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February 2015 History Unboxed Review – Ancient Egypt + Coupon
History Unboxed is a brand new subscription box that sends cartoons, stories and crafts about a different time in history. Monthly boxes are $19.99/month plus $5.00 shipping and will feature characters Zane (age 8) and Ava (age 13). These characters will travel with your child, as they learn new about new time periods. When you sign up, you will get a welcome kit that includes an interactive time line, a welcome coloring comic strip, a Time Capsule kit to create your own historic memento and additional introductory materials to use during your History Unboxed Subscription (colored pencils, a paintbrush etc).
Each month will feature a different time and place in the ancient world with hands on crafts, activities, and art so that your child can learn about history in a memorable and exciting way. There are two different boxes, a 5-9 year old box and a 10-15 year old box. I was sent the 5-9 year old box for review. I was sent the regular monthly box. This is the box that comes after the welcome box.
The Details:
Cost: $19.99/month, $54.99 every 3 months, $214.89 yearly.
Shipping: Shipping is $5.00/month
What's in the box? Your child will get a welcome kit their first month. Then, each month will feature a different time and place in the ancient world with hands on crafts, activities, and art so that your child can learn about history in a memorable and exciting way.
- The box for ages 5 to 9 will feature 8-year-old Zane. Each box will include a comic coloring strip from artist David Stanley as well as age appropriate crafts and enrichment materials that can be completed with the help of a grown up.
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The box for ages 10 to 15 features 13-year-old Ava. Each box will include a detailed color sheet from artist Brier Clough, a letter to your child from Ava, and crafts and enrichment materials that can be completed mostly independently.
Website: http://history-unboxed.myshopify.com/
This is the 5-9 year old box.
History Unboxed comes in a brown box with a History Unboxed sticker. This month the theme is Ancient Egypt.
First Look. There wasn't an information card included in the box, but one will be provided in regular subscription boxes. History Unboxed emailed me a copy of the information card, to reference in my review.
Enrichment item #1 – A myth from ancient Egypt: This myth is called “The Rose Red Slippers”. retold by Elizabeth Hauris. I read this to my boys and they really enjoyed it. It is very similar to a modern-day fairly tale.
Comic: This cartoon comic was done by David Stanley. It depicts the process of how a Pharaoh is buried.
Enrichment item #2 – A recipe from ancient Egypt This recipe is for an Egyptian dessert. This is made with figs, walnuts, honey and flower. If your child wants to make a larger meal, foods like fish, onions, raisins, garlic, honey, beans, bread, and beef were all found in Egypt (and are still available today).
A sticker for your time line – place it around 2100 BC/BCE This sticker goes on the timeline that your child gets in their welcome kit.
From the information guide “The time period with this style of pyramids and mummification was around 2100 BC/BCE. The great Pyramid of Giza was completed a little earlier, around 2560 BC/BCE. The Egyptian civilization lasted thousands of years, though. Discuss how long that is with your child. The sticker is an image of an Egyptian goddess. Can you and your child figure out which one? This is a great jumping off point to research a little about the Egyptian religion. “
There were two crafts in the box, a mummification kit and decorate a Sarcophagus.
Craft #1 – A mummification kit This kit comes with Natron Salt (salt and baking soda), Scented oil (olive oil with chamomile), Fabric strips, washable glue, A small ankh amulet. The only thing you need for this craft is an apple. You cut a 1/4 of the apple and emerge it in Natron salt. You change out the salt and let the apple sit in the salt for 2-3 weeks, until all the moisture is gone.
We started the mumification process of the apple. When it is all done, I will post pictures of the completed mummy.
Craft #2 – Decorate a Sarcophagus The second craft is to make a Sarcophagus for the apply mummy. Your child uses the paint brush (from the Welcome Kit), and decorate the box. The paper History Unboxed included in the box, gave ideas on decorations to add to the box.
Final Thought: I really enjoyed History Unboxed. My children, especially my oldest son, loved “The Rose Slippers”. History Unboxed is the first subscription box that I have found for kids, that exposes them to history. On a personal note, I have really been impressed with History Unboxed and their communication. The owners really seem passionate about their box and they listen to feedback. Good customer service goes a long way with me. If you have a child 5-13 that loves history, check out History Unboxed. You can use the code subboxmom to get 5% off your first subscription.
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