Best Black Friday science kit deals

Science kit deals: Image of kids playing with science kit
(Image credit: Getty / M_a_y_a)

If your kids are naturally creative and inquisitive, these black friday science kit deals are too good to pass up. Including cooking kits, these deals also mean your child can spend days of fun completing experiments. 

Playing with science kits not only gives your child a break from staring at a screen for hours at a time but also gives them the opportunity to participate in a hands-on educational experience. Teach them the science behind some impressive magic tricks with the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Science Magic Kit — now 22% at Amazon! The whole family can participate too, as most of these kits have easy-to-follow directions and include everything you’ll need for the experiments.

Check out our list of science kit deals. It's updated regularly so you’ll always know what's in stock. More gifts for kids can be found at Live Science’s Osmo deals.

Today's best science kit deals

Learn & Climb Dynamo Science Kit for Kids: $34.99$24.99 on Amazon
was $34.99 now $24.99 at amazon.com

Learn & Climb Dynamo Science Kit for Kids: $34.99 $24.99 on Amazon
You can get save 28% off this science kit at Amazon. This product is ideal for big families and a great choice for gifting. With good reviews on Amazon, Learn & Climb offers several types of science kits, each offering a variety of STEM and chemistry activities for kids. 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Stunning Chemistry Set: $34.99  $24.49 on Amazon
was $34.99 now $24.49 at Amazon US

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Stunning Chemistry Set: $34.99  $24.49 on Amazon
Some truly classic kids' experiments can be found in this kit, including erupting a volcano, creating a geyser, launching a rocket and more! This kit is 30% off at Amazon. 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Science Magic Kit: $29.99  $23.99 on Amazon
 
was $29.99 now $23.99 at Amazon US

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Science Magic Kit: $29.99  $23.99 on Amazon
Teach the science behind a range of impressive magic tricks with this science kit from National Geographic. Save 20% on the usual price on Amazon!   

BBC Doctor Who Coding Kit: was $74.95, now $44.97 at Amazon
$44.97 at Amazon US

BBC Doctor Who Coding Kit: was $74.95, now $44.97 at Amazon

This STEM coding kit might be the perfect gift for the curious kid in your life. Recommended for ages 7 and up, with no coding experience required, the Doctor Who HiFive Inventor Coding Kit comes with: a HiFive mini-computer, ]complete with built-in sensors, a color-LED display, a lighted USB cable, external battery pack, speaker and alligator clips. Are you ready to build an intergalactic weather station? Save 40% for Cyber Monday.

National Geographic Earth Science Kit - Over 15 - was $29.99, now $20.99 at Amazon
was $29.99 now $20.99 at Amazon US

National Geographic Earth Science Kit - Over 15 - was $29.99, now $20.99 at Amazon
With 30% off this stunning science kit from National Geographic, kids will love exploring 15 experiments - from building a volcano to growing a crystal. Detailed and fun learning guides bring science to life and instill a wonder for the natural world.

$65.99$33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN Deluxe 110-Piece Science Station Kit $65.99 $33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN's Science Station Kit is now available with 46% off its usual price, saving you $29.99! Included are experiment test cards, beakers, test tubes, flasks and all the tools for your child to begin their safe experiments.

SNAEN 63-piece Science Experiment Kit$45.99$26.00 at Amazon

SNAEN 63-piece Science Experiment Kit $45.99 $26.00 at Amazon

You can save an explosive 43% on this science experiment kit, which also comes with a handy storage box, experiment cards, and all safe chemical compounds in their individual containers.

Playz Explosive Kitchen Lab: $69.95 $39.95 at Amazon
$39.95 at Amazon US

Playz Explosive Kitchen Lab: $69.95 $39.95 at Amazon

At 43% off this science kit, kids will have a blast, literally, with the more than 26 explosive kitchen experiments that also educate them about acids, pH scale, DNA and more!

Mars Rover PiCar-B Robot Car Kit $86.89 $59.49 on Amazon
was $86.89 now $59.49 at Amazon US

Mars Rover PiCar-B Robot Car Kit $86.89 $59.49 on Amazon
Build your very own AI robot rover, powered by Raspberry Pi, and using Python coding. The kit comes with a step-by-step guide to build, code and even control the rover using voice commands.

