Just dug this article out of the archives and brushed it off for summer! Read on for a quick and easy “how-to” for our DIY Explorer Kits for Kids. We just love these kits this time of year. They’re perfect for curious, energetic kids, and an awesome activity to do with grandkids too!
How do you like to keep your kids’ gears turning in the summer months?
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My little explorer ADORES collections. In any available corner of the house, there are stashed bags and boxes stuffed to the bursting point with tiny treasures. The funny thing is, each little piece of treasure is important.
It’s cute. Annoying to clean, but cute. 😉
One place I try to encourage the collections is outside. Here, the “collections” offer endless possibilities for observation and experimentation.
What goes into our DIY explorer kits?
I put in a “tool box” filled with things like toothbrushes, tweezers, scissors, pipettes, syringes, and pH paper. These tools can be used to obtain, clean, or test a sample (think rocks, bugs, parts of plants, or samples of rain water). The tool box also helps to keep smaller items neatly organized. Also included in the kit is a notebook to keep track of observations, specimen jars (any clear plastic jar with a lid), and fun additions like a butterfly net.
These explorer kits are a fun and easy summer activity for kids. Here’s why you’ll love them too:
We do our best to keep the kiddos busy during the summer. We love to be busy! But, in our opinion, a little quiet time for exploration is a real positive too.
We’re big believers that kids are naturals when it comes to application of the scientific method. Curious kids naturally make observations, ask a question, design an “experiment,” and test their theories. Inviting youngsters to play in ways that encourage curiousity and reward investigation with answers is a gateway to learning!
But it’s not always easy to set up a learning center at home, is it? Researching lessons, printing resources…all of that takes time! That’s why we think you’ll love these little kits as much as we do.
The DIY kits can be tailored to your child’s interests and the lessons you aim to incorporate into conversation. Do your kids love bugs or rocks? Butterflies or flowers? You can modify the kits to help them observe these outdoor wonders. Are you trying to teach colors? Perhaps you’ll aim to collect samples in each color of the rainbow! Or are you talking about living and non-living things? No doubt curious young minds can find examples of both in their own backyard.
Help your kids find their inner explorer! Bring the kits to the park or the lake, or make them bike-sized for neighborhood outings. Your kids can put these “DIY Explorer Kits” to good use!
What is the right age for these DIY Explorer Kits for kids?
The below list includes items to make a great kit for kids in preschool-Kindergarten. We’ve had good luck using these items to capture the attention of this young age, and incorporate some of the lessons mentioned above (colors, insects, living vs nonliving things, seeds, etc).
I also like to riff on these kits for kids who are a little older, and are looking to connect with science in bigger ways – incorporating some intro concepts in biology and chemistry. If you have older kids and want to chat about these ideas, send us a note!
How to make your own DIY Explorer Kits for kids:
Materials:
- Notebook for Field Notes, or use these lab notebooks!
- Specimen Jars (any small jar will do. I prefer plastic containers with lids.)
- Labels to label the specimen jars
- Butterfly net
- pH paper/litmus paper (perfect for measuring the acidity of liquids)
- Tweezers and/or small tongs to collect tiny things
- Various “tools!” Tooth brushes, plastic spoons, syringes, pipettes, scissors, ruler or tape measure, magnifying glass etc.
- You can include items from the dollar bins at Target when you find them. Things like “gem dig kits,” “dino eggs,” and “fossil kits” add a little extra fun. 🙂
Instructions:
- Find a box to house all materials, and let the little explorers take it from there!
- Encourage observations of all kinds, and help your young scientists record their observations.
Did you enjoy this idea, but no time to DIY today?
Pin It for later!
Do you have curious kids? You might check out some of our other at-home learning ideas like: Kitchen Science for Kids: What is Yeast?, and Cooking with Kids: Grandma knows best. And while you’re reading, you might also enjoy: Is my preschool child gifted? by guest contributor Dr. Sally Beisser.