We’ve been using Pre-School Activities in a Bag for a few years. I love how easy it is to have something ready to go for my younger ones when we need them out of the way safely occupied. Not only are the activities fun and easy for them to do, they are building skills as well.
I am delighted that these activity bags are not something my children outgrow too soon. We have been making more games, activities and even science experiments that appeal to my older children. I have never wanted more to have a guillotine style paper cutter either.
I have put some of our new math games in a binder instead of in a bag and filed. I like this option for some of the games that don’t have many pieces. It has worked real well to keep only one dry erase marker and eraser in a pouch at the front of the binder – along with dice and a deck of cards. I also have some extra sheets of paper for those games as well. I have had some frustrating moments with some of the game pieces that are to be printed double sided. It might be my printer/settings or a spacing issue with the masters. With some extra work, I am getting it. Only this one game has caused me problems; all the others have been a breeze to put together (other than cutting it all by hand – a paper cutter is a must have school supply!) Having this all ready to go makes it so easy for me to “assign” math games to a couple of children while I work with another on their reading, etc. They are having fun and practicing math skills. You can pick up Math Games in a Bag for $15 (e-book format).
We also have been assembling Science Experiments in a Bag ($15 in e-book format or $27 for a bundle of books 1 & 2). These are available in three different books. Book 1 focuses on biology, nature and general science. The activities are suitable for K-6th grade children. There is one game in this book; I love the “supplies needed” – children to play the game. For the other experiments, the necessary supplies are listed. These are the items not found in the bag once assembled. Some of these may be readied ahead of time. Your child will be compiling the experiment logs (you can print color-coded for different areas of science) into a binder after completing the experiments.
Book 2 of Science Experiments in a Bag is centered around chemistry, human body and more general science. As in the other books of the science series, there are 25 experiments. The same color-coding is used for the experiment log sheets. There are answers for each included as well. Sometimes it is good to know in advance just what the experiment results will be. The front of the book has the experiments listed out with where is the best place: inside or outside or either. Some of these we are going to need to wait for more favorable weather. I noticed more in this set that definitely required parental supervision. A few from book one I would have been fine with the children doing without me hovering around. I really appreciate the list of general supplies needed at the end of the book. Unsure of where to start? This could be a great place to note which experiments you already have the necessary supplies for. If your children are like mine, they are doing them as I make them.
The third book in the series of Science Experiments in a Bag is all about Chemistry. What fun things to do to help make chemistry less of a mystery. Chemistry doesn’t need to be remembered as the fearful subject from high school. Some of the experiments are simple enough your youngest children can do most of the “work” while others will be more watching while mom or a much older child conducts the experiment. There are safety labels to placed on each bag as it is assembled. Please heed these directions! One thing to note in this third book is the color-coding of the experiment log sheets. In the other books the colors were consistent between them. In book 2 you are told to use tan cardstock for the chemistry experiments. Yellow is the color listed for the experiments in this book. Yellow is used for general science in the other 2 books. Not a major thing, but something to be aware of before you start printing. I really love the color-coding!
As with any of the e-books from Activity Bags, you can easily coordinate a swap. A swap is when you gather other interested families and make a certain number of your assigned experiments (say 10 for nine other participating families + your own). All that you need is either in the e-book with the activity lists or available in a separate coordinator’s e-book for free. Recommendations for who might like to participate and how and when to actually swap your completed bags is also in the book. I’ve participated in a few swaps and it can be quite fun!
Activity Bags also has Reading Games in a Bag, Travel Activities in a Binder and Pre-School Activities in a Bag. Be sure to check on the Crew blog for reviews of all of these items. Would you like a sampler of some of the activities found in the e-books? After checking around the site at all the books offered, complete the survey found on the home page of the website. You will also be on the mailing list to learn when new books are added (Craft Activities are in the works!).
