We began using Kiwi Co World boxes this year to add in a bit of fun for geography. I am happy to say that these were a huge hit and my kids, especially my eldest (1st grade), really grew in their curiosity for other cultures. I knew I didn’t want to make geography too complicated but still wanted to give them a taste of what the world looks like outside of our country and these kits helped me immensely to start these conversations. Today, I want to share exactly how we utilized them in a relaxed and gentle way that made all of us happy.
The Welcome Kit
The welcome kit is the most perfect way to kick off your journey. It included a large map, the assembly of their travel log, the start of their pin collection, a spinning globe craft, latitude/longitude scavenger hunt, fun facts about globes, and was just a complete delight. You also have two travel companions, Milo and Anya, and this is where your child is introduced to them. It’s super sweet.
After the initial box
I saved the large map and grabbed some star stickers for us to use as we continued to get new countries so we could mark where we have “visited.” We always start a new box by opening the map and finding the country.
We would then follow and utilize the kit as it is intended, by doing the readings, craft, games, or whatever else was included. My kids especially enjoyed the enamel pins that they added to their lanyard each time.
To enhance the atmosphere of the lesson, I would find instrumental music on YouTube to play quietly. If you simply search “instrumental music from [country name]” you’ll find plenty of results.
Another fun thing we did was either make the recipe included in the kit (if there was one) or to make it a bit easier for me, I often turned to takeout. When we learned about Japan, we drank green tea during the lesson and later, we grabbed Japanese takeout. Or when we learned about Costa Rica, I made a simple rice and beans dish for lunch.
Lastly, after we finished the reading, crafts, and whatever else, I would have my daughter cut out the photos from the booklet and make a collage in her copywork journal. She would also include a fun fact that she learned about the country or what she enjoyed the most.
Aside from the kits, I added in books from the library if I could find any that pertained to what we were learning about. The good thing is that Kiwi Co will email you in advance which kit you are getting so you have time to prepare and grab other books or resources if you’d like! One series my kids LOVED was the Dodsworth book series, featuring Dodworth and a very mischievous duck. I highly recommend checking them out, as there are a few that cover a variety of locations.
And that is it, really! I’m not sure if this seems like a lot, but for us, it was just the right amount. It typically took us about an hour or 90 minutes, tops, to complete a lesson once a month. My kids started looking so forward to receiving their box each month and would beg to open it as soon as it arrived. And honestly, this enthusiasm and seeing their interest like this is exactly what I wanted. So I take this as a huge win.
To supplement, I also used a DK Geography workbook once or twice a week on the weeks we did not have a kit to complete. It was the perfect blend of bookwork and fun.
I hope that this was helpful and if you decide to give this a shot, you can sign up for a box HERE and get started.
