History Unboxed
Navigating the sea of history education options can be overwhelming for parents who are dedicated to providing their children with a well-rounded understanding of the past. Drawing on my extensive experience as an educator and my dedication to deep, multifaceted learning, I've explored numerous programs and found that History Unboxed stands out not just for its educational value but also for its innovative approach to history education. Created by educators passionate about making history accessible and engaging, History Unboxed has garnered acclaim for its unique subscription box service that brings history to life through hands-on activities and artifacts. What I particularly admire about History Unboxed is its ability to transform historical study from a mere memorization of dates to an immersive, interactive experience that captures the imagination of young learners. It’s an ideal resource for homeschooling families, educators seeking to enrich their classroom activities, and parents wanting to supplement their child’s education with engaging content. However, it's worth noting that the program requires a hands-on commitment from parents or educators, which might not suit everyone's schedule. Despite this, the quality and thoughtfulness of the content truly make History Unboxed a standout choice in historical education. To maximize the value of each box, I recommend supplement with a complete K12 history curriculum like Curiosity Chronicles.
Grades: History Unboxed is designed to cater to a wide range of ages, typically from about 5 to 15 years old. The subscription service provides different boxes tailored specifically for younger children (ages 5-9), tweens (ages 10-15), and even options that can engage older teens and young adults with more complex and detailed historical content.
Cost: From $34.97 for a single box, $47.95 for a monthly subscription, $209.82 for a full curriculum
The in-depth review
Understanding history is crucial for young learners as it provides context for the present and guidance for the future. A well-rounded history education engages students, making the subject accessible and exciting. For homeschooling parents or those looking to supplement their children's education, finding the right resources is key to fostering a love for history.
About History Unboxed
History Unboxed is an innovative educational resource designed by Elizabeth Hauris, a homeschooling mother passionate about history. Created to make learning history interactive and fun, History Unboxed delivers boxes filled with crafts, activities, and educational materials directly to your home. This approach allows children to explore various historical periods through hands-on activities, crafted to stimulate engagement and retention. The product has gained popularity among homeschoolers and educators alike for its unique blend of educational rigor and creative play.
Who History Unboxed is for
History Unboxed is ideal for homeschooling families, educators looking to supplement classroom learning, and parents interested in providing additional educational enrichment at home. It caters to a wide age range, offering different boxes for younger students and more detailed historical explorations for older students.
Why I recommend History Unboxed for History
As a veteran educator with extensive experience in diverse educational settings, I find History Unboxed to be a remarkable tool for teaching history. Its hands-on approach not only makes learning tangible but also deeply engaging for students of all ages. The thoughtfully curated content—ranging from craft supplies to historical artifacts and detailed lesson plans—ensures that each box is not just a learning activity but an adventure that excites curiosity about the past.
How History Unboxed works
To use History Unboxed, simply subscribe on their website. Each month, a new box arrives at your door, themed around a specific historical period or event. Inside, you’ll find all necessary materials and instructions for several activities. These activities are designed to be educational yet fun, ensuring that children learn while they create.
What Differentiates History Unboxed from other y programs
History Unboxed distinguishes itself from other history programs through its innovative delivery and engagement strategies. Unlike traditional history curricula that often depend heavily on textbooks and lectures, History Unboxed utilizes a hands-on approach with monthly subscription boxes filled with interactive activities, crafts, and educational content. Each box is thoughtfully designed to explore a specific historical theme or period, allowing children to engage directly by creating and interacting with historical artifacts and crafts. This method enhances engagement and retention by appealing to different ways that children perceive and interact with information. Additionally, History Unboxed emphasizes a global perspective on history, including diverse cultures and histories beyond the typical Eurocentric curriculum found in many schools. This inclusiveness and the engaging, multisensory learning experience it offers set it apart from more conventional, text-based history education programs.
What History Unboxed covers
Ancient Civilizations: Exploring the cultures, innovations, and histories of ancient societies such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Middle Ages: Delving into the feudal system, knights, castles, and significant historical events of medieval Europe.
Early Modern Period: Covering the Renaissance, explorations, and the transformations in art, science, and politics during this time.
American History: From the early native civilizations through the colonial period, independence, and the Civil War.
World Cultures: Examining the contributions and histories of diverse cultures around the world, often overlooked in traditional curricula.
Hands-on Historical Crafts: Each box includes crafts that correspond with the time period being studied, such as making a Roman mosaic or a medieval seal.
Historical Figures and Events: Highlighting influential figures and key events that shaped the course of history.
Art and Artifacts: Introducing students to the art and artifacts from different periods, helping to visualize the lifestyle and aesthetics of the times.
Geography and Exploration: Teaching about the explorations that expanded the world map and the geographic features of various historical regions.
Cultural Exchanges and Influence: Discussing how different civilizations influenced each other through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.
