art

Toucan Box Review | Arts and Crafts Subscription for Kids!

Toucan box review unboxing

Finding arts and crafts activities for your children to do can be a challenge, especially if you’re not a “crafty” mum!

The Toucan Box is a subscription service that delivers everything you need to your door, to create an fun art project!

The reason I wanted to try our the Toucan box, was for convenience! It can be challenging as a homeschooling mum, to find different art projects for my children to do, and then purchase all the supplies that it needs. The Toucan box promises to deliver everything I need to my door… so I had to try it out!

If you click on the links to Toucan box in this blog post or use my referral code, and then place an order, I will receive 50% off my next purchase. 

Toucan box craft subscription review unboxing

 

Toucan box review unboxing

What is a Toucan Box?

The Toucan box is a subscription service that delivers creative craft boxes to children aged 3-8 years old. The boxes come in 3 different sizes:

  • Petite: Provides everything you need to create an exciting activity. This box fit through the letter box and contains a activity book with puzzles, games, recipes and fun facts. This craft box is delivered fortnightly.
  • Grande: Provides all the materials needed for 2 craft activity, as well as a children book that goes along with the theme of the box. This box also contains a parent card containing further ideas for activities and games. This box is delivered monthly.
  • Super: This box contains everything you child will need to complete 4 craft activities, along with a children’s book and the parent card. This box also comes monthly.

This boxes have been designed by educational experts, and are Montessori-inspired, to help develop a child’s key skills.

What's inside a Toucan box

Toucan Box Unboxing

I decided to purchase the “Petite” box, just to try out the service and see what the craft activities were really like. I also really like the convenience of the petite box fitting through the letter-box, as we are often out during the afternoon when our postman arrives.

I received a FREE BOX along with my first order, and you can too if you CLICK HERE.

Before my children saw the boxes, I quickly filmed this un-boxing video for you!

If you would like to see what is inside a Toucan box, WATCH THIS VIDEO!

Toucan Box Review

The petite Toucan box really surprised me! The quality of the material were excellent, and the instructions were very clear. In this case, the Pirate-themed box actually contained 2 craft activities, when the it is only supposed to have 1, which was a lovely surprise!

Furthermore, the activities book also contained another craft activity to make a “pirate’s hook”. Although all the supplies were not included in the box, there were things we already had at home, like foil and glue! My son loved doing this craft, along with all the puzzles the book also contains.

Toucan box review and unboxing video pirate themed craft

What surprised me most about the Toucan box, is that it prompted an entire afternoon of imaginary play! My boys pretended their bunk-beds were a Pirate ship; even the sofa became a Pirate ship later in the day! They went out into the garden on a treasure hunt, they made pirate names for each other ….and the playing went on and on!

In my eyes, as a mother, that is the ultimate sign of success; that my children were so inspired by these craft activities, that they took them and the ideas they had learnt, into their imaginary world with them!

We are all really looking forward to the arrival of the next Toucan box!

If you would like to order a Toucan box for your family, CLICK HERE. By clicking on this link, you will also receive a FREE GIFT BOX along with your order.

Alternatively, type in the following code at the checkout, and you will receive your FREE GIFT BOX too: GEMMA-9E6X

 

Toucan box review and unboxing video pirate themed craft

Have you ever used a children’s subscription service? Would you recommend them?

Keeping up with the demands of creative kids can be difficult…would you agree?!? 

Please let me know in the comments below!

Peace and Love,

Dr Gemma Elizabeth

Ancient China: Ming Bowl Craft

We have been learning about Ancient China in our homeschool. The history of China is so interesting, and the children have really enjoyed learning more about the Chinese culture.

In addition to the history of China, we have learnt more about the physical Geography of China, including map work and read some Ancient Chinese legends.

 

Homeschool Ancient China craft activity

The idea for this craft came from Story of the World: Activity Book 1.


Both my 6 year-old and 4 year-old boys enjoyed doing this activity, and our Ancient Ming bowls look beautiful displayed in our dining area.

