UV Color Changing Beads Become an UV detective with amazing UV-sensitive beads - Now in green!
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Now available in green for the first time ever!
Become an ultraviolet detective with these amazing UV-sensitive beads! It's solar magic in action! Make bracelets, test the effectiveness of sunscreen, or experiment with color while you learn about the power of sunlight. Included is a science activity guide with lots of fun experiments with solar radiation and light. Ages 4 and up.
"I love the idea of connecting this activity with the Rainbow Fish story in your instructions. Thanks for a super science connection!" - Kindergarten teacher
"I purchased some knock-offs on-line and was so disappointed with the colors. Keep making the best color-changing beads!" - Educational Programs, NASA
What's included?
- 250-pack
- Approximately 250 beads of assorted colors
- 1000-pack
- Approximately 1000 beads separated by color*
- 2000-pack
- Approximately 2500 beads separated by color*
*We include an equal number of each color.
How does it work?
Don't blink your eyes because our color-changing beads have a new formulation that makes the beads more reactive to the sun and the colors more vibrant. The solar-active pigment keeps the beads from permanently discoloring and speeds up the time it takes for the beads to change back to their original white color. The UV-sensitive beads contain a pigment that changes color when exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The energy beads are not affected by light from light bulbs that do not emit ultraviolet light. The beads will remain white indoors, when shielded from sunlight.What does it teach?
Use the beads to teach kids about the ultraviolet radiation and the care that needs to be taken to prevent the damage it may cause. Ultraviolet (UV) light is the invisible radiation that will give you a sunburn and injure your eyes if you're not careful. Sunglasses and sunscreens absorb UV photons. You can test their protective qualities by using your UV detecting beads.
Experiment:
Test your sunglasses by placing them in the sunlight and covering a few of the energy beads with the lenses. If the beads remain white, then your sunglasses are blocking harmful ultraviolet rays.
Test the effectiveness of your sunscreen by coating a few of the beads and placing them in the sunlight. If they change color, better buy some more cream! Manufacturers suggest that you throw away sunscreen that is over a year old because it loses its effectiveness.
Product FAQ
- Do the beads fade over time?
After we left the beads out for the entire day and brought them inside, they returned to white.
- How long do the beads last?
We still have some of the original batch from a couple of years ago that are still going strong.
- Are the colors in the 1,000 pack packaged separately?
Yes, the colors you get are red, orange, yellow, blue, purple and now green!
- How many bracelets will the 1,000 pack make?
In general, a good bracelet requires 12-15 beads, which means you can make about 65-85 bracelets with the 1,000 pack of beads.
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4th of July Science Fun
June 28th, 2010 -
St. Patrick's Day Science Tricks
March 16th, 2009 -
Color Changing UV Beads
July 30th, 2007
Click the thumbnail below to see the video.
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UV beads
Bethany - June 24, 2010
LOVE these beads! Great price for an awesome product. We used them at Vacation Bible School to make salvation bracelets. The teen and adult volunteers loved them too and wanted some for themselves; wish I would have ordered more. Ordering more soon! |
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Fun in the Sun!
Karen Baker - June 19, 2010
If my students could write my reviews, they would give this item the highest marks! I bought these so we could test sunscreens and make UV bracelets. The kids are going to use them as reapply reminders this summer when playing out in the sun. They just loved the experiment and activity! |
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AWESOME!!
Kelsey & Ariel - June 17, 2010
The beads we ordered are AWESOME!! We have yet had an opportunity to use the mentos experiment, but me and my sister love the UV beads! =) |
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Fantastic!
Kelly Croucher - June 8, 2010
These will make such a nice party favor for my daughter's 7th birthday. (Of course, I'll have to set some aside for myself too!) |
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What a hit!
Meg - May 4, 2010
My school's 6th grade Earth Science classes made bracelets with the color changing beads in conjunction with "hazardous weather" unit. Students conducted a lab on sunscreens, and then we made the bracelets and tested a select few beads with several sunscreen brands. The students loved it, and all the teachers that conducted this lesson agreed: It is quite the hit! |
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UV Beads
Barbara Stratton - April 30, 2010
Great~ kids love them! |
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Great fun at 6-year-old's birthday party
Ethan Handelman - April 12, 2010
We used these as part of a craft activity at my 6-year-old's birthday party. The kids loved them for bracelets and necklaces, and they even started attaching them to foam stickers to make pendants. Changing color in the sunlight led to much fun and discussion of UV light. |
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Coloring Changing Beads
AJ Lafferty - April 5, 2010
All of the colors were very bright and changed immediately with a black light or the sun...We did the outdoor experiment with different SPFs before we did the bracelets. Lots of my students are still wearing the beads after a month. |
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Color Beads work great!
Lynda Kennepp - March 27, 2010
We ordered these as an activity for girls at my daughter's birthday party. They really change colors fast! Great purchase to teach about sun safety!! |
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Leprechaun Science Fun From Steve Spangler Science
Angie from My Four Monkeys Product Reviews - March 25, 2010
Angie received the Leprechaun Science Kit from Steve Spangler Science at no cost to her in exchange for a review. To read Angie's review in its entirety, please visit her blog [This is] a ton of stuff for only $24.95. What I love most about Steve Spangler Science is that all their kits come with enough supplies to do these experiments over and over again. The Green Leprechaun Snow was a big hit with the kids and even bigger when this momma realized that once the snow dries it's reusable. ...seemingly boring white beads were my girls' favorite when we discovered that adding a little sunlight created beautiful rainbow bracelets! The Worm Goo was also a big hit and probably my favorite. Add a little water and some green food coloring and you have instant worms! |
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Happy Science Mom
Jenny Ellsworth - February 26, 2010
My daughter is in kindergarden, and her school doesn't have a lot of science. They do have parent sharing, however, and she got to bring me in today. As a science mommy (my husband and I both majored in Physics), naturally I had to do some science. In 15 minutes. |
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I love them
Cal Belding MI - October 30, 2009
I had just got my energy beads last monday and the next day it was really sunny out and i usedd them and they worked really great. I love these thing now i can start making things with them and enjoying them very much. Thanks |
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AWESOME!
Crazy Palm Beach - October 7, 2009
My science teacher used these for a project when we were studying energy and heat. My classmates loves them and I am using them for my next b-day party! |
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Great Product
Jane Texas - September 16, 2009
It was like magic before my very eyes. Worked perfectly. Not sure what the other person from Texas was talking about. |
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UV Beads are terrific
Anita Brandon Los Angeles, CA - August 21, 2009
These were a HUGE hit with both Pre-K and KG students. When it's cloudy the colors are very pale & the yellow stays white; but the more sun the brighter the colors and the faster they change. They do take a few minutes to fade, and longer to go completely white again, but my students can't get enough of them. Months later they still work great. My only complaint is you don't get an equal amount of each color and I couldn't figure out how to block the rays with sunglasses and still see the beads without exposing them to the light. I wear my bracelet a lot here in California to remind me to put on sunscreen. I'm definitely ordering more. Thanks Steve!! |
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texas sun
Lee Ann Morgan Austin tx - August 10, 2009
I live in texas and thought these beads would be wonderful fun,But they do not get bright and fade out the longer they have been in the heat.I was very disapointed because you can not say we have no uv rays in texas its over a 100 degrees here and the sun is bright |
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