If your looking for a great activity for kids that encourages an interest in the world around them then Bandai’s National Geographic Dig Kits could be just what you’re looking for.
advert – products gifted for review
If you like this review you may be interested in our reviews on My Living World Pocket Microscope, Microwave Oven Flower Press, Experimake Scent-sational Spa and Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Lab.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Page Contents
What Are Dig Kits
Age 8+, the National Geographic Dig kits are available in a few different varieties covering sharks, dinosaurs, bugs, and gems and they all work in the same way. Kids use tools included in the kit to excavate hidden treasures embedded inside the rock. They can also learn a little about the specimens in the supportive ‘Learning Guide’ booklet that’s also included. Slightly smaller mini dig kits are also available, that only contain one hidden specimen (see Shark Tooth Mini Dig Kit below).
They are the perfect kids’ activity for rainy days, school holidays, sleepovers, parties etc and are designed to only take around 30 minutes in total. There is a little patience require, especially when excavating around your specimen to make sure you don’t damage it, but it’s quick enough to stop children becoming bored; especially if they’re excavating with a sibling or friend. Plus they are a fun way to build up collections of fossils and gems
National Geographic Dino Fossil Dig Kit
The National Geographic Dino Fossil Dig Kit contains 3 fossils to excavate then come hidden in an amazing t-rex brick.
Also included in the box is a double-ended scraper/dig tool, separate brush and magnifying glass. Plus an instruction leaflet and glossy learning guide.
The fossils specimens to excavate include:
- A dinosaur tooth
- A dinosaur bone
- Some dinosaur poo
We were lucky and excavated some really lovely specimens. Our favourite being the dinosaur poo (coprolite).
National Geographic Gemstones Dig Kit
The National Geographic gemstones Dig Kit contains 3 gems to excavate they come hidden in a beautiful crystal dig brick.
As with the Dino Fossil Dig Kit included in the box is; a double-ended scraper/dig tool, separate brush and magnifying glass. Plus an instruction leaflet and glossy learning guide.
Two of the gems excavated were crystalline so care was needed when excavating them so they didn’t break and they were all a lovely size.
National Geographic Shark Tooth Mini Dig Kit
The National Geographic Shark Tooth Mini Dig Kit comes with a double-ended scraper & brush tool, information leaflet and contains one genuine fossil sharks tooth.
The brick is a little smaller than the standard dig lit bricks but is still beautifully designed and although there are three possible sharks teeth to find, you won’t know which one is inside until it’s been excavated. The possibilities are:
- Sand Tiger Tooth
- Otodus Shark Tooth
- Crow Shark Tooth
Watch the video below to see details
All the kits were easy to excavate but if a child has difficulty you can add some water to make the digging easier. We also chose to excavate on the table to get better photographs but you can use the internal packaging tray to excavate in if you want to contain the dust and broken pieces.
The dig kits are a lovely way for kids to discover and collect fossils and gemstones and learn a little about how they are formed in the process.