Kiwi Crate is a kids’ craft and activity subscription that comes with everything you need to complete a great project or two, usually a pair of crafts that can be used as toys or playtime props. The box is geared for ages 5-8, and the projects are always age-appropriate, though some require more parental assistance than others.
Kiwi Crate is the most popular craft and activity subscription box for kids!
This month’s theme is Light Refraction! Kiwi Crate includes all necessary supplies for the featured activities, plus explore! magazine.
DEAL: Use this link to save 30% on your first box of Kiwi Crate! (or KiwiCo family subscriptions Tinker Crate, Koala Crate, and Doodle Crate).
All of the craft supplies from the Crate. You really need very little from home to do the crafts.
Usually, you only need a pair of scissors (they sent us a Kiwi Crate branded pair in our first box!), but often the pieces are pre-cut, scored, or otherwise prepared for you already. The crate includes self-adhesive items or glue/glue dots if needed for the crafts.
Explore! Magazine
An issue of explore magazine is included in every Crate. It is full of fun content that brings the project to life. explore! has read, draw, learn, explore, eat, and make designated activities. There is really a lot to look at and read – a comic, puzzles, and games – and it really extends your young one’s engagement with the Crate. Each expands on the theme of the box, whether through factoids, drawing activities, or recipes, but the variation is helpful for engaging different learning styles and interests.
There is always a comic featuring Steve the Kiwi and his pals.
They also include lots of historical and scientific information relating to the current theme.
More science features!
Every Kiwi Crate comes with a unique Steve sticker (like your merit badge for completing the box). The first box of an annual subscription includes a poster for displaying your earned stickers.
Kiwi Crate Crafts
The second booklet that comes in every crate is the actual instruction booklet for the crafts, and it often includes additional activities beyond the extension projects included in explore!
Each Crate usually has three activities – either separate projects or phases of a single, large project. This Crate had three distinct projects. The booklet includes an inventory of all the supplies included in the Crate, plus a messiness and parental involvement rating for each project.
Our first project this month is about making a light box and a glowing firefly. Step-by-step instructions guide you through the project. They are clearly written and very easy to follow, pointing out potential pitfalls so you don’t go astray.
Light Box and Glowing Firefly. The light box is easy to set up. The box base, the paper box cover, wood box lid, and tap light were all provided in the crate. When the light box was done, my two boys started molding a very cute firefly to put on the base.
The firefly’s antenna came out too long, but it’s still cute!
Once the firefly is done, simply stick it in front of the glass and light it up!
After following the step-by-step procedures and you’ve turned the lights on, you’ll see that the light rays bend on the part of the glass with the rough surface. Amazing!
Light Refraction Fireworks. The second activity is about making a color-changing glowing fireworks display.
For this activity, we’re using the same light box from the previous activity, and some more items from the crate like the clear slide, colorful cling stickers, black cling sticker, and firework plates.
You have to open the light and move the slide containing colorful cling stickers up and down. When the light’s color changes along with every slide movement, the activity is a success!
My son thought it was cool!
It’s like watching an animation!
The fireworks color changed accordingly as my daughter moved the slide. Job well-done, kids!
Extension Activities
Light Refraction in a Cup. For this experiment, all you need is a cup, a spoon, and some water. place water in the cup, as well as the spoon and then watch as the spoon looks like it’s bent! That’s because of light refraction. Here’s a more detailed explanation from Kiwi Crate.
The stream of water makes the rays of light change direction, just like your firefly did. But this time, the light changes direction so much it get trapped inside the water. That’s why you see a bright spot on your hand — that’s light from the tap light that’s traveled down the stream of water.
Tricky Pictures. All you need is the same glass of water from the previous activity. Hold the magazine behind the glass of water, and then watch as the patterns change!
Water Bottle Refraction. Light refraction is such a useful idea, especially when you’re on a camping trip and you suddenly ran out of campfire. You can create your own water bulbs simply by getting a clear water bottle and a flashlight!
The booklet even introduced a recipe for Jiggly Magnifying Glass using Jell-O. There are also book suggestions related to this month’s theme, which include On a Beam of Light and Exploring the Science of Light.
This Kiwi Crate focused on introducing the basics of light refraction to kids in a fun and engaging way. As always, we loved the hands-on activities and we appreciate that most of the materials are already provided in the crate. Aside from science experiments, there are even recipes and creative activities for the kids. It makes the subscription so well-rounded, and the fact that it appeals not just to the intended age bracket (5-8 years old) but to all age ranges make it such a winner. Even adults would find all these amazing! If you’re looking for an activity box that will keep kids busy for hours, and teach them some science and history, you should try Kiwi Crate!
Did you enjoy this months activity? Let us know in the comments!
Visit Kiwi Crate to subscribe or to find out more about this fantastic kids’ craft subscription box!
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