I came across this idea on a blog and I LOVED it! You can read about adventure boxes on Blog, She Wrote. I like the idea of sneaking in learning when we’re not actually doing school, and we’ve already had great fun with these boxes. I’ve done things like this before, but never under the label of Adventure Box…and it just seems more fun this way. (And more adventurous, too!)
I asked the girls what they might like to explore over the summer and Coco chose Little House on the Prairie. Soleil said Insects. I spent a couple weeks shopping and finding little things to fill their boxes. I really built them up, talking about them and hiding them until we officially started our summer. They could hardly wait!
I have put these boxes (or basket in one case) on a table in our living room and have not had any kind of structure towards them. They are there for fun whenever the mood strikes.
So here they are:
Little House on the Prairie Box: I used a patchwork-printed hatbox I already owned.
Because I anticipated both girls wanting to enjoy activities from each other’s boxes, I got two of some items.
In the Little House box:
- 3 Yards of Calico Fabric
- 4 little house books: Little House on the Prairie, Little Town on the Prairie, The First Four Years , and The Long Winter
- Little House cookbook
- Little House Sewing Book
- Little House Crafts Book
- Little House Paper Dolls Book
- 2 Mini Slate Boards. I found these at a craft store.
- 2 Stagecoach Model Kits
Insect box: I used a basket lined with green gingham fabric that I already owned.
Everything in this box (except the butterfly treehouse) came from the $1 bin at Target, a used book sale, or my shelves!
- Creature peeper
- Books: Butterflies, Christian Liberty Nature Reader 3 , Simon and Schuster Insects, Pop-Up Icky Bug Adventure, Handbook of Nature Study
- Insect Sticker Pack
- My First Sticker Encyclopedia: Insects
- 2 Butterfly-print clipboards
- 2 Butterfly Foam Craft Kits
- Butterfly and Insect Toob (plastic insects)
- Live Butterfly Treehouse (With mail-delivered caterpillars)
Please note: There are affiliate links in this post.
Dusti says
Oh that is a very cute idea. How did the girls like it? Many of the books in your basket we have and enjoy.
Have a great fourth.
God bless
turtlemomma says
What a fun idea!
mamala says
I can just see the three of you, 30 years from now, oohing and ahhing over these morsels from the past. “Remember when. . .?”‘s will punctuate the afternoon, and you will be oh-so-glad that you were the kind of mom that you are.
Stephanie says
I love, love, LOVE your Little House box!! I was googling for some adventure box ideas to post on my blog and came across yours!
My little girl is only 3…but, I’m tucking this idea away to use in a couple of years! I love the Little House books and hope she will too! We’ll be homeschooling as well, so I’m always looking for tips and ideas to store away!
With your permission, I’d like to use the picture and link to your post?
Really nice blog!
Heather says
Oh man that is cool stuff! Love what you did with the little house box!!
Heather W
Ingrid says
Oooh what a cool idea!
Luciana Babin says
d the stagecoach kits for my kids’s party?