We love educational products and tools. UncommonGoods not only has educational toys, but also gifts for plant lovers, hummingbird feeders and unique home accessories. Many handmade and eco-friendly products all very different. Recently we were able to review two of their educational kits for kids – Cheesemaking and Crystal Explosion….And UncommonGoods is providing a $50 gift certificate for one happy winner of our Earth Day 2012 Giveaway! A great way to start off Earth Day weekend!
Cheesemaking Kit Review
We have always been interested in cheesemaking so this was a cool kit to do. My older girls actually did this one and we let the younger children do the Crystal kit.
The kit gives you a choice of making mozzarella cheese or ricotta cheese. We chose mozzarella since we eat more of it than ricotta. The instructions were very well laid out, easy to follow and included photos so you could actually see if your cheese was doing what they said it should at each step.
Everything you need is in the kit except for a gallon of organic milk and a pint of half and half. Those need to be purchased separately. Each little tablet shown has to be cut into quarters, so you can actually make 30 batches of cheese with this kit – bonus!
One of my daughters was worried that the cheese did not turn out, but once we tasted it was fine. We lightly salted it when we tried it and liked that better than plain.
This kit is for older children (teens) to do on their own or for younger children to assist a parent due to needing a heat source, like a stove or microwave. We really try to limit our microwave use.
The girls enjoyed their cheesemaking experience. Now we need our own cow so we can truly make our own cheese. 
You can purchase your own kit here($25).
Crystal Explosion Kit Review
Our children have been studying rocks and have been fascinated by what they are learning. The Crystal Explosion kit was very fun for the younger children.
The crystals (bath salts) were a bit messy but the enjoyment the children got from completing the crystal experiment far outweighed the small mess on the table!
Again, this was another kit that is very easy to use. Instructions are easy to follow. Due to hot water being required, some parental guidance and help is required.
It was fun to wake up to the crystals in the refrigerator. We still have them in there! Every now and then the children will bring me the cup and say, “Mommy, look at the crystals” because they are in awe. Very cute.
To order your own Crystal Explosion kit visit this link. It is available for $17.99.
Both of these kits are winners in our house and we give them two thumbs up. Thank you UncommonGoods!
Now you can enter our giveaway….
Earth Day 2012 Giveway – $50 Gift Certificate to UncommonGoods
Enter to win a $50 gift certificate to UncommonGoods! Open to the USA only. Winner will be contacted in 2-3 weeks, if not before.
I want that cheese making thing!! I have wanted to make cheese with my kids but I get intimidated by the instructions; it would be AWESOME to have it all in one place like this!
I might use it toward the Personalized Mom and Grandma Platters. They look perfect for Mother’s Day. Looks like you had a ton of fun with those projects!
I have a set of mixing bowls from UncommonGoods, so I would get the kitchen utensils that match them!
I’ve never even thought of making my own cheese honestly. This looks pretty cool!
Love the cheese kit (looks so fun)! I would grab the glass terrarium or some kind of bird house for the garden. Thanks for the chance!!
Boy, hard decision! I think I might get two Solar Tea lights
I love the corkcicle. I get this catalog and I love it!
This is a great giveaway! I want the cheese making kit! Love it!
I would buy an Alternative hydro power science kit!
I’d love to make cheese – what a great experience and educational!
Definitely would like the personalized platters. We love to give these as gifts.
With the gift certificate, I’d grab a new pillow or two.
I would get the Toad House for my rock garden and pond.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
I’d get a set of PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE GLASSES.
This looks like fun, a lot of steps but that is to be expected.
I’d get the MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY KIT – CUISINE
I’d give my gift certificate away. I sort of have this little rule, where I try to give away some things I win. I’d give this to my sister I think.
Berry Bowl and Tray
maybe the agate coasters
I like the ELEVATE CAROUSEL UTENSIL SET
I love the picnic wine holder!