Summer Adventure Boxes

by angelamills on May 18, 2010

in elementary school, hands on, projects

This was originally posted at my personal blog, but it’s something I think The Homeschool Classroom readers will like to try!

I came across this idea on a blog and I LOVED it! You can read about adventure boxes on Blog, She Wrote. I like the idea of sneaking in learning when we’re not actually doing school, and we’ve already had great fun with these boxes. I’ve done things like this before, but never under the label of Adventure Box…and it just seems more fun this way. (And more adventurous, too!)

Last year, I asked the girls what they might like to explore over the summer and Coco chose Little House on the Prairie. Soleil said Insects. I spent a couple weeks shopping and finding little things to fill their boxes. I really built them up, talking about them and hiding them until we officially started our summer. They could hardly wait!

I have put these boxes (or basket in one case) on a table in our living room and have not had any kind of structure towards them. They are there for fun whenever the mood strikes.

So here they are:

Little House on the Prairie Box: I used a patchwork-printed hatbox I already owned.

IMG_6849

Because I anticipated both girls wanting to enjoy activities from each other’s boxes, I got two of some items.

In the Little House box:

  • 3 yards of calico fabric, various colors
  • 4 little house books: Little House on the Prairie, Little Town on the Prairie, The First Four Years , and The Long Winter
  • Little House cookbook
  • Little house sewing book
  • Little House crafts book
  • Little House paper dolls book
  • 2 mini slate boards
  • 2 stagecoach model kits

Insect box: I used a basket lined with green gingham fabric that I already owned.

IMG_6850

Everything in this box (except the butterfly treehouse) came from the $1 bin at Target, a used book sale, or my shelves!

  • Creature peeper
  • Books: Butterflies, Christian Liberty Nature Reader 3 , Simon and Schuster Insects, Pop-Up Icky Bug Adventure, Handbook of Nature Study
  • Insect Sticker pack
  • My First Sticker Encyclopedia: Insects
  • 2 Butterfly-print clipboards
  • 2 butterfly foam craft kits
  • Butterfly and Insect Toob (plastic insects)
  • Live Butterfly treehouse (With mail-delivered caterpillars)

Will you try Summer Adventure Boxes?

When she’s not busy dreaming up more projects than she can ever possibly complete, Angela can be found writing at Homegrown Mom.

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May 18, 2010 at 11:07 am

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Tonya May 18, 2010 at 11:09 am

I love this idea and your boxes really look like a lot of fun! I think these would also make great gifts! Thanks for sharing. :)
Tonya´s last blog ..What if She Was Your Child? My ComLuv Profile

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Kathy Reply:

I love this idea. What a wonderful way to inspire learning!

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2 Cara May 18, 2010 at 11:16 am

Thanks for sharing… I love this idea. I’ve been thinking about summer and what I want to do and how I want to go to a more unschool approach. This will help a TON.
Cara´s last blog ..REVIEW : Download N Go – Expedition Australia My ComLuv Profile

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3 Kris May 18, 2010 at 1:51 pm

What a great idea! I’m going to have to give this some thought for my kiddos.
Kris´s last blog ..Guest Post: Lee Binz (Part 2) My ComLuv Profile

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4 Jamie May 18, 2010 at 2:33 pm

LOVE this idea! I, too, will have to ponder how to do something like this for my kids!
Jamie´s last blog ..Weekly Wrap-Up My ComLuv Profile

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5 Chrissy May 18, 2010 at 3:19 pm

Love this idea.

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6 Kami May 18, 2010 at 6:11 pm

What a great idea, thank you for sharing! Even though we are going to try school all year round this year, we will be a little more laid back over the summer, so I think I will try something like this.
Kami´s last blog ..A weekend picnic My ComLuv Profile

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7 Rana May 21, 2010 at 10:26 pm

This is a great idea! I’m going to have to ask the kids what they would like in their boxes.
Rana´s last blog ..Our Trip to Washington D.C. Part III My ComLuv Profile

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