Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit
Finding a comprehensive and engaging geography curriculum can be challenging for parents who want to enrich their children's understanding of the world. My extensive background in teaching and curriculum review, combined with a deep dive into the Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit, has shown me that this program is a standout in the realm of geography education due to its unique, hands-on approach. The Atlas Geography Kit was developed by KiwiCo to ignite kids' curiosity about global cultures and geographies, leveraging the creators' expertise in crafting enriching educational experiences. What I love about this kit is its ability to make learning about the world both fun and deeply informative, employing a variety of crafts and activities that cover a wide spectrum of cultural and geographic content. It's ideally suited for young learners who are eager to explore new ideas and places, though its format might be too simplistic for those seeking in-depth academic rigor. However, this should not deter families looking for a dynamic supplement to traditional education. A pro-tip for parents: complement the crate's projects with additional books or online resources to extend the learning experience and deepen the engagement with each country's culture and history.
Grades: 1st-5th grades. The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit is designed for children aged 6 to 11.
Cost: Pricing starts at $18.50 per month, with options for monthly, 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscriptions. $23.95 for one month or $353.49 for a 12 month renewing subscription ($10.95 with book). Free shipping is available within the U.S.
The in-depth review
Understanding geography helps children appreciate different cultures and landscapes, fostering a sense of global citizenship. In choosing a geography curriculum, look for engaging, hands-on learning experiences that suit your child's age and learning style, promoting both knowledge and curiosity.
About the Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo
The Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo is a monthly subscription box designed to ignite kids' curiosity about the world. Created to help kids develop an appreciation for diverse cultures and environments, each crate includes hands-on STEAM activities related to a different country. The kit is well-regarded, having garnered high praise from users for its educational content and quality materials.
Who the Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo is for
This kit is ideal for homeschooling parents or those looking to supplement their child's education with engaging, educational activities that offer a global perspective.
Why I recommend the Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo for learnign Geography
I recommend the Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit because it combines geography with hands-on activities, making learning interactive and fun. It's designed to help children understand and appreciate global diversity through crafts, games, and DIY projects.
How the Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo works
Each month, the kit arrives with all necessary materials for two projects, detailed instructions, and educational content about a new country. Activities are designed to be engaging and informative, providing a comprehensive learning experience that covers geography, culture, and history.
What Differentiates the Atlas Geography Kit by KiwiCo from other Geography programs
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit stands out from other geography programs primarily due to its hands-on, project-based approach that integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) principles. Unlike traditional textbook-based geography curricula, the Kiwi Crate emphasizes interactive learning through crafts, activities, and DIY projects tailored to explore a new country each month. This method is designed to enhance engagement and retention by making learning both fun and educational. Each crate includes high-quality materials and detailed instructions for two main activities that delve into the geography, culture, and history of the featured country. Additionally, the kit fosters a sense of global citizenship and curiosity about the world, aiming to help children develop an appreciation for diverse cultures. The subscription model of the program ensures a continuous learning journey, with new countries and themes introduced in each crate, keeping the content fresh and exciting. This approach is particularly appealing to homeschooling families and parents seeking supplemental educational resources that offer more than just academic knowledge, but also a practical, immersive experience in cultural exploration.
What the Atlas Geography Kit covers
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit covers a wide range of educational content to enrich children's understanding of the world. Here’s a breakdown of the key educational areas the kit addresses:
Global Geography: Each crate introduces children to different countries' locations, significant landscapes, and geographical features.
Cultural Awareness: Activities and information highlight unique aspects of each featured country's culture, such as traditional customs, festivals, and everyday life.
Historical Insights: Some crates include historical contexts that explain significant past events of the countries explored.
Culinary Arts: Kids learn about various countries through their culinary practices, with recipes and cooking activities included.
Language Skills: Exposure to basic language phrases or scripts from the country in focus, enhancing linguistic curiosity.
Crafts and Art: Crafts reflect traditional artistic techniques or culturally significant art forms from the new country.
Science and Engineering: Projects often incorporate basic scientific principles or engineering tasks relevant to the featured country, like building a model of a famous landmark.
Problem-Solving Skills: Many activities require critical thinking and problem-solving, engaging children in hands-on learning that requires them to think creatively and logically.
Each crate is designed to be an immersive experience that educates children on these aspects through interactive, hands-on projects and activities.
Updates and Additions
While there was no specific mention of recent updates or additions, KiwiCo consistently updates its themes and contents to keep the learning experience fresh and engaging.