 

Ancient Chinese Bowl Craft

Craft Supplies:

 

Air Drying Clay
Cling-film (Plastic wrap)
Small plastic bowl
Rolling Pin
Blunt knife
Blue paint
White glue (optional)
Paint Brush 

How to Make your Ming Bowl:

  1. Roll out clay to about 1 cm thick, so that it will cover the entire plastic bowl.
  2. Wrap the plastic bowl in cling-filmand turn upside down. Make sure your surfaces are covered in newspaper or an old table cloth.
  3. Lay the clay over the upturned bowl.
  4. Use your knife to trim away the excess clay and make the edges smooth.
  5. Leave clay to dry over-night.
  6. Once completely dry, use your blu paint to decorate the outside of the bowl. Chinese pottery was typically painted with flowers, birds and outdoor scenery. Leave to dry.
  7. If you would like to give your bowl a gloss finish, mix 2 parts glue with 1 part water to make a glaze. Paint this mixture over the entire bowl, and leave to dry.
Here are my son’s beautiful Ancient Chinese Ming Bowls:
Ancient China Homeschool Craft Art Project

My 6 year-old painted waves onto his bowl, and my younger son (4 years-old) chose to paint trees on his. They were really pleased with the results and have been showing these bowls to anyone who comes to visit!

 

More Resources for Ancient China Unit Study:

Other Resources we have used for our Ancient China Unit Study include:

 

  •   
 

We have really enjoyed learning about Ancient China. The only thing left to do now s get some Chinese take-away and watch Kung-fu Panda!


Have you been looking at Ancient China in your homeschool? Have you done any interest Chinese crafts?
I would really love to hear what resources you have been using. Please share with us in the comments below! 

 

Make sure you don’t miss the next blog post by Subscribing to my mailing list.
For a daily look into our homeschooling day follow me on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.
In need of your duaas.
Peace and Love xx
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
 
 

Homeschool Favourites | September 2016

I can’t believe it’s September already!

In this blog-post I will share some of the products and books we have been enjoying in our Muslim homeschool this month.

I’m thrilled to show you a really great science kit, some art equipment that my son loves, and even an app that my youngest son plays!

We also have a GIVEAWAY running this month, so if you’d like to enter, please scroll down to the bottom of this post to the Rafflecopter widget.

 

Muslim Homeschool Favourites September

Homeschool Favourites | September 2016

To get a better look at all the products mentioned in this blog-post, WATCH THIS VIDEO:

Table Art Easel

This table-top art easel is made by the company Winsor and Newton. We decided to give this to my eldest as an Eid gift, because he is developing an interest in art.

Well…needless to say…HE LOVES IT!

 

Muslim homeschool favourites table easel

Thanks to its beautiful leather handle, he seems to be carrying it around everywhere!

 

Muslim Homeschool Table Art Ease
Our bay window has become his “Art Studio!”

Inside the easel there is room to store lots of arts supplies, and the adjustable arms means that it can be used with a wide range of canvas sizes.

If you have a child who loves to paint, but don’t have the space for a full-sized easel, then this table easel might be a great for your family!

 

Muslim Homeschool table art easel
Almost done!

 

Magnetic Science Kit

The boys have really enjoyed using this Magnetic Science Kit by Thames and Kosmos to supplement our science curriculum.

 

Muslim homeschool magnetic science kit

We have been learning about magnetism and this kit has been a fantastic resources. It contains all the specialist equipment you need for 33 experiments (including loads of different magnets, iron fillings, magnetic discs, a compass and loads more!) and a instruction manual.

The experiments in this particular science kit teach children the basic principles of what is magnetic, why its magnetic, how compasses work, and introduces electro-magnetism. There are also instructions for some fun games you can do with the magnets!

Migo and Ali: Love for the Prophets

My kids are really enjoying this collection of stories about the Prophets of Allah. This books contains stories about fifteen different Prophets (A.S.), with a large section at the back dedicated to stories about Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).

 

Migo and Ali Muslim Homeschool

The stories are short, well-written and each section end with a dialogue between Migo and Ali as they talk about what they learnt.
The illustrations are beautiful! It is worth noting that there are no depictions of the Prophets or Sahaba in the pictures.

They have also made the effort to have the book approved by scholars of Islam.

