It’s that time of year again. Time to chat about holiday gifts, and today I’d like to share our family’s absolute favorite homeschool subscriptions.
Homeschool subscription services make excellent gifts because they keep giving all year long. Plus, they don’t take up much space under the tree or in your house.
And, perhaps best of all, they help busy homeschool mamas!
Holiday Gifts: Homeschool Subscriptions Make the Most Awesome Gifts
Disclosure: This post is part of a 4-month series featuring how we use CuriosityStream in our homeschool. We are honored to work with CuriosityStream. I was compensated for our time to write this review but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and if you’ve been following this site you already know we adore this service.
1. CuriosityStream is my top recommendation for a homeschool subscription holiday gift…
Yes, it is that pumpkin-spiced latte time of year. I get it, they are delish.
But did you know you can provide your kiddos with high-quality on-demand educational documentaries without commercial interruption all month long for LESS than the cost of ONE of those delicious beverages?
Enter CuriosityStream.
CuriosityStream is at the top spot for my list of go-to homeschool subscriptions to give as holiday gifts.
Why? Oh my gosh for so many reasons!
Here are just a few:
- You cannot beat the value at a mere $2.99 per month.
- My kids love CuriosityStream.
- As an educator, I love CuriosityStream.
- CuriosityStream covers all the homeschool subjects. Do you need a science documentary? CuriosityStream has it. History? Yup, they have that too! Nature? Yes, you guessed it! Whenever I am planning a unit study, I incorporate CuriosityStream.
- New content is added every month!
- I also love CuriosityStream as a consumer- I often watch documentaries after the kids are in bed!
- There are no commercial interruptions.
I could gush about CuriosityStream all day long, but you don’t have to take my word for it. You can CuriosityStream it for FREE!
CuriosityStream offers 18 of their top documentaries for free (without any personal information required) and after you watch those, you can sign up for a FREE 7-day trial.
CuriosityStream is our family’s favorite educational video streaming subscription and I recommend CuriosityStream to friends, family members, and homeschoolers all the time.
Do you want to see what we have LOVED on CuriosityStream?
Check out our living list of CuriosityStream recommended documentaries here:
Are you new to CuriosityStream? Here are all the details:
CuriosityStream is the world’s first ad-free, on-demand streaming service for quality educational programming.
CuriosityStream delivers over 2,000 high-quality documentaries and series created by the world’s most accomplished producers. Educate, inspire, and entertain your family whenever and wherever you want to watch.
CuriosityStream was founded by John Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communications, the parent company of – among others- Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, and Science.
Just look how teeny-tiny they were here! We have loved CuriosityStream for YEARS!
CuriosityStream offers the following categories of educational programming:
- Science
- History
- Nature
- Technology
- Human Spirit
- Civilization
How to subscribe to CuriosityStream
Plans start at just $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year after the 7-day free trial. There is no obligation and you can cancel at any time.
CuriostyStream also offers digital gift cards!
CuriosityStream would make a fantastic gift for a homeschool family!
If you have grandparents or aunts and uncles asking what to get your kiddos, have them give CuriosityStream! It is the perfect gift for those insatiable little minds in your life.
Just have them head over to CuriosityStream to purchase a digital gift card!
What’s new this month on CuriosityStream?
It is an exciting month for fans of CuriosityStream! CuriosityStream will be adding 100 titles in the next month!
Leading up to Thanksgiving, CuriosityStream will be featuring “food week,” with a collection of shows about the many different types of food and the history of food.
Speaking of food, The History of Food will premiere on CuriosityStream on November 15, 2018.
The series will explore the history, science, culture, and lore behind our favorite foods. It will begin two million years ago when our ancestors discovered the power of fire and ignited a culinary revolution. The series will also look at the future of food.
Also, new this month is Living Universe.
It premiered on October 25, 2018, and covers the Kepler space probe and its discovery of 1,000 exoplanets. These exoplanets hold the promise of being like earth. It will explore the search for life beyond earth, from alien slimes to high-tech civilizations.
