Crafting STEM Fun: Groovy Lab In A Box Review & Giveaway

Today I've got a special crafting goody to share - a new concept for kids that is creative, educational and all about creating, exploring & inventing: 

Groovy Lab in a Box is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)-themed subscription box developed by a team of educators and scientists.  It guides kids through the scientific inquiry & engineering design process to hone their imagination skills + learn critical thinking.  In each box, STEMists receive materials for fun, hands-on projects and an engineering design challenge – all focused on that month’s topic. All STEMists receive a Lab Notebook, where they can read about that month’s topic, perform investigation activities and document their findings. They will investigate, brainstorm, plan, build, test and redesign their own creations.  

Groovy Lab in a Box asked us to try them out and see what we thought.  The timing was great since I'd been struggling with how to handle homeschooling science and creative thinking this Fall.  My oldest loves STEM-related things, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull things together by myself or how to encourage my younger two who aren't quite as interested.  I told them a bit about it beforehand, so we were all pretty excited when this showed up in our mailbox:

The box we tried was the "Here Comes The Sun", all about Solar Energy.  It gave us everything we needed for 4 experiments AND a bonus item (solar paper) to use as we wished:

"Here Comes The Sun" Groovy Lab Box contents

Beyond the specific lab supplies we needed, there were other materials that could be used again as craft supplies, like a glue stick, ruler and several rolls of tape.  We also discovered that all these themed boxes are put together by employees of Eggleston.  This terrific non-profit trains and employs disabled individuals to make the most of their abilities in the job force and enjoy earning their own living.  So just as much good work going into each box as is coming out:)

After reading about solar energy in the Lab Notebook, we used the special password to access the Beyond in a Box online portal.  There we could access LOADS of enrichment videos specifically related to our theme, as well as printable extension activities, a reading library with book descriptions, a themed Pinterest board - even where to find solar fashions! It would have taken me ages to try to find just a few of those things on my own, so it was fantastic to be able to have it all right there, ready to go.  We watched several videos about being an inventor, the STEM process and uses for solar balloons.  My 8 yr old doesn't always love doing science, but seeing those got him fired up to get out & make his own solar balloon and see it in action:

For our next activity I grabbed my 11yr old, who learned how to use these materials to make an audio conductivity sensor. I sometimes found projects like this kind of confusing back when I was a kid, but the lab notebook gave really clear, step-by-step instructions. Though the boxes are recommended for 8yrs+, I think my almost 5 yr old will be able to do a lot if they work as a team next time we do a box.  It was also nice that it gave room for the budding scientist/engineers to really think through what they were doing and understand the purpose.  I wish I'd had something like this when I was in school - I'd have enjoyed lab work a lot more! 

My big guy was excited when he got different sound results with the water samples he tested. He was pretty proud to build it by himself too.The saltier the water, the louder the result.

The lab notebook was set up to make it easy to record what we thought would happen, our actual results and what we thought of them.  My oldest loves building and doing experiments, but usually hates the writing/data portion. The question prompts and simple charts to record info made it more fun.

Our favorite activity was building a solar oven.  We were able to use the shipping box to make the oven framework and the color image step-by-step instructions were great.  In no time the guys were ready to cook some crayons: 

Through the portal's online videos we saw how the solar oven was invented in the 1700s, how many amazing things you can cook in one (even bread!) and how they are being used in developing countries as a cheaper and safer alternative to making fires.  We were pretty amazed at how well it worked - after just 20 minutes we turned some broken crayons from the box into a blended crayon cake.  

Our crayon "Before & After" in the DIY solar oven

All this built up to the main challenge of developing and building a mini-desalination plant with the remaining supplies.  They tested the results with the conductivity sensor they'd already made. The lab notebook & online portal taught them all about the Greenhouse Effect and water cycle.  Then they got to brainstorm and draw out on the best way to put their supplies together and record their results.  It was also nice to see the notebook reminding kids that failed results aren't something negative, but rather an opportunity to learn more and redesign an even better solution.  Instead of being disappointed their plan didn't work perfectly, they started thinking about what could make it work better.  Kids can get really frustrated when things don't work right the first time, so it was refreshing to have that built-in encouragement and confidence boosting to keep them trying.  

What I thought was most fantastic was that one box could be used just as easily with a single child or as a team - we tried it both ways.  Having several kids, at different levels, is sometimes a challenge for us in homeschooling, but Groovy Lab in a Box made it a lot easier.  It was also really nice to be able to just open the box and get to the learning, instead of me buying and having to set up a bunch of supplies ahead of time.  I've decided to buy a subscription and use this as our science for school this year.  I think it will be easier and cheaper than buying 3 totally different sets of science curricula + materials and I know it'll save time since they can all work on it at the same time.  My kids say it will be more fun since there's lots of hands-on activity and interesting things to see thanks to the Beyond a Box portal.  These boxes really offer a more rounded learning experience than anything else I've seen.    

Groovy Lab in a Box is offering Sew Can Do readers 

20% off their first monthly subscription box 

with the discount code: GROOVYNOW20

Now how about a chance at winning your own Groovy Lab In A Box?

One lucky Sew Can Do reader will win:

A Groovy Lab in a Box: 
Keep On Turning Box 
(all about hydro power)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received a Groovy Lab in a Box to review.  The opinions are completely my own, based on my honest experiences.  

Back to School Challenge: What We Learned Board Tutorial

Can you believe back to school season is nearly here?  I know, it's coming up fast!  Michael's stores contacted me and asked if I'd like to participate in their First Day of School Blogger Challenge and create a craft project to celebrate the First Day of School.  

This was a special challenge for me, since we're homeschoolers and the usual lunchbox, teacher gifts, backpack type stuff doesn't really apply to us.  I came up with something that is ideal for all families, no matter what way you do school.  The What We Learned Memory Board.

This reusable board gives a fun & easy way for kids to show off what they're doing.  Not only is this a great way to summarize a day's activities or for making a visual "report" for a particular theme, it makes it easy for Mom to save the memories.  

Just keep the pinned items or - better yet - photograph the board and just save the photo. How's that for saving space!

 Materials Needed:
- Chalkboard paint
- Corkboard sheet - 8.5x11
- Unfinished wooden frame - 8x10
- Scrapbook notes - I used Recollections Creative Chaos Pads.  These are perfectly themed for this
- Foam paintbrush, scissors, chalk, pushpins

Start by removing the back panel and cover sheet from the wooden frame.  Paint the the front and side edges with the chalkboard paint.  I did 3 coats for good coverage, leaving an hour between coats and then a full 24hrs to cure.

Trace the back panel onto the cork sheet and trim to size.

  
Condition the surface of the frame by lightly rubbing with chalk and then wiping off.

Place cork into frame, followed by the back and close.

Then fill out and add the scrapbook notes.  It's a great way to help the kids put what their doing into words.  No more "What did you do today?" questions being answered with "I don't know".

Add some extra details or descriptive words or images for that day or a particular theme in chalk on the frame.  

Since it's now a chalkboard & bulletin board combined, this can have different notes, drawings or projects everyday:

Are you ready for school to start?  For more fun ideas, check out Michael's Back to School Challenge Pinterest Board and Lookbook. 

I'm also sharing this project with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.

Click HERE to check them out!

I was not financially compensated for this post and received a Michael's gift card to use for purchasing supplies for this project.  The opinions are completely my own, based on my experience.  For my complete disclosure policy, click here.