This wonderful book is suitable for children aged 3-8, and is one of those books that your family will pick up again and again to read together.

I got my copy from IbraheemToyhouse.com

 

Gambian Mommy Arabic Worksheets

In Our Muslim Homeschool, we have been making an effort to teach my youngest son the letters of the Arabic alphabet. In my quest to good educational resources, I was introduced to these worksheets by Gambian Mommy.

Ngaima Sesay designed and produced these worksheets, as she was becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of resources available to teach her own children Arabic.

 

Arabic alphabet worksheets Gambian mommy

As a homeschooling mum herself, she recognised the need for good quality teaching material, and set about producing an incredible selection of Arabic worksheets for other mothers.

The worksheets she has put together are brilliant! There is so much variety! Whether you child learns visually, or by writing, or is an auditory learner, there are worksheets for everyone! There are even games for the kinesthetic learners amongst us!

Some worksheets are in black and white, and others in colour…they’re so pretty! It is clear that a huge amount of time and thought that has gone into these worksheets.

Each pack has instructions on how to use them, a phonics section to help parents pronounce the letters correctly, and a dictionary section to explain the meanings of words.

If you are looking for interesting and fun ways to teach young children the Arabic alphabet, I would highly recommend you
on the Gambian Mommy store on TeachersPayTeachers.com.

 

Alif Baa app

When I asked my 4 year-old son what he thought of this app he said, “It’s cool!”
I totally agree with him! The Alif Baa app teaches children the letters of the Arabic alphabet, as well as some Arabic vocabulary.
AlifBaa App Muslim Homeschool
There are four games to chose from:
Flashcard style game: Where cards with each letter are shown, and sounded out, along with a new vocabulary word .
Find the letter: The game says a letter and the student has to find it in amongst the other letters.
Put the letters in order: The student has to put the letters of the Arabic alphabet in order in the quickest time.
Trace the Letters: Students are shown how to write each letter and then have to trace along the dotted lines.
This app is a wonderful way to make learning Arabic fun and enjoyable for young kids.
For more information on this app CLICK HERE.

SheCasa Hijabs Prayer Dress

When you stand on your prayer mat, in the presence of your Lord, it is nice to present yourself in something clean, and beautiful…something special!
SheCasa Hijabs is a shop on Facebook and Instagram that specialises in handmade Prayer dresses and Tasbeehs.
The material they use is so soft and luxurious, and they look so beautiful!
shecasa hijabs prayer dress tasbeeh
I have had prayer dresses in the past from abroad, and they always fray at the seams and the material seems cheap.
However the prayer dresses from SheCasa Hijabs are a great quality and so well made mash’Allah. They are beautiful!

GIVEAWAY

It’s GIVEAWAY TIME!

Muslim Homeschool giveaway

 

 

This September I am so happy to share THREE of my favorites with one of you!!!
I will be giving away:
3 Worksheet Packs from the Gambian Mommy (RRP: $12.00)
1 AlifBaa app (RRP: $1.99) – iPad or iPhone only.
1 Prayer Dress and 1 Tasbeeh from SheCasa Hijabs
The September 2016 Favourites Giveaway will run until Friday 23rd September 2016 at 12AM GMT.
The giveaway is open Internationally.
All entrants under the age of 18 must have parental permission to enter.
Please aware that if entering overseas, you may be liable to pay customs tax (or the equivalent), so please check beforehand.
You can enter by following the directions in the Rafflecopter widget posted below (click HERE is you would like to know more about Rafflecopter).
I’ll announce the winners on THIS blog post and contact them directly through email.
The winner has 24 hours to respond, otherwise I will have to select another winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
=

I hope you found it useful to see what we’ve been enjoying in our homeschool this month.I’d love to know what your family has been using this September 🙂
Please let us all know in the comments below.

Make sure you don’t miss the next blog post by Subscribing to my mailing list.

For a daily look into our homeschooling day follow me on InstagramTwitter or Facebook.
See you next month insha’Allah!
In need of your duaas.
Peace and Love xx

You Might Also Like:

Muslim Homeschool Curriculum Kindergarten 1st grade