Ready for a close up...

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A cardboard microscope... surely that won’t work? Well, I’m here to tell you that it totally does! With plastic free packaging and pieces made from sustainable cardboard and no need to use glue or other fixing materials, not only is the Build Your Own Microscope an incredibly clever creation, it's also kind to the planet.

 

The box states that the microscope is suitable for ages 8 years upwards, but Ace (5 years old) really enjoyed helping me put the pieces together. Each part is labelled in alphabetical order, so it was easy for Ace to find which piece came next, although he did need help with slotting them in place securely.

Ace's favourite part was putting together the cam and gears, he couldn't stop turning them and was amazed that moments before, they were just bits of flat cardboard!

I am so impressed that all the packaging and leftovers are cardboard and therefore recyclable at the kerbside. This makes a HUGE change from layers of plastic packaging and awkward ties that some toys come wrapped in. 

Once assembled, the microscope is really sturdy and has easily interchangeable trays for examining different types of materials (depending on whether your chosen specimen is translucent or opaque). 

I will say that the age guidance of 8 years old is probably about right for actually using the microscope, as Ace's little hands found adjusting and looking through the lens at the same time quite tricky. Honey (almost 8) needed a little practise, but with a bit of patience, we were able to get a brilliant view (30 x magnification) of some treasure from our walk, including grains of sand, a feather, a rock, a leaf and a daisy! All in all, I would say that this is an excellent, sturdy, educational toy that ticks so many STEAM boxes both during and after construction.

If you visit the Build Your Own Kits website, you purchase this microscope for £16.99 (delivery is free) and you can also download a set of free 'Fact and Find' cards, which are the perfect starting point for your mini scientists to begin taking a much closer look at the world around them.