MEL Science launches the first AR-powered educational subscription for kids
Today, we launch a new product – MEL Kids, a monthly subscription for children 5-10 years of age. The new subscription combines hands-on experiments with AR app to translate difficult science concepts into friendly and comprehensive visuals. The project aims to teach kids to approach and solve real-life problems logically by equipping them with an understanding of the scientific principles behind everyday objects.
Science for young children
Children begin to demonstrate scientific thinking at a surprisingly young age. Even as they play with blocks and other simple toys, they are formulating and testing their own basic hypotheses, and drawing their own conclusions. In the modern era, where it is projected that about 75 percent of jobs in the fastest-growing industries will soon require STEM skills, efforts to foster this natural curiosity are rapidly growing in importance. Experience in scientific inquiry aids in the development of kids’ critical-thinking skills, which are applicable to any area of study.
MEL Science is no stranger to early science education. The company of experienced educators and scientists debuted their VR-powered subscription service for safe chemistry experiments in 2015. The sets, aimed at kids 10+, are delivered to 42 countries and have garnered attention from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Science magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.
Another issue the new subscription aims to tackle is negative screen time, one of the most pressing challenges facing modern-day parents. Given the choice between studying and smartphones, children will often eagerly opt for the latter, and science education needs to adapt for a chance to win their attention back. MEL Chemistry is equipped with VR, and MEL Kids with AR, in an effort to not only win back screen time, but to make hands-on learning even more efficient.
About MEL Kids
MEL Kids is a science education subscription service that combines hands-on experiments with an in-depth AR explanation aimed at kids ages 5-10. Each monthly kit contains a science-themed project with simple assembly, and an exciting comic book that discusses the underlying principles of the project. The subscription expounds upon topics such as optics, pressure, electricity, and much more. Kids will assemble a variety of projects related to their everyday life, for example they’ll build their own camera and make a battery. All lessons include an Augmented Reality experience that practically leaps out of the screen. The subscription costs $24.90 per month and thus far is offered within the US, with other countries soon to come.
See also
CASE STUDY - 8th Grade students at St Timothy's Catholic School use MEL Chemistry to enhance their science lessons
Saint Timothy Catholic School in Mesa is committed to promoting academic excellence in each child it looks after. They encourage self-discipline, self-respect, and respect for others. They understand the importance of engaging students in a comprehensive and relevant curriculum. As a result, the middle school science teacher from St. Timothy Catholic School is using MEL Chemistry subscriptions to enhance and expand their range of learning activities.
CASE STUDY - MEL Chemistry allowing pupils to reach their full potential
The Empower Learning Center is the Alternative Learning Program (ALP) within the Hinckley-Finlayson School District. They offer non-traditional education options for students ages 16-21 in their daytime program, night school for traditional high school students who need to make up credits, and night school for adults 18 and older who would like to complete their diploma or equivalency.
The school was seeking engaging, hands-on chemistry kits to make their science classes more interactive, and to help their students understand key science concepts and achieve their full potential in chemistry.
CASE STUDY - MEL Chemistry at Lund International School, Sweden
Emma Taylor, a science teacher at Lund International School (Sweden), has chosen MEL Chemistry sets as the best option for her students’ science classes. In Lund International School, all programmes are taught in English, and having chemistry sets in English are a great asset to accompany science classes.
Here, Emma shares her experience of how MEL Chemistry sets improved her students’ comprehension and understanding of science concepts.