Thames & Kosmos Ooze Labs Chemistry Station Science Experiment Kit: $39.95$29.99 at Amazon
Great deal on kids terrarium
was $39.95 now $34.15 at Amazon US

Thames & Kosmos Ooze Labs Chemistry Station Science Experiment Kit: $39.95 $29.99 at Amazon
Kids can play "chemist" with all the ingredients to create their own lab and conduct experiments. Included are beakers, test tubes, flasks, pipettes and more. 

Uncle Milton Ant Farm: $14.69$11.46 at Amazon
Great deal on kids terrarium

Uncle Milton Ant Farm: $14.69 $11.46 at Amazon

Your kids can watch live ants dig tunnels, build bridges, move "mountains" and more. For kids 6 and up, the kit includes a STEM learning guide to help children learn about amazing behavior and anatomy of ants. Don't worry about any insect escapees, as there's a self-locking device on the farm that still allows access for feeding and giving water to the teensy inhabitants. Amazon is selling the kit for 22% off.

Learn & Climb Science Kit for Kids: $44.99 $29.99 at Amazon
was $44.99 now $29.99 at Amazon US

Learn & Climb Science Kit for Kids: $44.99 $29.99 at Amazon

Save 33% on this giant science kit packed with more than 60 experiments, including a glowing lava lamp, an explosive volcano and other bubbling concoctions, while learning about magnetism, chemical reactions, acids and bases, and more.

Grow-n-Glow Terrarium: $14.99 $12.97 at Amazon
$10.96 at Amazon US

Grow-n-Glow Terrarium: $14.99 $12.97 at Amazon

Your little naturalist can get "dirty" indoors with this glowing terrarium kit. The kit includes everything they'll need to craft, plant, water and grow a mini ecosystem. What's included: plastic mason-style jar, potting mix (vermiculite), organic chia and wheat grass seeds, glow-in-the-dark forest figurines and more. Just add water!

Thames & Kosmos Kids First Chemistry Set: $45.00 $35.80 at Amazon
was $45 now $35.80 at Amazon US

Thames & Kosmos Kids First Chemistry Set: $45.00 $35.80 at Amazon
For the child who can't wait to put on those safety goggles and start mixing ingredients, this might be the perfect science kit, and it's now 14% off at Amazon. 

Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit: $22.00$15.99 at Amazon

Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit: $22.00 $15.99 at Amazon

Embrace your inner 007 and learn about science, with this kit, which offers two exciting mysteries to solve using eight scientific activities. Learn about how crime labs work as you match fingerprints, analyze DNA and test liquids and powders. Recommended for ages 8 and up. And right now, Amazon is selling the kit for 27% off.

Playz My First Coding & Computer Science Kit: $44.95 $29.95 at Amazon
was $44.95 now $29.95 at Amazon US

Playz My First Coding & Computer Science Kit: $44.95 $29.95 at Amazon

Kids as young as 6 can learn about computer coding with this Playz science kit. With the kit and instruction book, your child can create and play with binary necklaces, ancient encryption devices, sorting races, mystery mazes, pixelated pictures and more. 

Thames & Kosmos Ooze Labs: $29.95 $14.40 at Amazon
$14.40 at Amazon US

Thames & Kosmos Ooze Labs: $29.95 $14.40 at Amazon

With this "Alien Slime Lab Science Experiment Kit," your child gets to be the lead chemist in an out-of-this-world lab, where they must  identify funky "alien" oozes by using science! The kit, which is recommended for ages 7 and up, is at an out-of-this world discount, selling at Amazon for 52% off the normal retail price. 

Green Science Potato Clock: $19.95$18.68 at Amazon
was $19.95 now $18.68 at Amazon US

Green Science Potato Clock: $19.95 $18.68 at Amazon

Did you know that you can generate electricity with fruits or vegetables? This 4M kit provides everything you'll need (except the produce) to turn a potato into a working battery that can power an electronic clock: a digital clock, wires and prongs.

Right now, Amazon is offering the kit for 6% off.

Hape Junior Inventor Optical Science Lab: $39.99 $30.80 at Amazon
$32.14 at Amazon US

Hape Junior Inventor Optical Science Lab: $39.99 $30.80 at Amazon

You won't believe your eyes when you peer at all of the optical creations in this science kit. Kids ages 4 and up can conduct eight optical science experiments that involve creating: a periscope, a cone Illusion, a 3D viewer, a rotating kaleidoscope, an Infinity mirror, an optical lab, an optical illusion pendulum and a camera obscura.

hand2mind Launch Rocket STEM Kit: $29.95 $25.50 at Amazon
$25.50 at Amazon US

hand2mind Launch Rocket STEM Kit: $29.95 $25.50 at Amazon

Reach for the stars with a kit for making and launching your own rockets. Along the way, kids will learn about propulsion and spaceflight. The included guide walks kids through different careers connected to rocket propulsion, along with step-by-step instructions for completing several rocket experiments. (Some household items are not included.) Kit is recommended for children ages 8 to 12.

