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Science -- from grade school through high school you were either in love with it or were terrified by it. We find out later in life though, post terror Science teachers and all, that every moment you spent in all those Science classes did not need to be scary. No information could be too big nor too small for a curious learner. There’s you and all the amazing things in the world that surround you. Learning Science is fun and should be engaging for both the learner and the teacher. But sometimes this is easier said than done. When we started homeschooling years ago, one of the first few challenges that my husband and I dealt with was becoming the Science teachers that our then 10-year old son would not fall asleep on.
One study conducted in Indiana University High School concluded that in a class 30% of the students demonstrated boredom because they said there was a lack of interaction between them and their teachers, and 70% said the materials their teachers used were simply not interesting. This is a situation that could be true across classrooms in different parts of the world.
Through Makerspace Pilipinas and Jeepneed, we were so glad to discover during their event at The Mind Museum that homeschooling families like us have better, more creative and definitely more engaging ways to teach Science classes. You just can’t toss a book to your kids and tell them to learn and remember as much as they can. It is not enough to show them pictures of microscopes, science laboratories and what’s inside them, etc. Experiments and various activities help them understand facts, theories and concepts better and help them retain knowledge through their own discoveries. Science materials available in bookstores though are a bit too pricey or are not that easy to source. So if you are planning a series of activities for a school year, it could bore a hole in your the pocket.
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| Photos courtesy of Jeepneed |
4 Reasons Why Homeschoolers Should Know About Jeepneed’s Lab in a Box:
1. Jeepneed’s goals are aligned with the common goals of homeschoolers. Two of these are “to build observation skills and creative problem solving skills essential beyond Science as a subject”; and “to get kids off the screen and on to discover the world”.2. Affordable Science Kits and Lab in a Box. You get materials for four or more activities for every box. The longer your subscription is the cheaper it will be for you. The price for their experiment boxes are way, way cheaper than the ones you will typically find in bookstores. And yes, it is done by subscriptions, so they bring the lab to your door!
3. It’s not just school work, it’s a fun family activity. Everyone in the family can share ideas and discuss facts while doing the experiment. Bigger siblings can assist the younger members of the family, so they get to discover processes and results together.
4. Lab anywhere! As homeschoolers, we enjoy the benefit of being able to “work” anywhere. The Techie Microscope and the Pocket Microscope are certainly fun to have when spending time outdoors.
What my kids think about Lab in a Box:
We were given the opportunity to try the Electronics Kit and the Biology Kit. I can’t remember the last time I peeked into the wonders of the world through a microscope, so it was a whole new experience for me. I confess I had to try very hard to patiently wait for my turn to use the Pocket and Techie Microscopes.Cole on the Electronics Kit: Papa has taught me a few things about electronics and I believe it's one of the very important things to learn. During the Makerspace event, it was so much fun learning how to create a circuit board. It helped me understand electricity and basic electric circuitry faster than just reading them from the book.
Attika on the Biology Kit: I wondered why a microscope had a glass in front of it. I liked it so much because it's like having super powers! I could see tiny things. My skin looked strange under the microscope!
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