The Geyser Gusher Water Cannon from Geyser Guys is a great water toy and teaches a physics lesson as well.

When you play with a toy, how often do you actually think about why you like it or what makes it fun? That’s what we asked a group of third, fourth and fifth graders to do with some new outdoor toys.

It was a warm spring day, and our testers played like crazy. Once again, we found that a universal rule of kids and summer is that they love to get wet and messy. Here are some of the toys the group liked best. Their advice might help you choose some toys for outdoor fun this summer.

TOY TEST FAVES

Flytech Dragonfly, WowWee, ages 8 and older, $49.99: Our testers loved the life-like sound of the wings and the unpredictable flying path of this remote-controlled insect. Its cellophane wings are tougher than they look; it survived several run-ins with tree branches.

“I like that when it flies in the air it goes in circles and comes back to you.” — Dominique Murray, 9

“When it hits the ground it’s funny, and it doesn’t break.” — Ama Mason, 10

Creature Cannon, Jakks Pacific, ages 4 and older, $8.99: The swimming-noodle folks made a water blaster that lets you soak up water from a bucket or pool, then pump the stream onto your playmate. It packs a punch!

“It was easy to fill.” — Cai King, 9

“With these you get more wet.” — Ama

Super Soaker Arctic Blast, Hasbro, ages 6 and older, $19.99: The gold standard of water guns now comes with an opening wide enough for water and ice cubes, so the stream is extra fr-r-r-eeezing. It can spray a narrow stream more than 20 feet or dump most of its contents in one frigid blast.

“The water was cold, and it was hot outside.” — Cai

“It gets you really wet.” — Naim Adams, 8

“The water goes real far so you can get someone far away.” — Dominique

Spider-Man Deluxe Spinning Web Blaster, Hasbro, ages 5 and older, $24.99: A cool contraption that attaches to your arm and sprays a spiral deluge of water or stringy webbing on its victim. Webbing refills are expensive, though, at $5.99.

“I liked it because the web was all wet and sticky.” — Evangela Vance, 10

“I liked it because it rotates around rather than just spraying in one place.” — Naim

“I didn’t like that the can runs out.” — Marina Diaz, 10

XPV Xtreme Performance Vehicle, Jakks Pacific, ages 8 and older, $59.99: The kids really liked the speed of this remote-controlled plane that takes off from the ground like a real plane. Needs lots of space! (A new version is coming this fall.)

“It went really, really fast, and I think kids would have fun with that.” — Marina

“It was fun the way it takes off, and it goes really fast.” — Isiah Tyler, 9

OTHER GOOD TOYS

Sidewalk Paint Sprayer, Crayola, ages 6 and older, $14.99: A fun twist on sidewalk chalk. Spray washable paint on your driveway. A nice safety feature allows you to spray only down, not at your friends!

“I like that you can write with it.” — Patricia Glover, 9

“You can made designs and stuff.” — Fidel Kangara, 11

Big Bubbler, Spin Master, ages 4 and older, $9.99: Pull the wand out of a long sheath that has bubble juice in it, and press the button. Couldn’t be easier to make huge bubbles!

“I love that thing. It makes a bubble that goes all around you.” — Dominique

“You can fly around and make one big bubble.” — Isiah

Junk Ball and Strike Zone, Little Kids, ages 6 and older, $6.99 - $19.99: The ball in this backyard baseball game has holes, so the pitcher can serve up curveballs and fastballs that not many 9-year-olds normally throw. Kids also liked the feel of the bat and the backdrop that tells if a pitch is a ball or a strike.

“I like the thing in the back because it tells you if you’ve got a strike or not.” — Dominique

“You could adjust the ball, so that was good.” — Fidel

Zoingo Boingo, Spin Master, ages 8 and older, $29.99: This updated version of a pogo stick is not easy, but once you get the hang of it the bouncing is good fun — until you fall off. Maybe you should use elbow and knee pads.

“I’d love to get it for my birthday or Christmas.” — Cai

“I liked it because it was challenging.” — Fidel

A GREAT POOL TOY

Geyser Gusher Water Cannon, Geyser Guys, ages 5 and older, $7.99

This toy is fun and offers a really cool lesson in physics. While standing in the water, you hold the cone out in front of you and quickly pull it back toward you through the water. The power of your pull sends a thick stream of water flying through the hole at the top of the cone. Impress your friends by telling them that the physics principle involved is called the Venturi effect.