Homeschool Science Kits: A Review of MEL Science (2024)

MEL Science offers homeschool science kits for families or co-op parents/teachers to conveniently deliver engaging, hands-on science instruction. Our family was invited to try two MEL kits this year: MEL Kids and MEL Chemistry. I’m excited to share our thoughts.

Subscription boxes are a fantastic addition to our homeschool routine, especially for science. My kids are really into science and STEM. These kits give them the chance to dig into hands-on experiments and projects that I (1) usually would not be able to put together myself and (2) not usually be inclined to put together regularly. Can you relate?

I love homeschooling, and creating projects for my kids when they were all small was easy. We did a ton of kitchen experiments and backyard projects. However, my oldest is entering middle school and the experiements he sees on YouTube and in his Nat Geo books are officially beyond me. Our kitchen is not even close to a science lab! Even if I did have a solid science background (and I know some homeschool parents do!), gathering the materials we need to do one, small experiment is tricky. The chemicals we need aren’t exactly sold by the quarter teaspoon at our local grocery store – though that’s exactly what we need.

I was happy to find MEL Science, which did the heavy lifting for me – coordinating chemistry experiments and STEM projects with everything we needed measured, prepped and ready to go. Additionally, these kits go beyond the initial WOW factor with videos and virtual reality integration to help them understand the science behind each project.

We used MEL Kids as a STEM supplement for my kindergarten and 2nd grader this past year, while the MEL Chemistry subscription fed my oldest son’s need for more science alongside his text-based Biology curriculum.

MEL Science: Homeschool Science Kits & Curriculum

MEL Science offers hands on science and STEM subscription boxes for kids from kindergarten through high school. There are a few options, and depending on which you choose and how you use them, these could be used as a fun supplement to get your kids excited about science as they learn or as a base curriculum.

• MEL Kids: hands-on STEM kits for ages 5-9
• Physics: physics projects and virtual reality lessons form a complete hands-on, interactive curriculum for kids ages 8-14
• Chemistry: a hands-on chemistry curriculum featuring two-three experiments per month for ages 10-16+

Using Science Kits in Your Homeschool

There are a few benefits to leaning on a subscription-based science kit for homeschool. The initial draw, of course, is that it makes homeschooling so much easier on you. As a working homeschool mom, I’m always looking for curriculum and supplements that make teaching easy. And there’s really nothing more convenient than plans and materials coming right to my door. But MEL takes the science to the next level with open-and-go lessons designed to motivate kids to learn.

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See Also

MEL Science Review by a Professional Chemist (with 3 kids!)

Kits Are Open-and-Go

Firstly, the boxes are fully comprehensive units that include step-by-step directions, material kits, and virtual reality lessons. If you’ve ever tried to put together a science experiment on your own, you know how valuable this is. Everything you need comes to you, so you don’t have to spend time searching for materials or researching projects. They even send a virtual reality headset for your smartphone in the first box. So you don’t need to buy any fancy equipment to get the full experience.

Made for Kids

Secondly, MEL Science projects and experiments are safe and have clear, visual directions that kids can follow. My younger kids can read the directions independently and put together the STEM projects included in the MEL Kids kits.

The chemistry curriculum requires supervision, but my ten-year old can really take the lead on these cool experiments. Everything is clearly labeled, measured, and ready-to-go.So when we receive a box, I feel confident that my kids can break it open and get started right away. I don’t have to clear a whole afternoon to first figure it out and then help them!

Built-In Motivation

Finally, “Surprise” boxes are motivating in and of themselves. Getting a new box is exciting for kids who love science and motivating for kids who ordinarily might not be thrilled to sit down for a textbook lesson. Half the battle in homeschooling is getting my kids engaged. This was never an issue with MEL Science, as each kit contains projects and experiments that really WOWed them.

What Makes MEL Science Stand Out Among Other Homeschool Science Kits?

We’ve tried several homeschool science kits in the past, but I found that MEL really stands out. Apart from being easy on me and exciting for them, these boxes deliver a solid base for teaching science and STEM that could be easily integrated into our homeschool routine.

Real Lessons

A lot of subscription boxes send the experiment and a short pamphlet that explains the science behind it. With MEL, there are also virtual and augmented reality lessons included with every box. The projects will fascinate your kids. Then the coordinating lessons allow you to dig deeper and really understand the science behind your experiments.

Complete Homeschool Science Curriculum

One thing that makes MEL unique is that you can use the Chemistry and Physics kits as a base curriculum. With these boxes, you don’t get just a one-and-done afternoon project. Instead, there are two to three experiments each month. I’m not sure this is always the case, but we found enough materials to do each experiment twice, which is nice in case you blow it the first time. We sometimes do.

This is important if you’re using MEL as your curriculum. You don’t want to spend just one afternoon a month on science! MEL Science packs several hours of instruction into each box which extend into the video and VR/AR lessons. This is a great kind of flexibility that you can fit into your homeschool schedule. For example, you could break the activities into daily lessons over the course of a week (how we usually work it). Or you could spend one day each week learning from the kits. There is always enough material to fill your science time.

Extension Activities

Additionally, Physics and Chemistry kits include live classes that match up with the theme of the set for that month. The live lessons are about an hour long and accessible on YouTube (so you don’t have show up at a certain time). Your kids can even do the set along with the live lessons, which is a nice support for parents. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the concept or not comfortable with teaching science through hands-on lessons. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel where you can view the experiments and access pass live lessons.

MEL Homeschool Science Kits: Recommendations

If you’re considering a subscription box for science, I highly recommend the MEL kits. These engaging boxes focus on learning and make teaching easy on parents. Be sure to tap the “Browse Our Kits” button on the website to see each individual box. I love that you can see exactly what you’re getting and what you’ll be learning with each box before you order.

MEL Kids is a great supplement or jumping off point for a general science or STEM curriculum. Between the monthly projects and coordinating lessons, there is a lot of learning in every box. These kits are great for kids who love STEM or kids who need that WOW factor to hook them in. The Kids box, in particular, would also make a great STEM gift for kids interested in science.

The Chemistry and Physics sets are an engaging alternative to a textbook-based curriculum. I’d recommend these homeschool science kits to families who want a hands-on science education. It’s also great for parents who need the convenience of a curriculum that comes with lessons and materials packaged and ready to go.

More science resources from The Homeschool Resource Room:

• Find science resources in our Secular Homeschool Curriculum Guide
• Outdoor Subscription Box for Kids: THiNK OUTSiDE Review