Read other posts in this series
- How to Use Educational Video Streaming in Your Homeschool
- CuriosityStream: How to make the back-to-school transition a fun one
- CuriosityStream will Boost Summer Learning
- Curiosity Stream: A Lifesaver for Homeschooling Parents
Be sure to follow CuriosityStream for all the latest documentaries and updates!
Do you like what you see here, folks? Be sure to follow CuriosityStream for all the latest updates. You can follow CuriosityStream on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and G+.
2. FieldTripZoom
FieldTripZoom is a unique homeschool membership that offers live streaming virtual field trips. There are hundreds of events organized around the academic calendar. FieldTripZoom has a diverse lineup of educational partners.
FieldTripZoom is only 49.95 for an annual family membership.
This is a fantastic deal. We are a family of five and the annual membership is less than I would pay for admittance to most field trips in and around Boston!
Most field trips are 30-45 minutes long and each includes a chat option/Q and A session, so your child can speak with an expert!
Field trips are offered for all grade levels (K-2, 3-5, 6-9, and high school) and are clearly marked in the description. You get to choose and everyone can watch, so little kids can learn alongside big kids!
The only thing you need to enjoy these field trips is internet access. You can participate via desktop, laptop, tablet… and even your smartphone!
As a parent, I have to say that I have enjoyed these field trips and learned quite a bit. My guard is down- I’m not checking to make sure all kids are accounted for, shushing a child, or running another child to the bathroom. Instead, I’m fully immersed in the conversation, too!
FieldTripZoom gives parent reminders, via e-mail, one day before the event and then one hour before it begins. That way, you’ll never miss an event. Plus, you can attend the field trip as-is. It doesn’t matter if one kid needs to use the bathroom, or can’t find his shoes, or refuses to put on his britches. You can even attend in your pajamas- no one will know!
And, you can try FieldTripZoom Zone for free! Simply email info@fieldtripzoom.com and ask for the promo code for a two-week free trial.
3. Around the World Stories
Around the World Stories is one of my favorite go-to learning resources. My children love to learn through stories and this subscription teaches them about geography, history, and world culture!
Let’s face it: raising globally-minded children can be a challenge. Very few of us are able to travel the world with our children in tow, immersing ourselves in various cultures. I wish I could, but it is just not possible right now.
Around the World Stories meshes so perfectly with our homeschool lifestyle and homeschool rhythm. I have been using these stories in conjunction with Jamie C. Martin’s book, Give Your Child the World and Pin It Maps– geography has been a blast!
And, for those who love art, Around the World Stories also has an Artists Around the World story pack.
Here are some posts I’ve written about this fantastic homeschool resource:
- 5 Ways We are Using Around the World Stories
- Artists Around the World: A New Series from Around the World Stories
4. Audible
I am continually amazed by the growth I see in my children when I add high-quality books to our existing curriculum. Our family was new to Audible last year and I cannot believe it took us so long to join!
Here are some of the titles we absolutely adored over the past year:
- A Bear Called Paddington
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (narrated by Scarlett Johansson)
- American Tall Tales
- Because of Winn-Dixie
- Doctor Dolittle
- Ginger Pye
- Holes
- Misty of Chincoteague
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins
- The Bad Beginning (Lemony Snicket)
- The Jungle Book
- The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale
- The Sign of the Beaver
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (narrated by Anne Hathaway)
- Trumpet of the Swan
- Wonder
We have listened to dozens of books while driving!
I love to listen to classics on audio, or anything that I know will make me cry.
Our favorite Audible experience- by far- has been The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL GIFT IDEAS?
Check out some of our favorites here:
- 100 Educational Stocking Stuffers Your Kids Will Love!
- Holiday Gift Guides 2018: The Best Gifts for Homeschooling & Gameschooling
- Sensory Processing Disorder Gift Guide
- 10 of the Best STEM Gifts
- 50+ Gifts for the Book Lover in Your Life
- 10 of the Best Nature Gifts for Kids
- How to Select the Best Educational Gifts for Your Children
- 10+ Math Gifts Your Kids Will Love!
- Top 10 Language Arts Gifts
- 10 of the Best History and Geography Gifts
- The Best Gifts to Inspire Art, Creativity, Play, and Imagination
- Here are 10 Gift-Worthy Books Your Kids Will Love
