Mini-Theater Kit from STEAM4KIDZ Review

Disclosure:  I received this complimentary product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

I was so pumped to be selected to receive the Mini-Theater Kit from STEAM4KIDZ for E to complete!  This specific kit is geared for kids ages 6-12 to complete independently.  E (age 10) did great with it!

Our Kit

I love that there was information for both the adult and the child!

A peek inside our kit

I'm so pleased with the organization of our kit!  Everything was separated into bags by projects and it was so well laid out and organized, E was able to find everything easily.  All the materials needed to complete the projects were included in out kit and kids have access to step-by-step videos for each project and these were amazing!

This Mini-Theater kit has various projects for kids to work through.

• They will build a model Proscenium Theater.
• Create a 3 color light box to control colors and mood within their theater.
• Create scenes for their theater.
• Cut out animal characters for each scene.
• And last but not least, create plays using their characters and scenes!
  

And of course, they are learning about theater all along the way.  I love that this kit is both hands-on and educational.

E starting to build the theater

 

Assembling the fly bars

A complete fly bar

E constructing her theater.

 

E with her basic theater

 

E watching the video and creating character stands.

E finished the basic theater, fly bars and stands.

 

Creating the light box was next.  Above you can see the materials and video.

 

First the outer box was constructed.

 

Then the wires were stripped and the proper connections were made.  The video explaining this and demonstrating it was fabulous.  I think it really helps kids see and understand the process.

E's finished light box, red light

 

Green light

And blue light

E watching the video for instructions on how to color the Medieval Scene.

Scene Completed

E with her completed theater!

A close up view

It's so fun that she can create different characters and scenes and even different moods (with the light box) for her theater.  She is now working on her next script and I cannot wait to see her creation!

If you are looking for a fun and educational hands-on project kit for your child, I cannot recommend the Mini-Theater Kit from STEAMKIDZ enough.  It is a great addition to our homeschool and I am so pleased we received it!

Want to know more?  Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read even more reviews of STEAM4KIDZ including some of their other kits.

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ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra from Timberdoodle Review

Today I want to share with you the ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra set from Timberdoodle!  This set is geared for children ages 4-8 and F and G (ages 4 and 7) are simple loving it.

A close up of our tub.  I love that this durable tub holds everything and makes storage a breeze.  It's also labeled nicely which brings me joy.

 

Opening our set!

Our Spiral Bound Guide Books

I love that they lay flat and the laminated pages are sturdy.

A close up of the pieces.

 

You can see how the pieces connect above, you line them up and they kind of slide and lock together.

 

There are also special Xtra connectors.  These pieces are specially shaped (like t's and r's) and allow children to change the direction of their builds.  

 

This 400-piece set (squares, triangles, wheels and Xtra connectors) is extremely durable and I love that it comes with a plethora of project ideas within our guide books 🙂.  Our guide books have easy-to-follow photographs with step-by-steps on how to build each model.  The boys can easily follow the pictures.  As children progress through the book, the models increase in difficulty and shape.  The first creations lay flat while the later creations are 3-Dimensional.  The boys can play and build independently and they love showing me their creations as they complete them.  I also love seeing their "out of the box" own build ideas as well.

Some of the boys builds

 

Above you can see the boys following the picture to build their frog.

 

In some of the easier builds, the photographs are to scale with the blocks pieces.

The finished frog side-by-side with the build page.  It shows them which pieces they will need and the quantity as well.  As the builds get more complicated, the pages have more steps and photographs.

 

Basically, prior to their builds, kids will find the correct number, shape, and color of pieces that they will need.  The boys really appreciate that the pieces connect easily and stay together for sturdy structures; however, they also disconnect easily so builds can be taken apart and rebuilt or the pieces can be used for other constructions.

Above you can see the build steps for the flower, a more complicated structure.  These photos are not the same size as the actual build structure.

G with his flower!

I love this one, it truly looks like a vase or pot with a large flower.

 

 

Above you can see all the build ideas from just one of our guide books.  In this book kids are shown how to build a teddy, chair, swimmer, rocket, clown, lady, man, small plane, helicopter, butterfly, bird, sail boat, dinosaur, pig, bear cub, elephant, car driver, flower, soldier, plane, road roller, drummer, lion, turtle and spider.

