Fun experiment kits make brilliant gifts for eight-year-olds! Not only are these science kits hands-on and educational, and they’re also loads of fun to do. Looking for some inspiration? With our expert panel of children, we’ve put together the ultimate list of fun experiment kits for 8-year-olds. From STEM sets and solar-powered robotics to fun chemistry projects, here are our top ten picks!
Best Experiment Kits for Eight-Year-Olds:
- Tightrope Walking Gyrobot
- Stars & Planets Science Kit – Little Labs
- The Crazy Scientist – 20 Amazing Tricks
- Windbots – Build 6 Robots
- Robotics Hook Shot – 250 Piece Build Set
- Air Engine Racer – Build Kit
- Roller Coaster Engineering
- Build A Volcano – Experiment Kit
- Engenius Contraptions – Perpetual Marble Run
- Solar Explorer – 6 in 1
1 Tightrope Walking Gyrobot , £25.99 £25.99
This robot won’t fall over – amazing!
Build a robot that performs amazing balancing tricks with in-built gyroscope. This entertaining 43 piece kit will build a robot to walk on different surfaces from a solid tabletop to a soft surface, a tightrope and even on your arm! Thanks to the robot’s main component, a motorized gyroscope, it can maintain its balance and perform these fun tricks without falling over. The illustrated manual has fun experiments to try and explains about the physics of robotics and gyroscopes. Balances so well, a robot fit for the circus!
2 Stars & Planets Science Kit – Little Labs , £19.99 £19.99
Learn all about the solar system
Construct a solar system and conduct experiments to learn about the stars and planets. Do plants grow on other planets? Why does the moon have a face? The answers to these questions and many more can all be found in this inspiring kit with easy hands-on experiments. Great way to learn all about outer space and have fun investigating the solar system. Also useful for NASA job applications.
3 The Crazy Scientist – 20 Amazing Tricks , £9.99 £9.99
Set of 20 experiment cards, from rain in a jar to a cloud in a bottle!
Perfect for curious kids, this brilliant set includes 20 cards, each detailing a “magic trick” demonstrating a scientific concept. Can you create a cloud in a bottle? Do you know why the sky is blue and orange at sunset? Using simple household items, explore the wonders of density, osmosis, air pressure and more.
4 WindBots – 6 in 1 Robot Build Kit , £29.99 £29.99
Build wind-powered robots that can walk, fly & sail – brilliant fun.
Build your own wind-powered robot kit with six different robots. This fun and educational kit is a fantastic way to learn about alternative wind energy, whilst having fun. Easy to assemble, build robots that can walk, fly and even sail, with comical and functional movements. Follow the detailed instruction manual and build everything from a Tricycle-Bot to a Walking-Bot and Car-Bot, even a Yacht-Bot. All powered by natural wind, the hand cranked fan with the kit or even by simply blowing – just brilliant!
5 Robotics Hook Shot – 250 Piece Build Set , £29.99 £29.99
Construct a machine that launches balls in a loop
250-piece construction kit is easy to assemble and requires no batteries or wires. Simply follow the instructions in the 62-page manual to build the 38cm model, then turn the handle to watch it in motion! The mechanism fires balls up and around a loop, then back into the hopper to be launched again. Featuring two alternative builds, eight ping-pong style balls and full colour illustrations.
6 Air Engine Racer – Build Kit , £24.99 £24.99
Awesome air-powered car roars along at 4m a second
Experience the future with this awesome air-powered concept car. Follow the illustrated instructions as you assemble the 113 pieces to build the sleek 20cm model. Flip up the bonnet and pump the handle to build up pressure – then release on a flat surface and watch it go! As the car zooms along at 4m a second, it makes a realistic engine roar.
7 Roller Coaster Engineering , £59.99 £59.99
Exciting physics set with 305 pieces to assemble
Conduct an action-packed series of hands-on physics experiments with this awesome 305 piece science set. Simply piece together the sturdy frame structures and attach the flexible track to build endless roller coaster designs. Experiment with mass and velocity to create cool loop-the-loops and steep drops!
8 Build a Volcano – Experiment Kit , £16.99 £16.99
Build & decorate your own volcano, then make it erupt – incredible!
Construct a large plaster volcano and then make it safely erupt with this awesome DIY kit. Build your own functioning model volcano with this classic STEM kit. With the detailed instructions to guide you, use the Plaster of Paris to cover the sturdy base structure, rigging up the eruption mechanism with the tubing provided. Decorate your creation with paints, leave to dry and then combine non-hazardous materials to create a chemical reaction of flowing ‘lava’! An explosive craft project meets awesome science lesson – an absolute blast!
9 Engenius Contraptions – Perpetual Marble Run , £29.99 £29.99
Round and round it goes…
Eight-year-old engineers will enjoy hours of entertainment with this super-cool marble run! First, assemble the laser-cut plywood sheets to build the run. Next, add the electric motor. Finally, watch in awe as the marbles are raised to the top of the lift, descend the spiral and the zig-zag track, then head back up the spiral to start again, in perpetual motion. A fantastic physics kit for curious kids!
10 Solar Explorer 6 in 1 Kit – Easy Build , £12.99 £12.99
Fun with the sun….
This fun kit allows you to build your very own little robots powered by just the sun. A fun introduction to solar power and renewable energy, this easy to build kit has six moving robots powered by a solar panel. Everything is in the kit to build the different models, from a walking robot dog and solar plane to a fun boat or solar car. Or come up with your own design if you feel really creative, all powered up by simply sitting on the window-sill. Entertaining mini project to learn whilst having fun.
These are just some of our most popular science toys for children, all guaranteed to make them smile whilst learning. Children love to learn and are very curious about the world. These fun science gifts will help them explore and discover, while having a great time, perfect! To see our full range of science kits click here.
For more brilliant toys for 8-year-olds, check out what’s popular on our website!
Which dinosaur had the best vocabulary? The Thesaurus!