: $21.99 $16.99 at Amazon
$16.99 at Amazon US

National Geographic Crystal Growing Garden: $21.99 $16.99 at Amazon

Kids can learn about the crystallization process and physical properties of different states of matter as they watch their crystal trees grow. The branches begin to sprout in minutes though an entire cherry or evergreen tree will take 6 hours to complete. Kids can use one of five watercolor pens to give their trees a fun hue as it grows. The kit also comes with a real geode, with crystal inside.

Discovery Kids Gemstone Dig Science Kit: $19.99 $8.99 at Amazon
$8.99 at Amazon US

Discovery Kids Gemstone Dig Science Kit: $19.99 $8.99 at Amazon

Inside this container is a tiny world: a miniature garden that can be illuminated at night by a built-in LED light. The kit includes colored sand, rocks and soil; wheatgrass and chia seeds; whimsical miniatures of a mushroom and a rabbit; and tools for planting and watering the seeds. For Cyber Monday, Amazon is offering the kit for 55% off. 

How to choose a science kit

There are so many options when looking for the perfect science kit for your child or a friend. Here are some factors to think about when scanning the "shelves" for an entertaining and educational kit.

Interest: Some kids have very particular interests that match perfectly with certain science kits. For your dinosaur enthusiast, you can choose from a slew of paleontology-geared kits that let them dig for bones and learn about the Jurassic along the way. A free-spirited naturalist could dive into a bug-catching set, an ant farm or a build-your-own terrarium. For children who have an array of interests, or even those who might want to expand their minds, you can think about the types of activities and experiences they like. A child who loves physical activity might enjoy a stomp-rocket kit or a virtual reality science kit that lets them interact with the universe as an astronaut. Someone with an interest in mixing ingredients for cooking might also love a magic potions kit or one that guides them in making candy while learning about food chemistry. 

Materials: Some of these kits come with just enough materials to perform certain experiments one or two times. For instance, an erupting volcano kit can include the plastic basics and the chemicals to perform a few of the illustrated experiments. So you'll need to provide extra household supplies to finish them all. Other kits, like those for growing crystals, tend to include just enough supplies to do one experiment. (If you are looking for items you can recycle or throw away when done, these might be the perfect choice.) Also, check to see whether any of the chemicals or tools involved require parental oversight. 

Level of difficulty: Most science kits state the recommended age levels, though if the kit is for a kindergartener who doesn't know how to read yet, you still might need to be involved. For instance, this STEM solar robot kit is rated for ages 8 and up; if your child is 6 and is interested in robot-building, just remember they may need extra guidance along the way.

Mess: When making your science-kit buying choices, clean-up is another factor to consider. Chemistry-based sets tend to make the most mess, with erupting fizz and "smoking" magical concoctions. Dinosaur digging as well as crystal-growing can also be messy. Sometimes, of course, the messier the activity, the more fun and engaging it is for kids. But for a tidier science experience, look no further than robots, electric circuits, coding games and even some of the VR options.

$65.99 $33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN Deluxe 110-Piece Science Station Kit $65.99 $33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN's Science Station Kit is now available with 46% off its usual price, saving you $29.99! Included are experiment test cards, beakers, test tubes, flasks and all the tools for your child to begin their safe experiments. 

$65.99 $33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN Deluxe 110-Piece Science Station Kit $65.99 $33.99 at Amazon

SNAEN's Science Station Kit is now available with 46% off its usual price, saving you $29.99! Included are experiment test cards, beakers, test tubes, flasks and all the tools for your child to begin their safe experiments. 

Managing editor, Scientific American

Jeanna Bryner is managing editor of Scientific American. Previously she was editor in chief of Live Science and, prior to that, an editor at Scholastic's Science World magazine. Bryner has an English degree from Salisbury University, a master's degree in biogeochemistry and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland and a graduate science journalism degree from New York University. She has worked as a biologist in Florida, where she monitored wetlands and did field surveys for endangered species, including the gorgeous Florida Scrub Jay. She also received an ocean sciences journalism fellowship from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is a firm believer that science is for everyone and that just about everything can be viewed through the lens of science.