Updates and Additions
History Unboxed continually updates its content to keep it fresh and relevant. Recent additions include boxes on lesser-known historical topics and comprehensive guides that align with state educational standards. These updates ensure that the learning experience is always expanding and improving.
Benefits and Drawbacks of History Unboxed
What Parents Like about History Unboxed
Engaging and Interactive: Many reviewers highlighted that History Unboxed makes learning history engaging through hands-on activities and crafts, which help bring historical concepts to life.
Educationally Rich: The content is well-researched and provides a comprehensive approach to learning history, suitable for various age groups.
All-inclusive Kits: Each box includes all necessary materials for the activities, which saves time and eliminates the need to gather supplies separately.
Adaptability: It's versatile and can be used in various educational settings, including homeschooling, supplementary school education, and even in traditional classrooms.
Age-appropriate Variations: The boxes are tailored for different age groups, ensuring that the material is suitable for specific educational needs and interest levels.
Cultural and Historical Depth: The activities are designed to cover a wide range of cultures and historical periods, offering a diverse learning experience.
Good Customer Service: Positive remarks about the responsiveness and helpfulness of the customer service team
What parents dislike
Cost: Some users found the subscription to be expensive, especially if multiple children are involved and require additional materials.
Limited Global Shipping: While it ships internationally, there are additional costs and limitations which might affect accessibility for some potential users.
Perishable Items Not Included: For some activities that require perishable items, these are not included in the box, which requires additional planning from the parents or educators.
Heavy Reliance on Parental Involvement: Particularly for younger children, a significant amount of parental involvement is required, which may not be ideal for all families.
No Formal Assessment Tools: There are no tests or formal assessments included, which might be a drawback for those who prefer a more traditional educational approach to track learning progress.
Learning Archetypes and Special Needs
Visual Learners:
History Unboxed provides a lot of visual aids, crafts, and hands-on activities. These can help visual learners by reinforcing learning through seeing and doing, which is often more effective than auditory or text-based learning methods.
Kinesthetic Learners:
The tactile nature of the activities in each box caters to kinesthetic learners who benefit from learning through movement and hands-on activities. This method helps these learners engage with and retain historical information by physically interacting with materials.
Learners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
The variety and novelty of activities provided in each History Unboxed kit can capture and hold the attention of learners with ADHD. Engaging in short, varied tasks that result in a tangible product can provide the immediate feedback and sense of accomplishment that keeps these learners motivated.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
For learners on the autism spectrum, the structured nature of the activities, which come with clear instructions and expected outcomes, can provide a sense of security and predictability. The sensory-friendly crafts can also cater to sensory needs, which are common among individuals with ASD.
Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of History Unboxed
Parents who have used History Unboxed suggest scheduling regular sessions to work through the activities together with your children. This not only enhances learning outcomes but also provides valuable bonding time. Additionally, using supplementary resources such as books and online materials recommended by History Unboxed can expand the learning experience.
Select Reviews from Parents and Teachers
"If you’re like me, there’s been more than one great project idea that’s fallen by the wayside because you didn’t have all the necessary supplies. With History Unboxed, all the legwork is done for you and it comes straight to your mailbox each month.” — Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
“If you want to bring some fun and hands-on history to your children’s lives, or if you want to help history come alive and become relevant, I highly recommend this box!” — Sara from BeejuBoxes
"History Unboxed gave my children a complete and well constructed glimpse into chapters of history that cannot be replicated in a textbook. The crafts, artwork, and fun cultural extras are well thought out every month!” — The Box is Full
“The fact that each box will contain everything you will possibly need for the projects is phenomenal to me… I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t even have to get a marker or anything!” — Sandy Zimmerman: Adventures with my Geeklings
“The owners really seem passionate about their box and they listen to feedback. Good customer service goes a long way with me.” — Subscription Box Mom
Why Trust Me
With over two decades of teaching experience across various educational settings, including conflict regions and high-profile private schools, my recommendations come with a deep understanding of educational needs and quality. My background in American Studies and my experience as an educator who has facilitated intercultural dialogue enrich my views on effective historical education.
How I Vetted
My evaluation of History Unboxed included thorough research, including reading hundreds of user reviews and consulting with other homeschooling parents. I also engaged with educators who use History Unboxed in their teaching, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of its educational value.
What I Looked For and How x Stacks Up
History Unboxed offers a creative and engaging way to learn about history, though it may need to be supplemented with additional resources for those seeking a more rigorous, standards-aligned, or mastery-based educational approach. Its secular and inclusive content makes it a valuable tool for introducing young learners to a diverse range of historical perspectives.
Comprehensive
History Unboxed offers a wide range of topics, from ancient civilizations to modern history. However, while it provides a broad overview and engaging projects, it may not cover every historical event in depth like a traditional textbook curriculum would. It's best used as a supplement to more comprehensive studies or as an introductory tool for younger learners.
