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A Week in Our Homeschool: Winter Edition (What We Actually Did Day-by-Day)

By Nancy ~
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If there’s one thing winter homeschooling has taught me, it’s this: every day looks a little different — but the rhythm matters more than the schedule. During winter, our homeschool naturally slows down. The sun rises later, the blankets feel warmer, the motivation is… well, let’s just say spotty . And honestly? That used to stress me out. I would compare our winter days to our energetic fall homeschool routine and immediately feel like I was failing. But over the years, I’ve learned something important: Winter isn’t a season to fight — it’s a season to lean into . To create cozy routines. To simplify. To focus on connection and not chaos. So today, I’m taking you through our real-life, honest, not-perfect week of winter homeschooling , day by day. Not the Pinterest version. The actual what-we-did version. My hope is that this helps you see that winter homeschooling doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can be calm, joyful, productive, and still flexible enough for real life. ...
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15 Winter STEM Kits for Kids (All Available on Amazon)

By Nancy ~

*Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog 

Winter is the perfect season for cozy, curious learning. When the days get short and the kids are home more, I turn our living room into a tiny winter lab — hot cocoa on one side, a messy, wonderful experiment on the other. The right STEM kit keeps them busy, teaches real science and engineering skills, and — honestly — saves my sanity. Below are 15 hand-picked STEM kits you can buy on Amazon right now. I’ve used many of these with my own kids and tested others with friends’ kids; every pick is kid-approved, learning-focused, and winter-worthy.

Why winter STEM kits solve a real problem
Cold weather + cabin fever = bored kids and stressed parents. STEM kits give kids something to do that feels like play but builds critical thinking, patience, and resilience. They’re especially great for homeschooling families, rainy days, holiday gifts, or that week between Christmas and New Year when you want screen-free, meaningful activities.

What to look for when buying a winter STEM kit

  • Age-appropriateness: Check recommended ages — supervision varies by kit.

  • Materials & mess: Winter is a great time for “indoor experiments,” but consider cleanup. Kits with colorful instructions and built-in trays make it easier.

  • Skill focus: Chemistry, coding, robotics, geology, electronics — pick one that matches your child’s interest (or rotate to cover all four!).

  • Replayability: Some kits are one-and-done; others have dozens of experiments or modular parts that keep kids engaged for weeks.

The list — 15 great winter STEM kits (short picks + why they work)

1. National Geographic Crystal Growing Kit — Perfect for slow, magical winter projects.

Watching crystals grow is oddly calming — and deeply scientific. This kit teaches crystallization, patience, and geology while producing colorful crystals you can display. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Giftable projects, displayable results
Quick why I love it: Kids get a tangible reward for careful measurement and waiting — ideal for quiet winter afternoons.

2. Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Kit — Intro to electronics without soldering.

Snap Circuits lets kids build working circuits with snap-together modules. It’s safe, intuitive, and opens the door to electronics, cause-effect thinking, and troubleshooting. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Hands-on engineering, STEM after-school time
Quick why I love it: The instant “it worked!” feedback keeps curiosity high and frustration low.

3. LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox — Build + code your winter robot.

If your kid loves LEGO, this set adds coding and motors to the mix. They’ll build models and control them with an app — perfect for combining engineering and programming. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 7–12 | Great for: Makers, future coders
Quick why I love it: Familiar bricks + new tech = confidence building and deep play.

4. Botley 2.0 Coding Robot — Screen-free coding fun.

Botley teaches sequencing, logic, and problem-solving with an entirely screen-free interface — ideal if you want to limit devices during winter break. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 5+ | Great for: Early coding concepts, family playtime
Quick why I love it: It’s accessible to younger children and great for sibling cooperation.

5. Scientific Explorer — My First Mind-Blowing Science Kit.

A classic starter chemistry kit with colorful experiments that show chemical reactions, safe volcanoes, and more. It’s an excellent intro to lab safety and wonder. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 6–10 | Great for: Curious beginners
Quick why I love it: Big “wow” experiments that spark follow-up questions and deeper learning.

6. National Geographic Break Open Geodes Kit

A geology favorite: kids break open real geodes and explore crystals inside. It’s noisy (so plan for a table), tactile, and educational. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: hands-on geology, collecting

7. Thames & Kosmos Chemistry

Thames & Kosmos makes excellent, lab-quality kits (chemistry, physics, and engineering). Their instructions are teacher-friendly and include experiments that scale with age. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: In-depth school-year projects

8. 4M Crystal Growing Kit

A budget-friendly alternative to large branded kits — great for experimenting with color, seed crystals, and display options.

