The following are recommendations for holiday gift purchases. They have either been tested by the IT Department or have been found on various “best of” lists.
Subscriptions
The company has 9 different lines you can subscribe to. Each month, your child will get a new crate filled with all the material to complete a project. I’ve subscribed to the Eureka Crate (Science and Engineering) and the types of crates I’ve received have been:
Build a wooden ukulele
Coin sorting machine
Perpetual calendar
Some of the other lines include: the yummy crate (discover the science of cooking), atlas crate and the doodle crate (a studio for hands-on creativity). The topics are also geared towards specific age groups starting from 0-24 months and going to 14 – 104. Each crate costs around $32.
MasterClass is website with a yearly subscription (C$240 a year). It offers classes for students of all skill levels. Classes include:
Nas: Hip-Hop Storytelling
Wayne Gretsky: The Athlete’s Mindset
Nancy Cartwright: Voice Acting
Jake Shimabukuro: Ukulele
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Scientific Thinking and Communication
Anna Wintour: Creativity and Leadership
Annie Leibovitz: Photography
As you can see, the selection is wide.
Very much like Kiwicrate, your child will get a monthly box. Themes are based on science and geography and ages targeted are from 3 all the way to 8+.
DRONES
DJI Tello 720p Video Recording Drone Traditional Video Camera, White. $129
We have several DJI Tellos and they are a lot of fun. You do need a device in order to communicate with the drone: iPad or Phone will do. You can download 2 different types of apps: one that controls the drone directly from the app and another that has you program the drones flight plan.
ROBOTS
Sphero SPRK+ STEAM Educational Robot. $195.20
WeDo 2.0 – Construction Set and Software. $249.95
CIRCUITS
Snap Circuits SCA-200 Arcade Electronics Discovery Kit. $78.93
We have several snap circuit kits. Good for young and old.
LittleBits. SpaceRover $199.99 / Music $99.99
The LittleBits kits allow the user to create various circuits. We’ve used the kits in grade 1 and we’ve also used them in senior grades as well.
CODING
Disney Frozen 2 Coding Kit, by Kano. $37
SMART HOMES
SmartLab Archi-TECH Electronic Smart House 2020, Multicolor. $89.28
TABLET
Kano Computer Kit Touch – Build a Tablet. Learn to Code. Play. $319
The Kano is a wonderful kit. You put together a laptop. Based on the raspberry pi. The software installed, favours the teaching of programming.
FOR THE ARTIST
A tablet attaches itself to a computer allowing the user to draw.
A fun introduction to 3D printing.
PUZZLES
SCIENCE
4M Anti Gravity Magnetic Levitation Science Kit. $32
Discovery Mindblown STEM Model Motor Engine Kit. $56.45
Buki France V8 Model Engine Multicolor. $94.47
TOYS
Owleez, Flying Baby Owl Interactive Toy with Lights and Sounds (White), for Kids Aged 6 and Up. $34.98
BUILDING