Thanks to US Family Guide, the boys and I recently had the opportunity to check out a new subscription service, Space Scouts. Space Scouts brings outer space to your door every month, for the affordable $11.95 per month, plus $3.00 shipping.

The first month you is your introduction. It basically preps you for what you’ll receive in the coming months. You get a poster of the solar system, which you’ll use in the coming months as your map, an intro card and ring for your constellation cards, a sticker puzzle, activity sheet, surprise toy, and metal lunch box to keep all your goodies in.

Later months include a constellation card which tells you about a constellation and has holes in it, so you can shine a flashlight through it and actually see the constellation on your ceiling. An information sheet explaining this month’s theme, activity sheets, sticker puzzle, magnet for your lunch box, and toys to go along with the theme. The theme for this month for us was astronauts. The boys got a kick out of trying to make their robotic arm work, and I liked learning more about the stars and the myths associated with the constellations.

I am a big fan of subscription services like this because the kids get really excited about getting a surprise in the mail. This makes learning (and teaching) easier, because they are so psyched to bust it open and get going. For me, space is a great theme because it’s one I personally don’t know a lot about. Having a monthly theme and some pre-made lessons gives me a bouncing-off point for teaching the kids something I might not otherwise know how to teach.

The suggested ages according to the Space Scout site is six and up; I found the seven year old to be more interested in it than the nine year old. I’m not sure if this is because he is more scientific-minded (he is) or because it is just more entertaining to the younger set. Little Man enjoyed all the puzzles and activities that came with it. Big Boy enjoyed learning the facts, but the activities themselves weren’t as appealing to him. Though as I said before, both kids enjoyed getting a package to rip into and it gave us a good platform on which to build a whole unit study.

I think it is possible to put together lessons on your own that could capture the essence of Space Scouts if you were so inclined, but I know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t. To me, less than $12 is well worth the convenience of having someone else put together the theme and activities for me, and the excitement my kids get from the mail (it’s like Christmas every month!).

Right now you can try Space Scouts for 20% off using promo code USFAMILY20 when you order!