Tinker Crate is a subscription box that inspires kids to learn about science, engineering, and technology, all while having lots of fun. Each month, the box explores a field of study within a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) discipline. Kids practice their problem solving skills and learn how to engage in both structured and open-ended exploration and investigation. Most boxes walk the tinkerers through construction of fairly complex mechanical devices.
Everything that arrives together in a single Tinker Crate – the supplies, a fold-out instruction sheet, and the Tinker Zine. In addition to the cool stuff found in the Tinker Zine, most crates have a secondary project that builds on the primary project, extending the exploration and focusing in on the science principles demonstrated by the main project.
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The kit includes all the materials needed to construct the main project, an arcade game! Sometimes you need to provide some simple items from home for the second project or the additional explorations suggested in the Tinker Zine.
The instructions and other project info are printed on a faux blueprint fold-out sheet.
Along with materials and instructions, you get handy pointers and a troubleshooting guide. This is a well-designed and tested box — we’ve never had a project with a fatal design flaw or any frustrating, unresolved engineering issues. Plus, there is help available if needed!
The main project is always a great hands-on activity and a great demonstration of the scientific principles featured in the box, but the Tinker Zine is where the lessons really take shape! The Zine always has some very in depth exploration of the principles behind the project, as well as examples of real world applications.
The text is perfectly suited for the target age. The discussion of scientific principles and concepts is accurate and uses correct terminology, but the style is light and exciting.
The booklet includes additional experiments, explorations, as well as solid scientific learning.
We built the base to this project, and the catapult. This was all-hands on deck, my kids get super excited by any arcade-themed project. The instructions were easy to follow without too much fooling.
The tiles on top of the base of the game could be rearranged, and it was sort of like super skeeball. Everyone had fun participating in both the building of the project as well as the game.
Because of the rubberbands on the catapult the action was fairly controllable, allowing you to exercise some skill.
The kids assigned points to each of the holes and kept track. This guy was the winner. After we were done playing I quizzed my daughter on potential energy and kinetic energy, which was in the zine, and she got everything right!
This month was so much fun and it provided some much needed giggle time, as well as supplying us with some great engineering time, and scientific education to boot! Everything always works great and we had a total blast as a family.
Have you tried Tinker Crate yet with your kids?
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