*This post was sponsored by Junior Explorers, an online subscription for kids that contains hands-on science activities and online games. I was given a free sample of their Arctic Pack and compensated for my time. All opinions expressed belong to me. You can read more about this in my disclosure policy.
My boys {Kindergarten and 3rd grade} both LOVE science. Anything science. And I’m the world’s worst for thinking up science activities or experiments. Seriously. I wish that part of my brain existed, but I don’t think it does. The moment I heard about Junior Explorers, an educational monthly science subscription for kids ages 6-11, I knew we had to try it out. Today, I’m sharing my thoughts about it with you!
Kids are Treated as Scientists
One of my favorite things about this subscription is that kids are treated as scientists from the get-go.
- Kids receive a letter in the package, explaining that there’s a problem that they need to solve. {I think this is a great way to get kids reading!!}
- Before kids can go online and “play”, they first have to do some research about the problem and about the habitat in which they will visit. {In the section below, I will share more of those activities.}
- Kids are encouraged to share their findings with others. Included in the pack are tattoos, stickers, and even post cards that kids can use to share with others. While we didn’t use the post cards, the tattoos and stickers were well-used. I loved how the boys explained more about the animals as the kids played with them!
Hands-On Science Activities
You may be thinking what I was. You hear “online subscription” and you think it’s all online. Well, not so with this! Kids actually have fun, hands-on science activities before their journey online!
I think my kids most enjoyed the two little animals that arrived in the pack. The polar bear {named “Harry” by my boys} was a companion for the entire journey and especially liked to help the boys learn their Arctic animal facts.
I especially liked the fact sheet that explained the habitat of the Arctic
and the cool checklist that my little “scientists” used for each step of the journey.
The activity booklet was also a favorite. {Note: I did color copy this activity book so both boys could have a copy, but they shared all the other pieces of the pack.}
Online Problem Solving and Science Activities
Once kids are ready to go, by doing all the hands-on science activities, they can explore and play online. Just enter the mission code provided and away they go!
They are asked to gather supplies needed for the journey and explore the Arctic {Jr. Explorers offers other habitats as well such as the Amazon, and the Serengeti.}
On their journey, they learn even more about the habitat they are exploring
as well as the animals that live there. {“Hey, that’s the Snowy Owl from our fact cards!”}
They also get to play fun and interactive games on their journey, which my boys ate up! I also think it’s great that the option to replay the entire journey or even portions of it are there. This made it MUCH easier for my two explorers to share.
At the end of their journey, kids can convert the points they earn playing to dollars and select which non-for-profit they desire to donate back to in support of conservation. This is called Mission Giveback and is the first of its kind! Pretty cool!
Things to Consider & Further Thoughts
- How many children you have. If you have multiple children, you may want to purchase more than one subscription. This is especially important for the hands-on science activities in the pack.
- Your child’s reading level. The online games and activities are not read to children. If your child is not able to read it, you will need to be their companion as they explore.
- The time it takes. This online subscription pack probably took my boys 2-3 hours to complete total, so it doesn’t take a lot of time. That could be a pro or a con, depending upon what you’re looking for.
- Extras. Although we greatly enjoyed the activity pack and science activities, I would have loved to have had a suggested book list or a map for further exploration. Not a must. Just a wish.
Want to give Junior Explorers a Try? Use this discount code!
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~Becky
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