The fun begins as soon as you open the box. Press out then slot together 61 cardboard parts (no glue required!), add two elastic bands and you’ll soon have one fully working pinball machine. The build should take around 60 minutes and is suitable for engineers-in-training aged 8 and up.
Once it’s ready, load up the five swirly glass marbles and see if you can make them fly up the ramp, through the bumpers and round the vortex cone! Challenge your family to see who can get a high score on your very own DIY pinball machine!
This eco-friendly STEM kit is: ✅ Designed for ages 8+ ✅ Mess-free and fun to build ✅ Perfect for developing dexterity and reflex skills ✅ Made in the UK using high-quality sustainable cardboard
Whether you’re building it as a family project or battling it out for the best score, you’ll love every minute.
How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning one Build Your Own Pinball Machine kit, simply answer this question in the comments below:
Which of the below is a category of energy?
a) Kimchi b) Kindred c) Kinetic
This competition closes at midnight on 30th September 2025. One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. For full terms and conditions, click here.
Whizz Pop Bang magazine is turning ✨TEN✨ – and we’re celebrating with an epic science party giveaway!
To mark a whole decade of science fun, facts, and fizzing experiments, we’ve teamed up with the award-winning team at Sublime Science to offer one lucky reader a chance to WIN a Gold Sublime Science Party – right in your own home!
Packed with hands-on activities, ‘magic’ tricks, bubbles, smoke and flying things, a Sublime Science Party is the ultimate way to inspire a love of science in children aged 5–12. Expect plenty of WOW moments, giggles and unforgettable memories!
The Prize
The winner will receive:
A Gold Sublime Science Party, hosted by one of Sublime Science’s brilliant presenters at your home (or a venue you book), on a weekend date of your choice
If you live outside of the coverage area, you’ll receive a Gold Science Party in a Box, packed with everything you need to host your own unforgettable science party!
Loved by over one million kids (and even featured on Dragons’ Den!), Sublime Science Parties are:
Bursting with hands-on science experiments
Perfect for curious kids aged 5 to 12
Full of spectacular fun – with slime, smoke rings, flying fizz, and more!
These award-winning parties make science unforgettable, exciting and mess-free for parents!
Thank you for being part of the Whizz Pop Bang community – here’s to the next 10 years of science-fuelled fun!
Terms and conditions: The winner will receive a voucher for a Sublime Science Gold Party, valid for one year. A Sublime Science presenter will come to your home – or a venue that you book – on a weekend date of your choice, subject to availability. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Winners living outside areas covered will instead receive a Science Party in a Box, containing everything you need to host your own science party. See https://www.sublimescience.com for more information. This competition closes at midnight on 8th September 2025. For full terms and conditions, please see https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/
We’ve got an amazing array of books to give away, perfect for curious children who love bugs, space, aliens and saving the planet! Thank you to our friends at Flying Eye Books for these gorgeous prizes!
Three lucky winners will each receive a set of four fantastic, fact-packed books that blend science, adventure and BIG questions about the universe. Here’s what’s up for grabs…
🪐 Cosmo Park by Madeleine Finlay and Tom Dearie Jump aboard a hover-buggy and zoom through a cosmic theme park in this vibrant comic-style book! Learn all about black holes, galaxies and the freezing end of the universe – all wrapped up in colourful illustrations and mind-blowing facts.
👾 The Unexplained: UFOs by Adam Allsuch Boardman Are we alone in the universe? Explore the mysterious world of UFOs in this graphic guide packed with alien sightings, strange encounters, and fascinating theories. Perfect for kids with big imaginations and even bigger questions.
How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this question in the comments:
Which one of the below is not a type of beetle?
A) Rose chafer B) Ninety-nine-spot beetle C) Rainbow leaf beetle
Find out how to draw Dash the firefly from The Beastie Bros books with this simple drawing tutorial!
Have you read Beastie Bros: the Cabbage Juice Crime by David O’Connell? It stars an unlikely crime-solving duo – Dash the firefly and Dribble the snail. Keep scrolling to find out how to draw Dash the firefly!
If you’re interested in minibeasts, creepy crawlies and all sorts of insects, you’ll love Whizz Pop Bang: Minibeast Safari! Investigate the science of insects as you make an insect pooter, build a bug hotel, craft a balancing butterfly, meet jungle creepy crawlies and more. Plus there’s a competition to win Beastie Bros: The Cabbage Juice Crime by David O’Connell. You can find it in our shop now!
The dinosaurs are coming to the Utilita Arena on Saturday 31st May 2025, and YOU could be going to meet them there! Our friends at Sublime Science will also be there, demonstrating incredible prehistoric science. Keep reading to find out how you could win tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day…
This incredible immersive experience is packed with dinos of all shapes and sizes! Travel back millions of years as these almighty creatures are brought to life through realistic animatronics, talented actors and interactive props.
Meet T. rex, brachiosaurus, cute hatchlings and more at this walkthrough and theatre event. Dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages will love a trip to this immersive dinosaur experience for kids – Jurassic Take-over Day! If you’re looking for things to do with kids in May half term in the North East, look no further…
Our friends at Sublime Science will also be at Jurassic Take-over, showing off spectacular prehistoric science activities including dino egg hatching, an excavation station, a chance to build your own flying pterosaur and so much more. Get ready for a day packed with all awesome, unforgettable science!