 

 G loved building Teddy.

One of the many cars...

This set is great for fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, cognitive/creative thinking, problem solving, spatial skills, and so much more!  The possibilities of what they can build and create are truly endless.

 

 

The boys combined numerous builds to make this "crazy creation" as they call it.

A close-up of one side, I love the lion coming off the front and the wheels on the back - so fun!

ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra is part of Timberdoodle's PreK Curriculum Kit.  This set is a great hands-on resource to have in our homeschool and the younger boys are truly loving it!

 

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received the ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra set in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Carole P. Roman Assorted Series Review

{Disclaimer:  I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.}

I have some fun, educational books to share with you today!  We are really enjoying a selection of Carole P. Roman's books from Carole P. Roman's assorted series.  There were so many great options to choose but we selected to receive If You Were Me and Lived in...Viking Europe, If you Were Me and Lived in...the Middle Ages, If You Were Me and Lived in...Renaissance Italy, and If You Were Me and Lived on...Mars.

Our New Books

Three of our books are from Carole P. Roman's If You Were Me and Lived in...Historical Series.  Readers are transported back in time to various historical periods!  Books in this series include Ancient Greece, Ancient China, Viking Europe, Mayan Empire, Ancient Mali Empire, Middle Ages, Renaissance Italy, Elizabethan England, Colonial America and the American West.

 If You Were Me and Lived in...Viking Europe

In this book you are transported back in time to a Viking village ~ 880 AD.  You find out about where you live, what you would do, what you would wear, what you would eat - in essence, what life would be like.

 A peek inside...

I love that you find out examples of what your name might by and why.

Another peek

Above you can see what clothes you might wear in different seasons and how your mother and sisters would make them from a loom and spinning wheel.

 If You Were Me and Lived in...the Middle Ages

In this book you are transported back in time to the Middle Ages.  You find out about the different classes of people in society.  You see some of the differences in life depending on whether you were rich or poor or whether you were a boy or girl.  You find out what you might do.

 A peek inside...

Another peek...

Above you can see a glimpse of what it might look like inside the kitchen as well as what you would eat.

 If You Were Me and Lived in...Renaissance Italy

 E with our book in her Renaissance dress!

In this book you are transported back in time to Italy ~ 1490.  Your name could have been Dolce or Lisabetta.  Again you find out about where you live, what you would do, what you would wear, what you would eat - in essence, what life would be like.

A peek inside...

Above you can see what clothes you might wear and how you might style your hair.

Another peek...

Above you learn about the importance of the Renaissance period in art.

One of our books is from Carole P. Roman's If You Were Me and Lived in...Cultural Series.  Instead of being transported into historical time periods though, readers are taking on trips around the world visiting various cultures.  Books in this series include Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, South Korea,  Turkey, and even the planet Mars!

 If You Were Me and Live on...Mars

 

F with our book and his rocket ship!

This book is so fun!  It shows what life might look like if we colonized Mars.  Answer questions like - What would you wear?  What would you see?  What would you do?

F exploring the pictures in our book.

A peek inside...

Above it talks about what your housing would have to look like and some of the conditions that make Mars unlivable - air pressure too thin to breathe, too much carbon monoxide and too little oxygen, and extreme temperatures than can change quickly and without warning.

 Another peek...

Above you can see the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos.  It was fun to think about living on a planet with more than one moon.

All of these books are really great.  The If You Were Me and Lived in...Historical Series are great additions to our homeschool and wonderful resources to use as we study history.  I personally love the Mars book because it gets you to think and explore future possibilities which I personally find fascinating.  We would definitely recommend these books.  And if you cannot tell from all of my "peeks" into our books, the illustrations are great and really fun.

I also want to note that each of our books in the Historical Series give examples of famous people during that time period.  And all 4 books (even Mars) has a short glossary at the back.

Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read even more reviews of Carole P. Roman's assorted series, including some of her other books.

You can engage with Carole P. Roman on social media @:

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