Genius Box is a monthly STEM adventure (science, technology, engineering, math) for curious young minds. Topics vary each month and are packed with 3+ ready-to-make projects and learning opportunities to complete at home! Genius Box is geared towards 8-11 year olds with the mission of empowering the change-makers and problem-solvers of tomorrow, today. The cost is $25 per month and is available in the U.S. only. For every box sold, Genius Box donates $1 to their current non-profit partner, ManyMentors.

The Homespun Chics received this box for review. All opinions are 100% our own. A giveaway prize is provided by the super smart ladies at Genius Box.

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January 2016 Genius Box “Weather”

“In the Weather Genius Box, you are a meteorologist learning about water content, wind speed, and temperature. Make your own weather tools at home to help you forecast the weather to complete the challenge!” – Genius Box

Okay, so Little G is like, six years too young for this box, but I was still extremely excited for us to try out these great STEM projects at the house! I love introducing Little G to new concepts and believe it’s never too early to begin learning about STEM subjects.

What is STEM?

Science
Technology
Engineering
Math

All young people should be prepared to think deeply and to think well so that they have the chance to become the innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world, both today and tomorrow. But, right now, not enough of our youth have access to quality STEM learning opportunities and too few students see these disciplines as springboards for their careers.  –U.S. Dept. of Education

Genius Box makes learning about STEM super accessible and fun for the whole family! Each month you receive a box filled with 3+ ready-to-make projects based around a different STEM concept. This box is ideal for 8-11 year olds to work on by themselves, with minimal help from adults. Younger children are also encouraged to enjoy the projects with direct adult supervision.

The Costs:
Recurring Monthly – $25.00 (Only $18.75 with coupon!)
Recurring 3-Month – $24.00 per month (Only $18.00 with coupon!)

25% OFF COUPON:  HOMESPUN25

*Use our code at checkout to save 25% off any new monthly or 3-month subscription! Coupon expires March 31, 2016 at midnight PDT.

Be sure to enter our giveaway at the end of this review for a chance to WIN your very own “Weather” Genius Box!

We didn’t know what to expect when we opened our package, but the presentation is super fun!

Each project is packaged separately and labeled for easy assembly!

The “Top Secret” manila envelope contains all of the instructions and worksheet to use for each of the activities!

Activity #1 – Water Cycle In A Bag

I love that this project was really easy to assemble and included every item needed to complete it, minus the tap water. I wanted Little G to help, but sharpies, blue dye, and toddlers absolutely do not mix. He had fun watching though!

Our completed project! Don’t judge my art skills… Unfortunately we had a very overcast, rainy day today so the water cycle was pretty stagnant in our baggie. Little G and I will learn more about the water cycle as the days go on!

There was also bonus activity that was perfect for Little G! We made a bracelet to signify the different stages of the water cycle!

We talked about the water cycle as we built the bracelet. I’m going to be honest and say that this went way over his head, but Little G LOVED beading the elastic!

Look how proud he is!

He loves this bracelet!!

 

Activity #2 – Thermometer

The second activity was a bit more involved, but Little G really got into it!

Here are all of the items we used to create the thermometer!

We had a lot of fun watching the little red color tab dissolve in the lukewarm water!

After we filled the bottle with lukewarm water and dyed it, we stuck the straw in the bottle and sealed the top with play doh. The water slowly climbed up the straw and I made a mark to show where it stood. Then we filled the big yellow cup with ice water (a little less than half-full), stuck the bottle inside the cup and waited. And waited. Finally the water in the straw started to go down with the water change! Little G was completely fascinated. We made a second mark.

The last step was to empty the cold water from the cup and fill it back up with hot tap water. The water slowly rose up the straw and we made a third and final mark. I forgot to mention, we had to record the room temperature, cold water and hot water for our findings. This was a really fun project that had minimal mess, despite the dye and open cup of water. (Can you believe it?)

Activity #3 – Anemometer

This activity used a little metal pin to hold the anemometer together, so I ended up working on it mostly by myself. Little G assisted by handing me each cup though!

The instructions were extremely easy to follow and everything that we needed to build the anemometer was already included!

It did not take long to complete this project and (I think) it turned out great!

We did not have any wind today, so we resorted to blowing into the cups to get the anemometer to spin. Little G was cracking UP while his daddy was showing him how it worked. Little G ended up just spitting all over the place when he tried to blow into the cups to get them to move. (Super gross.) We kept a careful eye on him while he was playing with the anemometer because of the little pin holding it together.

As you work through the activities, you can take notes and complete the corresponding sections on the provided worksheet. This is where we recorded our temperatures (top right) for Activity #2. If Little G were older, we would have completed the other sections as well. This is very comprehensive and fun!

As if the activities weren’t enough, Little G also got a little surprise!

He gets a bit excited over surprises! I’m still finding those blue crinkles in our dining room…

A pin!!! What a cute surprise! I pinned this to Little G’s shirt and then spent half an hour running after him with my camera trying to get a shot… This is the only picture you’re going to get. 😉

Our Thoughts

Genius Box is an incredible subscription service that simplifies complex STEM subjects and turns them into fun, understandable activities for children! This would be so much fun to do with Little G when he is a little bit older. I love that Genius Box includes all of the supplies you need to complete each activity and think this is a perfect subscription box for parents and children to open and do together at home! Genius Box proves that learning can and should be fun. I’m a true fan and respect the hard work and considerable amount of care that goes into building these boxes.

xo
Sarah & Little G

Click HERE and use coupon code HOMESPUN25 to save 25% off any new subscription!

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One of our exceptionally brilliant Homespun readers will WIN their very own “Weather” Genius Box!

Contest is open to US 18+ and will end on March 6, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST. No purchase necessary. Confirmed Winner will be contacted by us through email and winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. Prize will be fulfilled by Genius Box. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. Enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below.

Disclosure: This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Please read our Giveaway Rules page. Thanks and good luck!