Want to win tickets? We’ve got four tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day in Newcastle to give away to one lucky family!*
Simply tell us your favourite type of dinosaur in the comments to be in with a chance of winning!
Competition Rules
Terms and conditions: The prize is four tickets to Jurassic Take-over Day at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on Saturday 31st May 2025. No travel, accommodation or additional expenses are included. The competition closes at midnight on 22.05.25. The winner will be selected at random from all valid entries and contacted via email or direct message within 24 hours of the competition closing. The winner must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize. If no response is received within that time, a new winner will be chosen. The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, you agree to your details being passed to the event organiser solely for the purpose of issuing your tickets. No cash alternative is available. Full general terms and conditions apply – https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/.
Have you ever watched the sky at night? Even when it looks very dark outside, the night sky is never completely black. There is always LIGHT on our planet.
Learn all about the mind-bending science of light in this fascinating non-fiction picture book written by physicist Dr Jess Wade and illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo. Discover the inner workings of rainbows and so much more in this beautiful book – it’s an essential addition to any budding scientists’ bookshelf.
We have four copies of Light by Dr Jess Wade to give away! To be in with a chance of winning, answer this question in the comments:
What is the scientific name for Earth’s moon? a. Moon b. Europa c. Titan
Competition closes at midnight on 31st May 2025. We reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equal or greater value if circumstances beyond our control make it necessary to do so. For full terms and conditions, see https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/
Set off on a curious adventure with everyday objects in science presenter, Maddie Moate’s brand-new book! In How Does It Work, you can find out about all sorts of everyday objects and machines – from microwaves to smart speakers, playground roundabouts to supermarket checkouts!
If you’re a Maddie mega-fan, you need to have a look in Whizz Pop Bang: The Sugar Lab. She told us all about what it’s like to share her love of science on TV, YouTube and on stage.
We’ve got two copies of How Does It Work by Maddie Moate to give away to two lucky Whizz Pop Bang fans! To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer this question in the comments:
What does an apiarist look after? A) Apes B) Bees C) Cats
British Science Week 2025 is an exciting annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the UK. Taking place from 7th to 16th March 2025, this nationwide event features a variety of science activities, workshops, and events for children and adults alike. Whether you’re a budding scientist or simply curious about the world around you, there are plenty of ways to engage with science during this week-long festival.
How to Take Part in British Science Week 2025
Getting involved in British Science Week doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some easy and fun ways to explore science:
Try kitchen science experiments at home
Visit a science museum or exhibition
Attend a science talk or fair
Join a citizen science project
Enter the British Science Week poster competition
The goal of British Science Week is to spark curiosity and excitement about STEM subjects, making science accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
You don’t need a high-tech lab to explore science—many exciting hands-on experiments can be done using everyday household items. Simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring can lead to fascinating discoveries.
Science museums and exhibitions are packed with interactive displays and hands-on experiments, making them a great way to engage kids with science. During British Science Week, many museums and venues host special STEM events, workshops, and science shows. Find your local science centre here!
Looking for science events near you? Check out the What’s On in Science Week listings to find both in-person and virtual science activities happening from 7th-16th March.
The British Science Week poster competition is a fun challenge for children aged 3-18 years old. This year’s theme is “Change and Adapt”, and young scientists can submit creative posters for a chance to win all sorts of science prizes.
Submission deadline: 3rd April 2025
Encourage your child to showcase their creativity and love for science by entering the competition. Find out more here.
From DIY science experiments to museum visits and STEM competitions, there are so many ways to celebrate British Science Week 2025. Whether you explore science at home, attend an event, or take part in a citizen science project, it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, discover, and have fun with science.
Fill your child with science wonder with a subscription to Whizz Pop Bang, the award-winning magazine for 6 to 12-year-olds. Watch their face light up with glee when their very own magazine zooms through the letterbox! Packed full of hands-on science awesomeness, it’s the gift that keeps of delighting, month after month.
We’ve got three brilliantly bonkers books to give away to a lucky Whizz Pop Bang fan!
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed To Earth by Judd Winnick is a graphic novel about an alien boy who crash-lands into a clubhouse belonging to two totally normal kids, D.J. and Gina and turns their lives upside down.
To be in with a chance of winning these goodies, simply answer this question in the comments:
The bones inside the ear are sometimes known as: A) The hammer, the anvil and the stirrup B) The spade, the fork and the trowel C) The saddle, the bridle and the bit
Have you heard of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition? It’s a brilliant chance for young nature-lovers like you to show off your photography skills. Best of all? Kids can enter free!
This competition is all about celebrating the beauty and wonder of the natural world. When you take part, you’ll join people from all over the world who love capturing moments in nature, whether it’s animals playing, birds flying or tiny bugs doing their thing.
When you enter, your photos could be chosen to be part of an amazing exhibition at the Natural History Museum that people from all over the world come to see. Imagine your photo on display, inspiring others to care more about wildlife and the environment!
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas won the Young Wildlife Photographer Of The Year – Grand Title 2024 award.
This photo is of fruiting bodies of slime mould and a tiny springtail. It was taken by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas in Germany, and he was awarded Young Wildlife Photographer Of The Year – Grand Title 2024. Find out more about this incredible photograph here.
Taking pictures of our wonderful planet isn’t just fun – it also can also remind everyone of the beauty of nature, and why protecting it is so important.
So, if you love taking pictures and want to share what’s special about the world around you, grab a camera or phone, head outside, and capture something amazing. You might be the next young wildlife photography star!
