If you follow my blog, then you know that I homeschool my two girls. I am always looking for fun, yet educational products to share with them, and gift during the holidays. One brand that I find myself gravitating towards when deciding on hands-ons learning kits for school each year is Smithsonian. My girls have enjoyed the 3-D models and kits that I have purchased and use to make learning about things like the human body and space that much more fun.
And, this holiday season, Smithsonian is back at it with a wonderful selection of Exploration Station kits that would make for great gift ideas for kids of all ages, especially for families like mine that homeschool and prefer educational toys and products over other toys that kids will play with a few times and then put down.
Recently, the folks at Smithsonian sent their Human Body and World Atlas kits from their Exploration Station series for review.
"Head off on a globetrotting adventure in this interactive atlas! Learn about the diverse cultures, customs, wildlife, and natural beauty that form our world through informative text and full-color photograph. Children will love the hands-on aspect to learning as they blow up their inflatable globe and build the cardstock models of some of the wonders of the world. Smithsonian Exploration Station: World Atlas (ISBN: 978-1626867208) is the perfect way to engage kids in the amazing world around them!"
Includes:
56-page fact book
30 stickers
1 inflatable globe
3 cardstock models to assemble: the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, and a Mayan pyramid
"Discover what makes your blood pump and your muscles stretch in this hands-on learning experience! With fascinating facts, full-color photographs, a plastic model skeleton, and 25 fact cards, Smithsonian Exploration Station: Human Body (ISBN: 978-1626867215) is a fun, engaging way to learn about the inner workings of the complex systems that make the human body. "
Includes:
56-page fact book
30 stickers
1 plastic model skeleton (13 pieces)
25 fact cards
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We are covering World Geography this year, so the World Atlas kit was well received by my girls, as they loved how it came with stickers, an inflatable globe, a wall poster and three 3-D model kits. My youngest is all about France so she was all smiles when she saw the Eiffel Tower model. My oldest called the Chichen Itza as her model to do, and together we will work on the Taj Mahal, as they both thought it could be a little tricky with all the little piece to add -- but, it ended up being easy to make, and the favorite of my two girls. :-)
As a homeschooling parent, I really like the setup of the Smithsonian World Atlas book that is included with the set. It is broken up by regions and includes full-color photographs from each area studying, as well as maps. The chapters are a few pages in length and chock full of information about each region including popular landmarks and fun Did you know? facts.
Next to the cardstock 3-D models, the next favorite thing from this set was the wall poster. The girls liked how they could apply what they learned and locate places on the map and add the corresponding stickers that are included in the set to each location. This is a great review for kids to see if they know where the historical landmarks of places are including the Statue of Liberty, Machu Picchu, Gateway Arch, Denali, and so many more -- 60 stickers to be exact, all of which you can remove and re-stick in case you don't match up places correctly, or want to use as a weekly review with school.
The Smithsonian Exploration Station Human Body is just like the World Atlas one. It includes a 56-page full color guide to teach kids of all ages about the human body and each parts function, 41 reusable stickers that kids can apply to a 13"x18" poster of the human body, as well as 25 full-color fact cards about the major systems and body parts found in the human body. And, just like with the World Atlas set, the Human Body set comes with a fun 12" human skeleton model for kids to make and use with their studies.
We have been covering the Human Body for the past couple years in our schooling, so the girls had a background on the the different systems and where everything is located within the body. But, they both agreed that this kit really helped them understand the human body better, and made learning about it much more fun than basic textbooks or shows.
I am so happy I was able to check these two Exploration Station kits out firsthand with my girls. They really enjoyed them and have learned a lot. It is always nice when you stumble upon products that make teaching a subject in homeschooling fun and enjoyable, while also keeping the educational aspects needed for a complete lesson, and these kits do just that. They are perfect for hands on learners like my girls, and will grow with your kids, and be used time and again in your schooling.
To learn more about the Exploration Station products from Smithsonian head on over to Silver Dolphin Books today. With the holidays fast approaching, why not consider picking up one or more to gift to your child, and give them the gift of learning this holiday season -- while also having fun at the same time!
Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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