>U Mom Knows Best: Teaching Kids Science And Stem With Thames & Kosmos

Friday, August 14, 2020

Teaching Kids Science And Stem With Thames & Kosmos


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  Five months ago when schools closed, I have learned a lot about how to home school. The biggest thing that I have learned is teachers are amazing. I have also learned that I do not want to home school my kids. That may sound mean but my boys don't want me to be their teacher either. These past five months have been stressful and I am so ready for this virus pandemic to be over. I am ready to send my kids back to school. I am ready to take off my home school mom hat. 




When I started preparing for the respiratory virus pandemic, I forgot to prepare for teaching my kids at home. I thought that my boys would enjoy doing online school but in reality, they were super bored as it was too easy. So I tried supplementing their home learning with fun online math games that were supposed to make learning math fun. The math games got boring for my boys and they were wishing that they could be at school hanging out with their friends. So then I tried using baking for home school lessons and my boys enjoyed making frog bread. Even making focaccia bread flowers and painting rocks made me feel like I was teaching an art class. Eventually, my boys grew tired of my attempts to teach them school at home. The only class that my boys are enjoying with me being their teacher in gym class. I am glad that my teen boys still want to go running with me. 

Learning to be creative with at-home learning 


 I have learned that if I want my boys to learn, I have to make my school lessons not feel like school. So I am allowing my boys to cook dinner and telling myself that I am teaching them home ec. When my boys decide what they want to eat for breakfast and lunch with healthy foods, I remind myself that they are learning nutrition. Giving my boys chores of folding laundry and taking out the trash is teaching them responsibility. Doing yard work for friends helps my boys learn other life skills. So maybe right now, my boys are learning and I can take away the mom guilt.

Using STEM kits to teach science


 At home school and learning do not have have to be like traditional school lessons and I have realized that my kids are still learning even without me having to make lesson plans. I have learned to utilize fun STEM Science Experiment Kits that make learning fun. I have discovered some science kids that engaged my boys in educational fun so the school learning can begin even before my boys go back to school. While online school is set to start next week, the in-person school may or may not happen a month later.

 When the science kits from Thames & Kosmos arrived at our house, the boys got excited and read the outside of the boxes. So I was teaching the language arts and also patience as they had to wait until picture day to explore the inside of the science learning kit boxes. The life of being a kid to a blogger mom means that you have to wait to enjoy the contents of most boxes that arrive at your front door. A day in the life of a blogger may mean checking out some cool new toys and tasty healthy snacks but it also means that mom has to first take pictures of the products. Blogging is a full-time job for me and yes, I make money blogging.    



 Ooze Labs: Colorful Crystal Lab


 Explore the natural beauty and wonder of crystals by growing them yourself in many different shapes and colors! Set up your lab station — complete with beakers, test tubes, centrifuge, display dome, and more — and use safe, non-toxic crystal salts to conduct more than ten experiments in crystal formation. You can even make red, pink, blue, purple, and clear crystals using the spinning centrifuge! After you’ve completed the experiments in the kit, continue your crystal growing adventures using the cool lab setup and common materials from around your home.

 My boys were excited to make crystals and this cool educational kit that teaches science has over 11 science experiments in one box. I liked that the science projects used safe non-toxic crystal salts and I did not have to worry about them blowing up the house. I also loved that the kit for STEM learning include almost everything that they needed to make colorful crystals. We had all the additional items so I did not have to purchase anything other than the Ooze Labs: Colorful Crystal Lab kit. My boys were learning about chemical reactions and how crystals form. 


Crystals, Rocks & Minerals Science Experiment Kit



Unearth the secrets of geology as you dig deep into the science of rocks and minerals and the crystals that form them. Through 18 hands-on experiments, kids will discover some pretty amazing things about geology, mineralogy, and crystal growing. Become a geologist-in-training as you mold your own crystal geode and grow three different types of crystals that vary in color and shape. Work with real mineral specimens to learn how to determine a mineral’s chemical properties such as color, luster, streak color, hardness, density, magnetic properties, and carbon, sulfur, or iron content and use your findings to identify unknown minerals. As you explore, you’ll get an overview of the geologic rock cycle and discover how the three main categories of rock — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic — are formed, altered, destroyed, and formed again. 