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Cheap experiments to try different conditions

9. SmartLab Toys — Squishy Human Body

SmartLab has cleverly themed kits — anatomy, geology, and classic lab-play. The “Squishy Human Body” makes biology tactile and memorable. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Hands-on biology or geology lessons

10. Scientific Explorer Disgusting Science Kit

These kits focus on chemistry through gross-but-fun experiments (slime, fizzing reactions) — perfect for winter boredom busters. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Sensory play & chemistry basics

11. KiwiCo Tinker Crate - Robotics Bundle

KiwiCo crates are curated around engineering and invention. Crates vary month to month and are top-notch for building and design thinking. Amazon

Who it’s for: Ages 9+ (Tinker Crate) | Great for: Subscription learning or single-crate gifts

12. Osmo Genius Kit for Fire Tablet or Osmo Coding Starter Kit for IPad

Osmo blends physical play and tablet tech for critical thinking and problem solving. Great for puzzle-based STEM skills and winter screen time that’s interactive and educational.

Who it’s for: Ages 5–10 | Great for: Screen-enhanced learning

13. K’NEX or LEGO Technic Building Sets

Large building sets that teach structural engineering and mechanics. Build windmills, cranes, and machines that actually move.

Who it’s for: Ages 7+ | Great for: Engineering-focused kids

14. Makey Makey STEM Kit

Turn household objects into touchpads! This one is great for creative problem solving, circuits, and playful invention — a wonderful winter hackathon at home.

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Creative coding and DIY electronics

15. Coding Critters / Sphero BOLT — App-enabled STEM play

From introductory pets to advanced programmable rolling robots, these kits scale with ability and are great for longer cold-weather projects.

Who it’s for: Ages 8+ | Great for: Coding pathways from block to text

How I use these kits at home (sample winter schedule)

I schedule one “big” activity each weekend and smaller, 20–30 minute exploration sessions on weekday afternoons.

  • Weekend (1–2 hours): A full experiment like growing crystals or building the LEGO Boost robot. Let kids plan, measure, record, and present results.

  • Weeknights (20–30 minutes): Quick circuit builds with Snap Circuits or coding challenges with Botley. Short wins keep momentum.

  • Project display: We create a “Winter Lab Wall” — photos, notes, and crystal samples. It reinforces learning and gives kids pride in their work.

Safety & tips for getting the most learning from a kit

  • Read the instructions together: Ask your child to read a step aloud — it builds comprehension and responsibility.

  • Record results: Keep a notebook — observations are core science skills.

  • Encourage hypothesis-making: Before each experiment, ask “what do you think will happen?” and compare results.

  • Don’t over-direct: Let kids fail; troubleshooting is a core part of STEM learning.

  • Rotate kits: Keep interest high by alternating types — chemistry one week, coding the next.

Quick comparison (save this cheat-sheet)

  • Best for beginners: Scientific Explorer My First Mind-Blowing Science Kit. Amazon

  • Best for electronics: Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100. Amazon

  • Best for coding (screen-free): Botley 2.0. Amazon

  • Best for displayable results: National Geographic Crystal Growing Kits. Amazon

  • Best for combining building + coding: LEGO Boost. Amazon

Where to buy — yes, all of these are on Amazon

I checked product availability and these kits are sold on Amazon — which makes them easy for holiday shipping, prime delivery, and gift-wrapping when you need it. 

Final thoughts

Winter doesn’t have to mean couch-bound boredom. With a handful of thoughtful STEM kits — some for quick wins, some for long projects — you can spark curiosity, practice resilience, and help kids build real skills while keeping your house lively and warm. If you want, start with one chemistry kit (crystals or mind-blowing science) and one coding/engineering kit (Botley or Snap Circuits). Rotate them across the month and watch how curiosity grows.

If you found this helpful, please share it with a friend who needs winter boredom busters — and consider subscribing to my blog for more homeschool projects, printable worksheets, and seasonal activity guides.

Leave a comment

Which kit are you most excited to try with your kid this winter? Have you used any of these? Tell me what worked (or didn’t) — I read every comment and love swapping tips.

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Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.

~With love,
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️

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