With all the monthly box subscriptions available on the market these days it can be tough to choose. Today, I am sharing our family’s favorite. As an educator mom and unexpected homeschooler, we have tried a number of monthly subscription kits over the years. Some are fantastic and some are anything but… and then there is Groovy Lab in a Box, which is amazing.

Ignite an Interest in STEM with Groovy Lab in a Box

Our family has had a subscription to Groovy Lab in a Box since we first started homeschooling. When those fantastic orange boxes arrive on our doorstep, I kid you not: I have to hide them. Why? Because everyone, self-included, wants to stop everything and get lost in Groovy Lab in a Box.

Here is my oldest enjoying the Good Vibrations box two years ago (look how little he was!):

This is not one of those boxes you pull out to keep your kids busy so that you can get some quiet time. No no no… this is a box you will get lost in with your children. It will remind you of how much fun learning can be. It will teach you to be curious and you will delight in every discovery.

Here is my oldest, more recently, creating his very own “ice lantern” as part of the What’s the Matter box:

And unlike other subscription boxes which contain an hour’s worth, if that, of activities, Groovy Lab in a Box will keep your children engaged and learning all month long. And they will be gaining important 21st-century STEM skills!

**The links in this blog post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on these links, I will receive a small commission from Groovy Lab in a Box. As always, I only share products that I use with my own family and those that I think other families will enjoy. Groovy Lab in a Box is our favorite monthly subscription box and I’m about to tell you why.

What is Groovy Lab In A Box?

In case you have not heard of Groovy Lab in a Box, it is an award-winning educational kit for children ages 8 and up that teaches STEMists (your kids!) all about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Each month, they send out a themed box filled with investigations that are fun and hands-on. The investigations culminate in an Engineering Design Challenge, where your STEMists must apply what they’ve learned from the investigations (and use their critical thinking skills) to complete the challenge.

So, what is included in the box?

Each Groovy Lab in a Box contains everything you need to complete all of the activities, including a groovy retro-themed lab notebook.

When I say everything, I’m not joking! I’ll never forget one of the first boxes we enjoyed. It was a weather station-themed box. One of the activities for the weather station box called for a dime and several strands of human hair. They were included!

Every month, the box activities are supplemented with the Beyond…in a Box web portal where your children will find videos, interactives, and additional activities.

Can you give me an example of a box?

I sure can!

One example of a Groovy Lab in a Box is Water Works: A Lesson in Hydroponics! In the Water Works box, your little STEMists will explore different types of hydroponic systems, seed germination, and photosynthesis! Watch as your children construct a water reservoir, a test tube beanstalk, hanging raised beds, a space barn, and much, much, more! With this box, your children will practice important 21st-century science skills including pipetting, measuring volume and length, making observations, and collecting data.

Did you know that Groovy Lab in a Box recently announced a new partnership with Popular Mechanics? My kids thoroughly enjoyed the first box of the partnership. It was called What’s the Matter and featured investigations about the scientific properties of ice. What’s the Matter was featured in the June issue of Popular Mechanics and is available for purchase through the Groovy Lab in a Box site. You can read more about all the fun my boys had with What’s the Matter here.

Each Groovy Lab in a Box includes an Engineering Design Challenge. For Water Works, astronauts on Mars need to grow their own food and your STEMists will be asked to design and construct a hydroponic garden prototype, using only materials from the box, that can be used by future astronauts.

As always, the Water Works box will have a Groovy Lab Notebook where your little scientists can read about the investigations and Engineering Design Challenge. Plus, all subscribers get access to the Beyond…in a Box web portal for additional learning and fun.

Groovy Lab in a Box can be purchased as a stand-alone box or as a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription. Groovy Lab in a Box is fun for the entire family. They are a fantastic addition to your homeschool or a wonderful way to get some enrichment after school. And, they make great gifts for the little STEMists in your life!