10 Best STEM Kits for Kids Learning at Home
Share
Keep your child curious and engaged while learning at home with a STEM kit, project, or challenge. These science, technology, engineering, and math boxes are amazing tools to encourage exploration, creativity, and building a growth mindset. We know what it’s like to spend hours putting together DIY STEM project ideas that we find on Pinterest or parent blogs. You’re scrambling trying to find all of the materials and supplies needed to complete the experiment. Then, after all that work to find everything you need, your child gets bored after a few minutes or struggles to do it independently. Such a bummer! This is why STEM kits were created. A high quality, well prepared STEM kit will make your life so much easier and they are a ton of fun. There are a variety of types of STEM kits available including subscription boxes, one time kits, and our personal favorite, robot kits.
As teachers at WhyMaker we know what STEM products work in classrooms and are great to teach meaningful and thoughtful STEM lessons to students both in school and at home. That’s why we have shared our list of the Best STEM Books for Kids, so you could continue the STEM fun in your home library. Additionally, all of the products we support and recommend are tried and tested in our classrooms. We also think these products make great at home STEM learning experiences for students. Read through to find special offers and why these STEM kits make great at-home learning experiences.
1. SAM Labs - STEAM Course Alpha Kit
Head to the WhyMaker store to check out the STEAM Course Alpha kit! It is a versatile, fun and intuitive introductory kit that includes 66+ lessons! It’s compatible with LEGO and other readily-available classroom materials. This kit can be used with all SAM Labs STEAM curriculum aligned lesson plans, as the structured lesson materials are written by teachers with supplementary resources. We love how engaging the project-based learning driven narrative with cross-curricular approach to science and everyday life is. The kits also includes the SAM Space app which provides a simple, visual way of coding for every teacher and student, as well as a hands-on physical computing and easy wireless setup which allows for simple integration into your virtual classroom.
2. Edison Robots + EdCreate Kit
Edison Robots are our absolute favorite robotics kit! They are also featured in our WhyMaker store because they are so affordable and so easy to get started. This kit will grow with your learner from simple block based coding, through scratch based through python text based coding, your learner can really improve their STEM knowledge and coding abilities. Special bonus when you purchase your Edison Robot through WhyMaker including our unique getting started guides, so you and your learner can be learning right away! Once you’ve got your Edison Robot, we recommend trying out some of Edison’s new design challenges.
3. 3Dux Design
The Architecture Kit - Iconic Home is 3Dux Design's first and greatest product to get started designing and creating using your wildest imagination. 3Dux Designs is like the building blocks of today! They are so great for connecting and building. Getting the Pro Kit is great for more than one child to work together to build big projects or adding lights and electricity to your already existing projects. 3Dux Design is currently featuring STEM Show and Virtual Playdates once a week.
Brown Dog Gadget has simple and affordable activities that will keep your learners engaged for hours! Build a BristleBot for everyone in the family or a solar cockroach. Learn about origami and build origami circuits. Every week BDG is going live on their youtube channel reviewing a project. Check it out!
5. Thimble
Have some advanced coders and STEM lovers in your house? Check out Thimble.io. Special learning workshops for parents to help with teaching your kids these coding skills. Buying one kit gives your learners 12 projects to work on with video guidance.
6. Kiwi
KiwiCo is a monthly subscription service that designs activity bozes for all ages and interests from ages 2-16+! All KiwiCo Crates are designed by a team of educators, makers, engineers and even rocket scientists! We have been hearing amazing reviews from students and parents alike.
7. STEM Bins
Does your learner just love to have an open imagine to create and build whatever comes to mind? Is your student working with the #DesignChallengeDailys and needs more products and supplies, but you don’t know what to buy? These STEM Bins are tons of open ended resources for your creative and curious learner.
8. Wonder Crate
Wonder Crate is a subscription box that introduces kids to inspirational role models, sparks curiosity and connects kids to their own possibilities. Each box comes with a book and hands-on activities to educate, entertain and empower. Use code WHYMAKER and get 15% off your order.
Okay, a little bit of nostalgia! Who didn’t love Ms. Frizzle? She was truly the best. We always wanted to be a student in her class. The make magic school bus’ hands-on kits go along with each show in their series. This is the coolest concept - watch TV and follow along with your own at home kit. Check them ALL out today!
10. Dreamer Box
For our littlest learners ages 3 - 5, check out Dreamer Box. It combines reading and creating to build their curiosity about the world with great projects. A monthly subscription box to keep your young readers interested in STEM. If your child enjoys this STEM box, they may also enjoy our list of the Best STEM Books for Kids!
Wait, there's more!
Bonus Ideas:
Microbit - Create, code and experiment with young learners using this powerful beginner’s coding kit. Use bluetooth-enabled blocks with a block based coding platform called Workbench to teach fundamental computational thinking skills and computer science concepts. We love Microbit! There are endless opportunities for exploring and creating. Their online simulator makes a great place to practice the coding prior to buying the Microbit.
Giggleway Electric Motor Robotic - All Giggleway STEM sets are designed to teach scientific principles in a fun, hands-on way that is both entertaining and educational. They have educational STEM projects for beginners to learn circuits and robotics. These small kits allow your young engineer to explore, learn & have great fun when completing their very own robot kits.
The possibilities are endless! The above list is WhyMaker approved and we're confident your students will love these STEM kits and they will definitely keep them learning and entertained. Tag @WhyMaker in pictures of your students with their new boxes so we can share them and celebrate your learning!