy collector, solar heater, energy focusing lens and thermometer. -- Easy to assemble. Includes instructions for more than 25 experiments. Ages 8 and up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for hands-on discussions of solar energy!, September 4, 2008

By 

H. Sapiens "Amanda" (SF Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solar Energy (Toy)

I completed the projects in this book with the assistance of a 4 year old and a nearly 10 year old.

This would be an excellent weekend project or home schooler project. It could be easily adapted for use in school - with maybe 1 set per 2-4 children. In our case, it was a weekend project.

In the box are instructions for nearly 20 different projects (although many are redundant - e.g. do it outside, then do it inside) studying the effects of solar energy. Several projects could conceivably be done simultaneously (although some education value might be lost). It took us about 3 laid back days to complete them (with maybe 20-40 m hands-on time).

The first project is to set up the thermometer and mark it. It should have been pre-marked at the 20C mark, which ours was not. This was pretty simple for me to figure out using another thermometer. The book starts you off discussing the various types of energy and why solar energy is so exciting (great discussion topic). The information contained was accurate and appropriate for a wide range of ages (I simplified text for the 4 year old, and asked some follow-ups and gave some examples to clarify things for the 9 year old). The first several projects deal with taking temperatures and do not require the little solar panel - e.g. setting water-filled cups (you provide) on colored paper, white paper and measuring the temperature of the water across several time points, making a mini-water heater.

We did skip some of the redundant projects. However, they are all educational and really useful for engaging their interest in alternative energy sources. Additionally, I had the children predict the outcome at each step - which is useful when discussing scientific method. We talked about solar ovens, hybrid cars, solar powered fountains, solar panels on roofs... Fabulous!

As nothing in the kit is used up, you can come back to the exercises repeatedly. Great price - fun project!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, April 8, 2009

By 

Lissette Berdote-Barroso "Pubear14" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solar Energy (Toy)

I bought this as a x-mas present for an 11 year old. He loved it. Some parts were a bit flimsy, but the end result was pretty cool. =)

3.0 out of 5 stars Hours of amusement, December 27, 2011

By 

K. Garrison - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solar Energy (Toy)

Had a number of uses for this toy that were included with it. Was good for an 11 year old boy who is very much into science. This was the best price (returned one I bought at a Science Store for $5 more than the Amazon price)