This STEM experiment kit was teaching my boys geology, mineralogy, and how to grow crystals. My boys were also learning about the properties of rocks and crystals. I was amazed at all that was inside this box of science experiments as it had 41 pieces. The science kit also taught 18 experiments. This science box was definitely for the older kids as it was label 8+ for use under adult supervision. My boys are 12 and 13 so I knew that they could safely explore the Crystals, Rocks & Minerals Science Experiment Kit by themselves. The kit included safety goggles and I instructed my boys to read the 32-page manual as this STEM learning kit has chemicals like potassium hexacyanoferrate and copper sulfate. So I loved that my boys were learning about chemical properties.


 My boys had plenty of fun with these science lab kits and they were learning new things. I was succeeding in homeschooling and my boys were getting an educational experience. I am hopeful for the new school year as the teachers have had 5 months to prepare for teaching online school. I am sure that there will be plenty of online instruction from the teachers and I am also hoping that there will be homework that does not involve the computer. My boys have had way too much computer time this summer and need homework that involves writing and math. It would be cool if the teachers could do Google Meets with science kits. Maybe the state needs to increase the school budget so the schools can give every student an at-home science kit.

Check out the crystal that my son grew!



19 comments:

Lyosha Varezhkina said...

wow! awesome kit! I would enjoy doing it with kid and I am sure kids would love it

Ben said...

That is an awesome kit! This is perfect to supplement traditional school learning or to add into a homeschooling situation.

Anne Marie said...

What a fun kit! My boys love STEM stuff. And don't underestimate your importance to your children, and how valuable the time you spend with them is. Home learning may not always look perfect, and it's certainly not stress-free, but who knows them better than you do? Never forget, as a mother you are always a teacher - from the moment of their birth - and you don't get paid for it! hahaha

Give Me Some Spice said...

The science kit sounds amazing. Home schooling and keeping kids interested must be hard work having such educational kits must be a good way of achieving peace and harmony in the home.

The Southern Smiths said...

I believe my kids are about at the age to do home grown crystals. I might check out some of these kits!

Celebrate Woman said...

I find these STEAM games and toys really impressive even at my grown-up age. They always teach us something. Or maybe, I am a geek.

The Super Mom Life said...

My girls love kits like this. They are all about science and stem lately!

Musa Creativa Magazine said...

This is super cool! I love the rocks & crystals set!

Rebecca said...

My son grew up learning STEM. He loves it. Now he is in college studying engineering.

S. Graham said...

Yes, it helps a lot to learn in a way that doesn't feel like overwhelming work. I love your approach and have no doubt your kids will excel because of it!

Georgia said...

Amazing kit! And what a creative way for kids to be entertained at home. Im always searching for interesting and fun ways to spend time with my kids and science lab kits are a great idea��

Toni said...

This is such a fun way to learn science! Kids will surely enjoy learning time!

Sherry said...

These kits are so cool. Such a fun way to get kids interested in STEM. I would even like to try them out.

Vaibhav Mehta said...

Quite a refreshing way of incorporating games and education. Love the kit and how it makes science seem easy peasy!

Jhangi said...

oh wow these kits sounds really useful and interesting indeed..glad you shared this with us..great work though..found it so nice and helpful though...

melissa said...

My oldest nephew is about his age and loves rocks. I dont believe he has these though and his birthday is coming up. What a great way to get through the pandemic

Kelly Bolen said...

I thank God everyday that my kids are older and already graduated college! I am not sure I would have been able to school my children with the same grace and dignity! Kudos to you and it looks like you are doing a fabulous job!

Erin said...

These STEM kits look awesome! I'd love to get some for my niece (and maybe myself... lol) to learn and play with!

Slaren said...

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