Every week, I'm alerted to a new STEM-related tool for kids and parents to use at home or in the homeschool environment to help them learn in a fun and engaging way. Some are better than others. This past week, we were sent a sample for our very own Creation Crate review, a subscription box that gives kids a more advanced, hands-on experience to learn STEM concepts, specifically with electronics and computing. (What is STEM? See our explanation here.)
Our Creation Crate Review
I have my 14-year-old son Micah work through the kit. He has had some experience with putting together his own Pi kit and also some basic coding, so I thought he could give me an honest idea of how much kids can learn from this kit.
Before we started our Creation Crate review, I was a little uncertain that so much could come in one little box. The kit itself was impressive. It had everything needed to get started, and it didn't come with a massive book of instructions. So much fit inside the tiny package!
A simple visually-based booklet walked kids through the building of the board, as well as how to do a very simple program code using Arduino. There were also some extra activities you could do to expand upon the basics taught in the kit. With every box, you get an UNO R3 (Arduino-compatible). This is a microcontroller, which is basically a small computer that you’ll be using to program and power your projects. (If you've ever tried to make a kit from scratch, you know that finding all of these components can be difficult. It was nice to have everything we needed right away -- no shopping for just the right parts!)
Going into this Creation Crate review, I knew that the people putting the supplies together knew their stuff. These were some good quality components.
The best part was that the parts aren't single-use. As kids advance in their skills, the parts can be adapted, modified, or incorporated into other, more involved projects. Parts are parts, and Creation Kit did a good job of including some high-quality components that will have curious kids wanting to do more -- and learn more!
Why Parents Love Creation Crate
As a parent who really doesn't understand things like circuitry and programming language, it is a relief to know that I don't have to for my kids to grow in their skills. Creation Crate really has thought of everything. I would recommend parental supervision for younger kids, but for the motivated pre-teen or teen wanting to do a quick and fun project that lays a foundation for necessary STEM understanding, I highly recommend this brand of kit.
In addition to being able to purchase monthly gift boxes with a different project each month, the Creation Crate Shop has extra components and accessories for sale at a pretty decent price. All the components are compatible with the kids through this company, making it easier to shop than other sites (where you may have to guess compatibility or wait weeks for items to arrive from China.)
How much does Creation Crate cost?
Given everything you get in a kit, it's very reasonable. In fact, since the projects come in order, you can build and build and learn in progression. It's not just the supplies that are valuable, but the guided learning. It's a curriculum and a fun way to stay entertained.Kits start at $22.49 per month! Order them directly from Creation Crate.
Wanna Save? Get an additional 10% off with code MKR10CC here!
Did you like this Creation Create review? Learn more about STEM and why it's an important part of learning -- not just for homeschoolers.
*Sample kit received for our Creation Crate review. As an affiliate of Creation Crate, I will earn a small commission for every order made through my link. Thank you for helping to support our site!
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