Secular
History Unboxed maintains a secular approach to teaching history, focusing on factual historical content and cultural exploration without integrating religious perspectives. This makes it suitable for use in various educational settings, including public schools and secular homeschooling.
Accurate
History Unboxed is committed to providing historically accurate content. It is developed by educators and historians who ensure that the information is reliable and reflects current understandings of historical events.
Decolonized
History Unboxed attempts to offer a more global perspective on history, rather than focusing solely on Western narratives. It includes boxes on non-Western civilizations and strives to present a balanced view of history, which is a step towards decolonizing history education.
Inclusive
The service includes content that highlights diverse cultures and contributions from various ethnic groups and societies. This inclusivity helps expose learners to a broader spectrum of human history beyond the typically Eurocentric curriculum.
Anti-Racist
History Unboxed does not explicitly claim to be anti-racist, but its efforts to provide a more inclusive and balanced view of history contribute to undermining traditional narratives that can perpetuate racial stereotypes. Educators and parents might need to supplement with specific anti-racist resources for a more robust approach.
Mastery-Based
As a subscription box service, History Unboxed is more exploratory than mastery-based. It is designed to spark interest and provide foundational knowledge rather than ensuring mastery of historical facts or concepts.
Aligned with School Standards for History
History Unboxed aligns broadly with educational standards by covering key historical themes and providing interdisciplinary content that includes geography, arts, and social studies. However, specific alignment with state or national standards may vary, and educators may need to integrate additional materials to meet specific curriculum benchmarks.
Fun and Engaging for Kids
History Unboxed excels in making history fun and engaging. The hands-on activities, crafts, and interactive content are designed to capture the interest of young learners, making it easier for them to absorb and retain historical knowledge. This engagement is often highlighted in user reviews as a key strength of the service.
The Bottom Line
Who is History Unboxed an ideal fit for?
History Unboxed is an ideal fit for any young learner who thrives on interactive, project-based learning. It is particularly suitable for visual and kinesthetic learners who benefit from engaging more actively with material.
Who is History Unboxed not a fit for?
It might not be suitable for families looking for a traditional textbook-based approach to history or those who prefer digital-only content.
Alternatives and supplements to History Unboxed
For a Complete Curriculum:
Alternative: Curiosity Chronicles
Why: This curriculum offers a more structured and comprehensive approach to history, using text-based materials that provide detailed coverage of historical events in a sequential format, suitable for learners who thrive on thorough, academic exploration.
Visual Learners Who Prefer Video Content:
Alternative: Crash Course World History
Why: This YouTube channel offers engaging, visually stimulating historical content that is ideal for learners who better understand and retain information through video presentations and graphical storytelling.
Learners Interested Specifically in Geography:
Alternative: Universal Yums
Why: For learners more focused on geography and cultural studies, this subscription box explores snacks and treats from different countries, combining culinary experiences with educational insights into the geography and culture of various regions.
Learners Needing a Free, Accessible History Curriculum:
Alternative: Digital Inquiry Group (Formerly Stanford History Education Group)
Why: This resource provides free, high-quality educational materials that focus on developing historical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning, suitable for those seeking a no-cost educational option.
Younger Kids Who Enjoy Humor and Entertainment in Learning:
Alternative: Horrible Histories
Why: This YouTube channel is perfect for younger learners who engage more with content that is presented in a humorous, entertaining format, making historical facts more accessible and enjoyable through comedy and fun narratives.
Value for the Money
Considering the quality and variety of materials provided, along with the educational and engagement value, History Unboxed offers significant value for money. The pricing reflects the comprehensive nature of the educational experience it provides.
Ways to Get History Unboxed
History Unboxed is available through their website, where you can subscribe monthly or purchase specific boxes.
Affilate Disclaimer
This review is based on my independent evaluation and experience with History Unboxed. While I may receive a commission for subscriptions made through links provided in this review, my opinions are unbiased and based on my professional judgment.
Sources
History Unboxed Early American History: What's Inside Our First Subscription Kit?
History Unboxed Review - Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
History Unboxed: Explorer Unboxed Review — Little World Wanderers
History Unboxed Look Through and Unboxing
History Unboxed Subscription Kit Unboxing
History Unboxed | Cathy Duffy Reviews
Unboxing "History Unboxed" - Build Your Library
History Unboxed Reviews: Everything You Need To Know
Curriculum Review: Hiistory Unboxed - The Box is Full
History Unboxed Review | They Call Me Blessed
More History Resources We Recommend
Discover IllumiNative, a groundbreaking Social Studies curriculum that brings Native American histories and cultures to the forefront. Ideal for K-12 education, this program uses authentic narratives to enhance understanding and respect for Native perspectives. Access to most resources is free, making it accessible for all educational settings.