Benefits and Drawbacks of the Atlas Geography Kit
What Parents Like about the Atlas Geography Kit
Educational Value: The kit is highly praised for its educational content, providing immersive, hands-on experiences that connect children with diverse cultures and geographies through STEAM activities
Quality Materials: Users consistently highlight the high quality of the materials included in each crate, which are considered appropriate for the age group it targets (6 to 11 years)
Engagement: Children find the crates engaging and fun, which significantly aids in learning. Activities such as making a spinning globe or a traditional craft from another country keep children interested and excited about geography.
Family Involvement: The activities are designed to be completed with family, encouraging quality time together while learning, which enhances the educational experience and makes learning a shared adventure.
Cultural Exposure: Each crate explores a new country's culture, history, and geography, providing a broad exposure that is both deep and varied, helping to cultivate a global perspective in young learners.
What parents dislike
Price: Some parents may find the subscription slightly expensive, especially if opting for a month-to-month subscription; however, discounts are available for longer commitments.
Repetition: While the variety within a country’s theme is appreciated, some parents or reviewers noted that the format of the crates can become repetitive over time, which might reduce interest for some children.
Complexity for Younger Kids: Although the age range starts at 6, some activities might be challenging for the younger end of this spectrum without significant parental assistance.
Special Needs
Autism:
Structured and Predictable: Each crate follows a similar structure which can provide a comforting routine for children with autism, who often thrive in structured environments.
Sensory Engagement: The hands-on activities involve various sensory experiences, which are beneficial for sensory integration for children on the autism spectrum.
Visual Supports: The kits include visual instructions and colorful materials, which can help children with autism who are often visual learners.
ADHD:
Engaging and Interactive: The dynamic and interactive nature of the activities can hold the attention of children with ADHD better than traditional learning methods.
Short, Completable Projects: Projects can typically be completed in a satisfying short period, providing a sense of accomplishment without prolonged focus, which suits the attention spans of children with ADHD.
Dyslexia and Dysgraphia:
Hands-On Learning: The focus on building and creating rather than on heavy reading or writing reduces barriers for children with dyslexia or dysgraphia, making learning more accessible and enjoyable.
Visual and Tactile Stimuli: These methods support learning through doing rather than through reading, which can be beneficial for children who struggle with text-based information.
Gifted and 2e (Twice Exceptional):
Complex and Challenging: For gifted or 2e children, the kit provides complex and intellectually stimulating activities that can challenge their advanced thinking skills while also catering to any concurrent learning disabilities they might have.
Diverse Topics: The exposure to various cultures, geographical concepts, and global history can help satisfy the intense curiosity and diverse interests often characteristic of gifted learners.
Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of KiwiCo’s the Atlas Geography Kit
Many parents recommend integrating the kit with supplementary books and online resources. Some suggest dedicating specific times for the activities to integrate them smoothly into a homeschool curriculum.
Select Reviews from Parents, Teachers and Kids
"KiwiCo Atlas crate really wants to engulf your child in the culture of whatever place to take you to. This is why they included so much stuff; it’s like a vacation in a box!" - from STEM Education Guide (STEM Education Guide).
"We have visited such a great range of countries in our years receiving Atlas Crate. They always include new pages to add to your Adventure Book filled with information about each country along with a note from Anya and Milo, our box mascots." - from My Subscription Addiction (My Subscription Addiction).
"Absolutely, this geography subscription box is probably my favorite box of them all. Not only does it come with really interesting facts about the country, but the activities are excellent." - from Homeschool of 1 (Homeschool of 1).
"It helps kids learn culture and world citizenship... It’s a fantastic way to get kids excited about learning new things this school year!" - from Home Cleaning Family (Home Cleaning Family).
"Not only are their boxes awesome, but their customer service is one of the best I’ve experienced." - from Kids Travel Books (KidsTravelBooks).
Why Trust Me
With over 20 years of teaching experience across diverse educational settings and a background in facilitating cross-cultural dialogue, I bring a broad perspective on effective learning strategies. My experience in both education and media helps me recognize engaging, high-quality educational content.
How I Vetted
My review is based on extensive research, including analysis of numerous customer reviews and consultations with experts who are also homeschooling their children.
What I Looked For and How the Atlas Geography Kit Stacks Up
When evaluating the Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit against specific educational criteria, here’s how it stacks up based on its content and design:
Comprehensive: The curriculum covers a broad range of geographical and cultural topics, including physical geography, cultural practices, culinary arts, and historical insights. This provides a well-rounded view of each featured country.
Secular: The curriculum maintains a secular approach, focusing on geographical and cultural education without integrating religious content, making it suitable for a wide audience.
Accurate: Reviews and content descriptions suggest that the information provided in the crates is researched and vetted to ensure accuracy, reflecting reliable geographical and cultural facts.
