STEM Starter Kit ($18.50) This inexpensive 'scope attaches to most smartphones and lets kids take photos and even movies of the microscopic world. The 60x magnifying lens works in conjunction with an included "above the sample" LED, meaning it is not designed to work with slides (which typically need to be illuminated from below. Still, the samples the set comes with show the physical world has a lot of mysteries to observe and unlock "from above". Salt, sugar, pepper, minerals, and even hair are all included. The image quality belies its low price.
