24 Science Kits for Middle and High School That Make Hands-On Lessons Easy

Students often tell us the coolest thing about science class is doing hands-on activities. But it’s often time-consuming to gather and organize all the materials. Our favorite solution? These awesome, ready-to-go science kits! Each of these kits already has all the materials for each activity preselected and sorted. Plus, you’ll find teacher guides and student worksheets so there’s little to no prep work! They’re perfect for teaching chemistry, biology, geology, physical science, and STEM/engineering.

Here are the hands-on science kits at the top of our wish list.

Biology Kits

These hands-on science kits include everything you need to conduct biology experiments. Each kit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and contains a detailed instruction manual.

1. Preserved Individual Dissection Kits

These dissection bundles are perfect for individual student use when remote learning or in the classroom. Choose your desired specimens, for example—brain, kidney, heart, bullfrog, starfish, or fetal pig. Then pair them with the dissection accessory kit.

2. Digital Slide Set

Calling all biology teachers! Your students are going to love these digital slide sets. Zoom, focus, measure, and annotate real 3D scanned biology slides virtually from any device with an internet connection.

3. Sherlock Bones: Identification of Skeletal Remains

Are these remains male or female? Take the role of a forensic anthropologist to determine as much as you can about the remains given.

4. ABO and Rh Blood Typing

In this activity, students will learn about blood types and blood typing procedures and then calculate overall population averages.

5. How To Stitch Wounds

This 18-piece kit follows veterinary procedures for stitching wounds. Students will get to try out surgical knots, suture lacerations, and general wound care on the imitation skin.

Earth Science Kits

Everything you need to make hands-on Earth science easy!

6. Spacesuit Design Challenge

Spacesuits are designed to maintain the body temperature of astronauts in the extreme heat and cold of outer space. Students will evaluate “space worms” included in the kit, test temperatures, and determine the best spacesuit option.

7. Modeling the Moon’s Motion and Phases

Explore the moon’s motion and phases using a combination of teacher-directed lessons and student activities. You’ll find everything you need to learn all about the moon!

8. Clearing the Water

Design a water filtration system to discover how tap water is filtered right in the classroom! Students will create their own modern purification process.

Geology Kits

These self-contained collections are affordable and perfect for teaching basic properties of rocks and minerals. Each collection includes 12 specimens and a photo key.

9. Basic Minerals Collection

Introduce your students to a broad selection of basic minerals, including muscovite, hematite, limonite, milky quartz, and more.

10. Igneous Rocks Collection

Explore the characteristic traits of igneous rocks with this kit, including granite, pumice, obsidian, and more.

11. Soil Formation Collection

How are soils formed from rocks and minerals? This collection includes different types of soil and samples of the various rocks and minerals from which they are derived, plus a specimen list that describes each specimen and its role in soil formation.

12. Modeling Stream Erosion and Deposition

This model will allow students to observe what happens when rainwater flows over an area, causing different landforms and water collection sites.

13. Shake, Rattle & Roll Earthquake Board

Create seismic waves in the classroom! Students will learn the types of seismic waves and create their own structure to test their durability.

Chemistry Kits

These hands-on science kits include everything you need to conduct fun chemistry experiments. Each kit is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. They also contain a detailed instruction manual.

14. Periodic Table: Nonmetals, Metals, and Metalloids

In this lab, students will examine the physical properties of several elements and test their chemical reactivity. In addition, they use their results to classify each of the tested elements as either metal, nonmetal, or metalloid.

15. Distinguishing Characteristics of Acids and Bases

Explore the different properties of acids and bases. In this activity students will test solutions for pH, conductivity, reactivity, and more.

16. Forensic Toxicology

Become a toxicologist and analyze 15 patient samples to test for alcohol, illicit drugs, and pain medications.

Physical Science Kits

Build your students’ problem-solving, inquiry, and engineering skills with these ready-to-teach activity kits. Included are must-have supplies along with flexible activity guides for teaching across a variety of topics.

17. Trebuchet Kit

Transport your students back to the Middle Ages with this project. Using high-quality precision-cut birch veneer, students construct their own trebuchet and use it to determine the kinetic energy of different projectiles.

18. Wedge, Incline Plane, and Screw

Introduce physics fundamentals with this kit! Using a wedge, inclined plane, and screw, students will discover the mechanical advantages of each to increase work efficiency.

19. Beach Sand Investigation

Solve the mystery of Prospector’s Cove with this intriguing activity! A crime has been committed, and a certain type of beach sand found on the victim is the key piece of evidence. Included are materials for 10 student groups, five different types of sand, plus sugar and salt, 80 microscope slide holders, and instructions.

STEM and Engineering Kits

Tap into your students’ curiosity and build STEM skills with these exciting construction kits. It’s all about hands-on learning with these fun options.

20. Engineer and Explore Enteric Coated Drugs

Students will learn the basics of the digestive system and the properties of enteric coating. They’ll use that new knowledge to create a simulated coating for pharmaceutical needs.

21. Mini Wind Turbine Kit

Your students can build a wind-powered generator from scratch. This kit includes a complete step-by-step pictorial guide, which leads students through construction. In addition, it provides blade-design tips and offers ideas for innovation.

22. BristleBot Kit

Using a toothbrush head and a vibrating motor, students create their own mini bot. By changing the position of the pipe-cleaner arms, BristleBots travel in circles or straight lines or scoot around randomly. This kit includes all materials. No tools are required!

23. Paper Circuits Kit

This activity takes paper art to a new level. Each kit includes conductive tape, LED lights, jumbo paper clips, and coin cell batteries. Combine these materials with any of the available worksheets, art projects, or greeting card templates, or create an original work of art with a scientific flair.

Custom Hands-On Science Kits

24. Ward’s Quick Kits

Building your own custom science kit is easy with Ward’s Quick Kits. From makerspace kits to biology lab kits, the options are endless. A consultant will work with you to understand your goals. Then, they’ll help you choose from a list of hundreds of popular science supplies, such as pipettes, slides, and food coloring. The kits arrive presorted and ready to use!

Looking for more science resources?

Ward’s Science has kits for every science subject, so you’re sure to find one that fits your curriculum. Plus, find ready-to-go science activities and lessons created by teachers just like you! The Science by You program has tons of options in a variety of science subjects.