(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.)
Family-friendly activities let you imagine, create, test, design, and explore solutions for real-world problems. Turn ordinary household items into STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) based ideas with Pitsco Education, Family Design Challenges Kit.
Are you struggling to keep children engaged in educational ways this summer? Is boredom a daily visitor in your home? Does media seem to be taking over everyone’s brain activity?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions then Pitsco Family Design Kit may be a good fit for your family.
Plus, Pitsco Education is giving away a Family Design Challenges Kit to one lucky reader to try for FREE! Click HERE for details.
What is Pitsco Education?
- Learning which happens anywhere.
- Learning with lasting impact.
- Learning for future-influence.
- Learning by doing.
- Learning with positivity in mind.
This Family Design Challenges Kit was specifically created for families to teach STEM concepts at home. Developed for grades 3-8, this kit provides enough materials and instructions for three weeks worth of activities.
Included in your kit:
- 10 clothespins, 50 rubber bands, 2 Ping-Pong balls, 1 box binder clips, Jumbo paper clip, 1 roll masking tape, 20 sheets white paper, 1 box of 100 small paper clips, small paper cup, 4 craft sticks, 1 pack cardboard, 1 sheet card stock, 1 plastic spoon, 42 white mailing labels, 10 cotton balls, 40 plastic straws, 1 roll of super twine string, 10 bottle caps, 2 pipe cleaners, 20 marbles, 2 cardboard tubes (8″), 7 cardboard tubes (12″), 120 toothpicks, 1 bottle white school glue, 11 index cards, 3 corks, 2 sheets sticker dots, printed activity guide in English and Spanish.
Here are the learning values which will take place as soon as the design challenge begins.
Each kit is a great way to engage all types of learning styles. And with such a broad range of age levels, working together is an absolute must to obtain a solution.
After looking over all 15 days my family decided to choose which challenges they thought would be the most exciting, and began with Day 1.
Challenge #1- Invent a Vehicle
Develop a new vehicle for transporting hazardous waste to a safe place on land.
Items Needed: Paper, 6 drinking straws, square of cardboard, clothespins, 5 mailing labels, 10 rubber bands, 6 toothpicks, 3 cardboard tubes, 20 marbles, newspaper (not included in kit).
Length of time from start to finish was 30 minutes. Two students (grades 4th and 7th) and two adults were involved. Several ideas were presented, but one final idea was agreed upon.
Reflection Questions- How does it work?
For land a large rolling vehicle was invented. The tubes represent a rolling system designed to carry the vehicle to the destination for delivering hazardous materials (aka marbles).
How does this design challenge apply to the real world?
Everyday hazardous materials are needing to be transported from one destination to the other safely. Without a vehicle which carefully can do this workers, drivers, and the environment are greatly affected. There are just too many potential dangers without having a safe vehicle.
Re-design Challenge: (redesign a vehicle for transporting over land and water)
The tubes can also float in any water type situation, which in this case the vehicle will then be towed via clothespins.
Challenge #2- Build an Arch
Build an arch at least three feet tall.
Items Needed: 1 box of spaghetti noodles (not included in kit), 1 bag of miniature marshmallows (not included in kit).
Length of time from start to finish 1 hour.
Reflection Questions- What did you know about an arch that helped you in this challenge? Which design aspect is important to include if you were to redesign for a taller arch?
Arches are carefully constructed in shape, balance, length and width. The Gateway Arch, in St. Louis, Missouri was our go-to model for assisting us in completion.
*This challenge was by far the hardest for us to successfully complete. We were able to create an arch just not three feet tall.
Redesign Challenge: (Build an arch tall enough for everyone to pass under)
We did not even try to take on this challenge, as we were already struggling to successfully complete an arch in the first place.
Challenge #3- Miniature Amusement Park
Build an amusement park on a square of cardboard.
Items Needed: 25 toothpicks, 25 paper clips, 5 rubber bands, 10 plastic bottle caps, 10 mailing labels, 1 12″ piece of string, 1 12″ square cardboard.
Length of time from start to finish 40 minutes.
Reflection Questions- What new perspective did you gain during this challenge? What material would you have liked to have in this challenge and why?
When one idea does not work think outside the box! Not every idea will be successful at first, several attempts must be tried before understanding the best design.
For this challenge have access to tubes and clothespin would have been helpful. We could have added height to the Ferris wheel and created a drop slid with the tubes.
Redesign Challenge: (An unexpected disaster happens, prepare the park for disaster relief)
Building a shelter at the park would help with individuals seeking relief or needing medical assistance.
~Our family had a fantastic time using critical thinking skills to think outside the box with each challenge presented. One can say boredom no more when I pulled out the box!
15-Days of Design Challenges:
Invent a Vehicle, Move the Marbles, Build an Alphabet Block, Build an Arch, Miniature Amusement Park, Spin a Marshmallow, Suspend It, Car Showcase, Parachute, Move the Ping Pong Balls, Go the Distance, Move the Can, Tallest Tower, Move the Cotton Balls, Design a Trampoline.
All ages will enjoy imagining, exploring, creating, designing and testing their knowledge according to their Science Technology Engineering Mathematics skills. And the Family Design Challenges Kit by Pitsco Education is a great way to build upon the learning at home.
Are you ready for the challenge?
~~Simply Passionate~~
*Be sure to visit the Homeschool Review Crew to read more reviews by Pitsco Education.
Simply Passionate 