Learning with KiwiCo

Click HERE to get $10 OFF any age KiwiCo Crate!

How are we managing to stay sane cooped up inside during what feels like the longest-winter-ever? 😛 By making learning fun and doing lots of it!  This month our educational activities included (finally) breaking out the Kiwi Crate and Tinker Crate subscription boxes we got the kids for Christmas!

Thing 1:  I really, really like the idea of subscription boxes.  For anything!  Everything!  You guys, it’s getting a PACKAGE!!!!

Thing 2:  We can’t afford subscriptions to all the things – yes, you typically pay a little more for convenience – so I reserve ordering for a one-time box, discount subscription, special occasion, or Christmas or birthday gifts. 😀

These KiwiCo crates are hands on activities for STEAM learning.  STEM/STEAM is a hot acronym these days in regards to education.  It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art), and Math.  I don’t know much about it other than it seems to involve creativity, learning things useful in real life, hands on learning, interest led learning/entrepreneurship, a more holistic approach to subjects, and cutting edge technology.  And you know how much I like those things, especially any sort of kinesthetic (hands-on) learning style!

They have box “lines” for all ages, Cricket 24-36 months, Koala 3-4 years old, Kiwi 5-8 yrs, Doodle 9-16 yrs, and Tinker 9-16 yrs.

Build an Arcade Catapult

I was afraid they were going to be a little too simplistic, so we ordered two that looked interesting – ‘My Body & Me’ Kiwi Crate, and a Tinker ‘Arcade Catapult.’  I was also skeptical of the quality and value for money, but these really blew me away.  The Tinker catapult came with one extra of all the small pieces/stickers.  How practical and kid-friendly!  {And mom-non-stressful!}

While Ole was able to follow the very clear instructions to build the older one and has fun playing it, the learning about the science/energy behind it is definitely over his head.  Ordering again I would stick with the Koala or Kiwi crates for preschool age. 

My Body & Me

The body one is AMAZING.  It comes with not one, but THREE crafts (sew plush organs that velcro to the anatomy poster, build a stethoscope, make glow in the dark x-rays complete with “broken” bone ones), and EVERYTHING you need for them!  There are also several ideas in the booklet or online for more easy related crafts (a working balloon and bottle lung, q-tip skeleton, etc.)!  There is a full (child) size body poster and a ‘doctor’s notes’ and whiteboard marker, which one of our kids actually took to a recent medical visit.  It has been so nice to teach them about their bodies with this great age-appropriate resource.  It has sparked so much creative play.

  

In Summary

An occasional or specially ordered box can fit in so well with our ‘mini unit study’ or topic method we’ve been doing for preschool.  (Which I hope to write more about soon.)  It adds great hands-on activities, visuals, and crafts to the library books, real life living, and other talking/discussion teaching we do about the subject.  It also is a huge treat for the kids, and can spark ideas and interest for me when I’m feeling stagnant about what to focus on learning next. 🙂 {Let’s be real, it happens.}

For a craft, science experiment, or building kit, KiwiCo is as simple as it’s going to get for the teacher! Did I mention that I did not even have to get up once to get supplies when we sat down with the box to do the crafts?!  Every. Single. Thing. you need is there!  It feels almost too good to be true – THIS is how I love to do projects!  Haha!

At around $15-17 it’s the perfect thing to suggest for grandparents or others to give to kids as gifts.  Hey, why not double up and give them something that helps with their education?!  It will be that much more special and they won’t even realize they’re doing it for “school.” 😉  The BONUS thing I love about these types of gifts/projects for the kids is they don’t add to the STUFF pile of toys, from a minimal perspective.  They are more about an experience and learning about a specific topic.  Of course there may be a creation or two or (in our case) some medical-looking paraphernalia floating around the house for a while in the name of learning, but after a couple months it’s all rather disposable.  Fun-learning throughout the summer, anyone?

Curious to try one for your own preschooler (or elementary student)?  Get $10 off your first box through my friend referral link.  {We’ll get $10 towards a box too – thank you!}

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