In the Beginning…
A childhood experience launches a business.
I grew up in a small town, where I felt like one of the luckiest kids around. My privilege was my parents’ hardware store, which sold everything an inquisitive boy could want: tools, batteries, fasteners of every kind, wire, paint and much more. Surrounded by this vast array of “lab supplies,” it was little wonder my older brother and I became engineers.
Remembering how much fun learning-by-doing was for me, I wanted to create a simple and safe way to let today’s kids share this joy. I began with something every student is familiar with – a book – and added a hands-on “tinkering” element.
In its first two years the KitBook picked up two national awards, and a study at the University of Tennessee showed its effectiveness in the classroom. Students, parents and teachers have all told us, “learning by doing is fun.” And when students enjoy science, they are more likely to consider careers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).
By the way, we believe America is still a great place to manufacture products. That’s why we build them here and source every KitBook part possible from other American companies.
Ed Basconi
Founder
About Us
In early 2020, KitBook became part of the Nature’s Workshop Plus family of products. You can learn more about us at workshopplus.com and order replacement parts there.
Here are some of the fine schools and organizations that use and distribute KitBooks. Join the team today!
Copper Basin High School – Copperhill, TN
Arts Based Elementary School – Winston-Salem, NC
Towne Acres Elementary School – Johnson City, TN
Sidwell Friends School – Washington, DC
Sacred Heart Cathedral School – Knoxville, TN
Charlton Middle School – Charlton, MA
Johnson City Power Board – Johnson City, TN
Natures Workshop Plus, Inc. – Danville, IN
Mountain City Elementary School – Mountain City, TN
Harry Stone Montessori Academy – Dallas, TX
St. Mary’s School – Greenville, SC
Girls, Inc. – Kingsport, TN
Clear Creek Elementary School – Silverdale, WA
Oak Ridge National Labs Visitor Center – Oak Ridge, TN
St. James School – Torrance, CA
Nature’s Way Montessori School – Knoxville, TN
Hookedonscience.org – Paducah, KY
YES! – Youth Engaged in Science – Canton, GA
St. Mary’s School – Johnson City, TN
Oviedo Montessori School – Oviedo, FL
Islander Bookstore – Corpus Christi, TX
Jackson County Schools – Gainesboro, TN
Northern Neck Utility – Warsaw, VA
Nuclear Fuel Services – Erwin, TN
Warren County Christian School – Youngsville, PA
Tennessee Tech University – Cookeville, TN
Berkshire Montessori School Inc. – Lenox Dale, MA
Pennycook Elementary School – Vallejo, CA
El Crystal School – San Bruno, CA
Pink Palace Museum – Memphis, TN
University of Illinois, State 4-H – Champaign, IL
Kootenai Electric Cooperative – Hayden, ID
Masonic Heights Elementary School – St. Clair Shores, MI
Hobby Town – Johnson City, TN
Christian Book Distributors – Peabody, MA
Westwood Elementary School – Manchester, TN
Castleberry ISD – Fort Worth, TX
Urbana School District #116 – Urbana, IL
Copper Basin High School – Copperhill, TN
Arts Based Elementary School – Winston-Salem, NC
Towne Acres Elementary School – Johnson City, TN
Sidwell Friends School – Washington, DC
Sacred Heart Cathedral School – Knoxville, TN
Charlton Middle School – Charlton, MA
Johnson City Power Board – Johnson City, TN
Natures Workshop Plus, Inc. – Danville, IN
Mountain City Elementary School – Mountain City, TN
Harry Stone Montessori Academy – Dallas, TX
St. Mary’s School – Greenville, SC
Girls, Inc. – Kingsport, TN
Clear Creek Elementary School – Silverdale, WA
Oak Ridge National Labs Visitor Center – Oak Ridge, TN
St. James School – Torrance, CA
Nature’s Way Montessori School – Knoxville, TN
Hookedonscience.org – Paducah, KY
YES! – Youth Engaged in Science – Canton, GA
St. Mary’s School – Johnson City, TN
