Smithsonian and their partners at NSI have cleverly managed to turn a familiar environmental science lesson about prehistoric creatures into an exciting and engaging STEM biology experiment. The packaging is appealing and a great representation of what you’ll find inside. A small plastic aquarium along with the background graphic of an enlarged example of the Triops that will soon be growing in your home. There is also an informative poster that visually tells the story of the Triops and their history on the earth. Since it’s a Smithsonian branded product, it came as no surprise that the information about the species was age-appropriate and held kids’ interest. Setting up the aquarium only takes a few minutes. A picture of a T-Rex, to help with the pre-historic theme is included for taping to the back of the tank. Once the sand and water are added, the T-Rex has a great 3-D look to it. After getting everything squared away, the Triops eggs are added. The kit includes enough eggs to attempt two separate experiments as well as enough food for the Triops. There is a waiting period to see if the eggs will hatch, which keeps the excitement building. We should say that your results may vary, so let your children know that this is a science experiment and that means there is trial and error. Parents thought teaching this lesson was invaluable.