The Eureka Crate – Is It The Best Project Box For Teens? This post may contain referral/affiliate links. If you buy something, Fractus Learning may earn a commission at no cost to you. Teenagers are difficult to please. As the father of three of them- trust me – I know what I’m talking about. I’m not saying my children are difficult – just that by this age they know what type of activities best fit their wants and needs. They […]
Category: Maker
Creation Crate Review – We Build An Electronic Bluetooth Speaker From Scratch!
Results of Our Creation Crate Electronic Project Review : This electronics subscription box is perfect for budding teenage tinkerers and future electrical engineers. Enclosed materials and components are of high-quality and the online instructions do a great job of giving background on the theory before easing your teen into the project. One complaint from our review team was that the thorough instructions sometimes didn’t match the included components. For example, our mother-son team had different colored wires on some parts […]
Exploring The World With The Atlas Crate
Ever since we had the opportunity to review KiwiCo’s entire line of educational subscription crates, we’ve been waiting to see what new product they would come up with for this holiday season. The wait has ended. The Atlas Crate has arrived. Is it as good a value as the other subscription boxes made by KiwiCo? More important, is it as fun? Read on to find out. I’ll begin by sharing some information about the Atlas Crate, but scroll down if […]
11 Horse Toys Kids Will Love
From plastic figurines to the classic rocking horse, horse toys have long been a favorite for children of all ages. Nothing inspires imaginative play like riding a rocking horse and pretending you’re in a rodeo or setting up a set of plastic horses for a pretend race or horse show. Horse stuffed animals are the cuddly version of a beautiful, majestic animal kids love and dream about. My own daughter is a big fan of horses. This has led to […]
Our Maker Mindset
There is no greater joy than watching children create something. Whether the creating is done solo or in a group, thinking is visible. You can see the “wheels turning”. Hands-on work requires trial and error. If something doesn’t work, a child doesn’t stop working, but instead tries something else without prompting. Making is a natural gift we each possess. We are all makers, talented in different ways. I love telling stories of my own boys, so here is one of […]
Did Anyone Feed The Dog? – Useful Ardunio Projects For Kids Project #1
On any typical morning in the Bigari household, you’ll hear the following phrase being yelled out: “HAS THE DOG BEEN FED YET?” You see, our dog Chloe had a rough life until she was rescued and eventually adopted by our family. Now she’s the most pampered creature alive, but she had to be street smart in order to survive during those years. Every morning, she does her “I’m hungry” dog dance, and usually one of the kids or I will […]
Modern Day Pioneers: That’s no Oregon Trail up ahead – it’s the convergence of STEM and World Languages
What does it take to be a pioneer? To leave the tried and true path in search of something more. To know that it is not if failure will strike, but when, and how you will face adversity when it happens. When I was in the fourth grade my school got a small computer lab filled with several Macintosh computers, floppy disks, and the game, The Oregon Trail. During the course of a month we transformed from simple Minnesotan elementary […]
2017 #HOUROFCODE is here
Overview The Computer Science Education Week (December 4-10) is upon us, and with it comes one of the biggest education movements in history, Hour of Code. 475 million students have participated in an Hour of Code since it’s beginning and in just 60 minutes sparked a global movement to promote computer science and programming in our schools. Here’s some tools and tips to help you as you prepare. Name: Hour of Code Pricing: Free Compatibility: Everywhere Access: Everyone Privacy: n/a A Quick Look Hour of […]
We’re On Tilt Over The Kiwi Crate
If there is one thing that seems clear to me, children learn different subjects through different means. Some learn best by reading. Others absorb information better through video. Not every child wants to explore science through the front door. There’s a group that learn best through hands-on doing. The Kiwi Crate could be pigeon-holed as a craft box. It is a great fit for creative art-loving children, but I think it appeals to a wider audience. This gift box is […]
This Year EVERYONE Is Invited to MineCon
We tend to have a bit of a Minecraft crush around Fractus Learning HQ. Part of this crush is because we love playing the game with our kids; part of it is because readers seem to love stories that have anything to do with it. Minecraft toys, Minecraft books, Minecraft mods – people come back to these articles day after day. One thing we haven’t talked about yet is the annual gathering of the Minecraft faithful. MineCon has been around […]