Oviedo Montessori School – Oviedo, FL
Islander Bookstore – Corpus Christi, TX
Jackson County Schools – Gainesboro, TN
Northern Neck Utility – Warsaw, VA
Nuclear Fuel Services – Erwin, TN
Warren County Christian School – Youngsville, PA
Tennessee Tech University – Cookeville, TN
Berkshire Montessori School Inc. – Lenox Dale, MA
Pennycook Elementary School – Vallejo, CA
El Crystal School – San Bruno, CA
Pink Palace Museum – Memphis, TN
University of Illinois, State 4-H – Champaign, IL
Kootenai Electric Cooperative – Hayden, ID
Masonic Heights Elementary School – St. Clair Shores, MI
Hobby Town – Johnson City, TN
Christian Book Distributors – Peabody, MA
Westwood Elementary School – Manchester, TN
Castleberry ISD – Fort Worth, TX
Urbana School District #116 – Urbana, IL
Copper Basin High School – Copperhill, TN
Arts Based Elementary School – Winston-Salem, NC
Towne Acres Elementary School – Johnson City, TN
Sidwell Friends School – Washington, DC
Sacred Heart Cathedral School – Knoxville, TN
Charlton Middle School – Charlton, MA
Johnson City Power Board – Johnson City, TN
Natures Workshop Plus, Inc. – Danville, IN
Mountain City Elementary School – Mountain City, TN
Harry Stone Montessori Academy – Dallas, TX
St. Mary’s School – Greenville, SC
Girls, Inc. – Kingsport, TN
Clear Creek Elementary School – Silverdale, WA
Oak Ridge National Labs Visitor Center – Oak Ridge, TN
St. James School – Torrance, CA
Nature’s Way Montessori School – Knoxville, TN
Hookedonscience.org – Paducah, KY
YES! – Youth Engaged in Science – Canton, GA
St. Mary’s School – Johnson City, TN
Oviedo Montessori School – Oviedo, FL
Islander Bookstore – Corpus Christi, TX
Jackson County Schools – Gainesboro, TN
Northern Neck Utility – Warsaw, VA
Nuclear Fuel Services – Erwin, TN
Warren County Christian School – Youngsville, PA
Tennessee Tech University – Cookeville, TN
Berkshire Montessori School Inc. – Lenox Dale, MA
Pennycook Elementary School – Vallejo, CA
El Crystal School – San Bruno, CA
Pink Palace Museum – Memphis, TN
University of Illinois, State 4-H – Champaign, IL
Kootenai Electric Cooperative – Hayden, ID
Masonic Heights Elementary School – St. Clair Shores, MI
Hobby Town – Johnson City, TN
Christian Book Distributors – Peabody, MA
Westwood Elementary School – Manchester, TN
Castleberry ISD – Fort Worth, TX
Urbana School District #116 – Urbana, IL
Classroom Sets
Getting the materials and knowledge needed to teach STEM subjects has never been easier! Choose the set to match your classroom size and you get everything needed to teach like an expert. Each set consists of one Teacher’s Edition KitBook, Student KitBooks (sets of 15, 25 or 30), student workbooks and a workbook answer sheet.
Starter Sets
Want to evaluate KitBooks before committing to a classroom set? The Starter Set was made for you! It contains one Teacher’s Edition and one Student KitBook, a student’s workbook and an answer sheet. If you order a classroom set within 30 days after buying a Starter Set we’ll subtract these items and give full credit toward the purchase of a classroom set.
Individual KitBooks
Do you teach at home or need just a few KitBooks for a scout or 4H group? All KitBook products are offered individually, so you can buy exactly what you need.
Spare Parts and Additional Workbooks
Obtaining replacement parts is never a problem. Every part may be purchased separately to ensure your KitBook is always complete. Each child wants their own workbook. Workbooks can be purchased in any quantity for a modest cost.
Customized KitBooks
Looking for the perfect way to promote STEM knowledge in your community and possibly train your future employees? A donation of customized KitBooks for a school or organization puts your company’s logo and story in the in classroom where it will remain for years. Let us show you how easy it is to customized KitBooks to your requirements.