Monthly Subscription Kits
Even in today’s electronic world, we all love the thrill of getting mail (real mail). Add in the excitement of crafts or science experiments, and you’ve got some homeschooling gold. The idea of educational monthly subscription kits is really popular right now, and many of them are great options to add some fun to your homeschool routine. The best part is that they usually contain all the parts and materials you need for that month’s project. Couldn’t be simpler. I’ve found several good secular options that thought I would share them.
Kiwi Crate
http://www.kiwicrate.com/
The Kiwi Create line of boxes are geared towards fun, creativity and STEAM activities. They have a few varieties based on age, starting around 3 yr up to 16+. For the older kids, you can choose between an art-themed kit or a science-themed one. The younger crates are a mix of art, games and science. Awesome stuff all ’round. You can purchase subscriptions for 3,6 or 12 months as well as buy individual project kits.
Groovy Lab in a Box
http://www.groovylabinabox.com/
As the name suggests, this one is all about science. Each kit has a project or experiment that focuses on science, mechanics or engineering. They include materials and a lab notebook to help research and record your findings. There is also a “Beyond the Box” online component where you can look further into the concepts introduced each month. Geared for kids 8 and older, you can go with a subscription (3, 6 or 12 months) or just try a single kit.
Little Passports
http://www.littlepassports.com/
Not all subscription boxes are science-based either. Little Passports is a monthly geography experience to help learn about the world. Kits are based on age, and either focus on the world or just the USA. You then start off with a package with a map and your passport, and the monthly boxes focus on different nations (or states). Stories, stickers, written letters, projects and more. Sign up for 6 or 12 months, or just buy kits month-to-month.
Young Scientists Club
http://www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/
There are 2 options with this subscription, the Young Scientists Club and the Magic School Bus kits. The Magic School Bus subscription is a monthly science experiment kit, complete with materials and a written reference booklet. On the other hand, the YSC line actually has 36 kits in it, and you can arrange their delivery to match up with your curriculum (based on the subject of each kit). That means you can have several in a month if needed
Ivy Kids
http://ivy-kids.com/
The Ivy Kids kits are a thorough blend of literature, art, math and science. Each month has an age-appropriate book along with a bunch of activities to follow the same theme. You have the option of either 3 or 6 month subscriptions, or just buy monthly. These are a bit more expensive than the other options, but you do get several different projects in each kit rather than just one.
I’m not affiliated with any of these and haven’t actually tried them (I’m in Canada and shipping is killer). I just thought they were great homeschooling opportunities that some people might like to know about. They tend to lean towards science, but there are definitely other types of monthly subscription boxes out there. Leave a comment below if you know of any other great ones.