Decolonized: While specific mentions of a decolonized approach are not prominent, the curriculum's focus on celebrating various cultures and highlighting non-Western countries suggests an effort to broaden perspectives beyond Eurocentric views.
Inclusive: The Atlas Geography Kit aims to be inclusive by showcasing diverse cultures and traditions from around the world, fostering a global understanding and respect among young learners.
Anti-Racist: By educating children on different cultures, histories, and peoples, the kit naturally supports anti-racist education, promoting equality and understanding across diverse backgrounds.
Mastery-Based: The kit is designed more for exposure and introductory learning rather than mastery; it provides foundational knowledge and enthusiasm for further exploration rather than in-depth expertise in geography.
Aligned with School Standards for Geography: While not explicitly designed to align with specific school standards, the content does cover key geographical concepts that are likely to complement school-based geography education.
Fun and Engaging for Kids: The hands-on projects, crafts, and activities are specifically designed to be engaging and fun, ensuring that learning feels like play. This helps keep children interested and eager to explore new topics each month.
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit appears to excel in providing an engaging, broad, and culturally respectful educational experience, though it may not specifically target mastery or alignment with detailed educational standards in geography.
The Bottom Line
Who is the Atlas Geography Kit an ideal fit for?
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit is perfect for parents seeking a hands-on structured yet flexible educational tool that promotes cultural awareness and geographical knowledge through interactive learning.
Who is the Atlas Geography Kit not a fit for?
This kit might not suit parents looking for a more traditional, textbook-based geography curriculum or those whose children prefer less structured educational activities.
Alternatives and supplements to the Atlas Geography Kit
For a comprehensive world Social Studies curriculum: Curiosity Chronicles offers an extensive approach that covers history and geography across different eras and regions. This curriculum is well-regarded for its engaging narrative style and inclusivity, presenting history from various perspectives. It provides a thorough exploration of world events in a way that's accessible and intriguing for young learners.
For online games and activities: Lindsey the GIS Professional is a perfect resource for integrating technology with geography. It offers a great book that comes with free online activities and games, ideal for children interested in maps and spatial thinking. This resource can help kids develop a keen interest in geographical information systems and spatial analysis through interactive learning.
For fun Geography Apps: Apps like "Stack the States" or "Stack the Countries" provide interactive and enjoyable learning experiences about the locations, capitals, and facts of different states and countries. These apps are designed to make geography learning engaging through gamification, perfect for keeping young minds curious and motivated.
For a free online full, inquiry-based Social Studies curriculum: The Digital Inquiry Group (formerly Stanford Social Studies Education Group) offers a wide range of lessons and materials developed for in-depth learning. This resource encourages critical thinking and a deeper understanding of global and historical issues, making it an excellent choice for comprehensive, high-quality education at no cost.
For another subscription box with a tasty, hands-on approach to learning geography: Universal Yums delivers a unique experience by providing snacks from different countries each month, along with educational materials about the culture, history, and geography of those regions. This box is perfect for learners who enjoy exploring the world through its flavors, making education both delicious and informative.
Value for the Money
Given the quality of materials, the educational value of the content, and the convenience of having everything delivered to your door, this kit is a worthwhile investment in your child's learning journey.
Highlights
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit features a variety of countries each month, providing children with an immersive experience into different cultures and geographies. Some of the highlighted or favorite countries from the reviews and product descriptions include:
Japan: Known for activities such as making a koinobori (carp windsock) and learning about traditional Japanese festivals and customs.
Peru: Includes crafting a mini Andean sling and learning about the Peruvian culture and historical sites like Machu Picchu.
Brazil: Offers activities that explore Brazilian music, the Amazon rainforest, and popular festivals like Carnaval.
Italy: Children can engage in making a mini Venetian mask and learning about Italian landmarks and everyday life.
India: Features projects related to Indian elephants and an introduction to Bollywood dance, reflecting the vibrant culture and traditions of India.
These countries are part of a broader set that the Atlas Crate aims to cover, offering diverse and engaging educational experiences that allow children to "visit" these places from the comfort of their home. Each kit not only includes crafts but also provides educational content about the history, geography, and culture of each featured country, making each box a favorite in its own right for the varied and enriching experiences they provide.
Ways to Get the Atlas Geography Kit
The Kiwi Crate Atlas Geography Kit can be purchased directly from KiwiCo's website, where you can choose the subscription plan that best fits your needs.
Affilate Disclaimer
This review is unbiased and independent; however, Modulo may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this review.
More Geography Resources to Explore
Discover how Google Earth can transform your homeschooling with interactive, immersive geography and history lessons. Read our in-depth review for tips, pros, cons, and more.