Family Time With the Doodle Crate
As my children get older, they don’t spend as much time playing with one another. This is especially true of my high school junior and her fourth-grade brother. One is interested in driving and hanging out with her friends while the other wants nothing more than to play videos games. When I saw the Doodle Crate hit my desk, I saw a way to bring my kids together in a fun way. Here was something they could do together while […]
The Best STEM Subscription Box For Kids in 2020
Every parent’s dream is that their kids will love to learn. We want them to be inquisitive, not just in school but also in their day to day lives. But do we provide them with opportunities outside of school to learn? Taking it farther, how many of the gifts your kids received last holiday season are still being played with today? How many had an impact on loved one’s future? We give gifts for a variety of reasons, but underlying […]
Tinkering Around With Tinker Crate
One of the best gifts you can get for a child is something that keeps them engaged yet teaches them at the same time. When children are toddlers this is easy – the child is still learning so much about the world around them that most anything fun will be educational in some way. As a child hits the “10 and over” club, this task becomes harder. Many presents that are fun for the average high schooler aren’t all that […]
Our Koala Crate Experience Was Music To Our Ears
Most of the STEM subscription boxes are targeted at older children. The Koala Crate from Kiwi Crate is not like most subscription boxes. And if you are looking to get a great gift for a young child, that’s great news for you. We’ve done a hands-on review of the Koala Crate in order to give you a look at who it’s geared towards, what you get with a subscription, and what kind of a value it is. While all the […]
Build A Love Of Programming With BitsBox
Here are two universal truths: 1)Kids are going to be asking for video games, apps, or other programs for Christmas this year. 2)Most parents would like their kids to grow up to be ‘creators’ rather than ‘consumers’ of this electronic entertainment. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to let your children have fun with computers while learning how to program at the same time? You’d be able to give them a gift this holiday season that entertains […]
Exploring The World Around Us With Green Kid Crafts
“Where do clouds come from, Daddy?” “Daddy, why does ice float?” Oh, I remember the days when my children would ask me more ‘Who/What/Where/Why?’ questions than the average cub reporter. While sometimes it got to be a bit too much, I loved that they cared about how the world worked. There are many different paths for a person to arrive at a lifelong love of learning. Green Kids Crafts is for the child who likes to explore the world around them. […]
STEM Lab Deluxe and My Child: A Match Made In Heaven
Raise your hand if you’ve seen the Mentos In Cola trick? I’m guessing your hand is up (if so, you can put it down now). Did you know who the first person to show it on YouTube was? Steve Spangler. Here’s the recording from 2005 when he went on a local TV show and introduced the world to the awesome reaction that comes from one type of candy with cola. Steve has a passion for making science fun to learn. […]
7 Foam Blocks Sets with Fun Free-Play Potential
Blocks are part of every adult’s treasured childhood memories. From wood to cardboard to plastic to foam, kids eagerly build for hours. Foam blocks now come in plenty of shapes and sizes to enhance children’s imaginative play. Modern blocks are lightweight and come in a variety of colors and textures. Parents and educators alike often search for forgiving yet durable blocks. Foam blocks are soft and lightweight, so when towers fall, no one gets hurt. When so many toys involve […]
9 Magnetic Building Toys for STEM Play and Making
Magnetic building toys are among the most popular STEM construction options for a number of simple reasons. They are robust and affordable. There are no batteries required—magnets are always ‘on’! Plus, they straddle a number of important engineering concepts such as design, structure, geometry and are an excellent stepping stone to more complex conversations around physics and electronics. You know we like STEM subscription reviews here at Fractus Learning! While magnets alone, or the ones stuck to the fridge door, can provide hours of fun, […]
9 Amazing Minecraft Toys for Kids Who Create
If your little ones are mad about Minecraft, they’ll love real-life Minecraft toys! These “blocky” toys may look strange at first glance, but the Minecraft generation will instantly recognize their favorite characters, animals, and objects from the game. Minecraft is a fun video game with tons of benefits, boosting creativity, cooperation, critical thinking skills, and more. In fact, teachers around the world use it as an educational tool in a range of subjects including math, coding, and art. Why not help encourage such […]