Fun, Educational Activities For Outside the Classroom
As someone who has decided to school their child at home, education will be of the utmost importance to you. But of course, it pays to remember that not all learning is done in a classroom environment. Whether you homeschool or not, there are so many lessons and things we can teach our kids in our day to day lives- here are just a few examples,
Explore museums and galleries
Museums and galleries are a fantastic way for children to learn about history, art, the natural world, science and culture. Instead of learning through books they get to see artefacts with their own eyes, explore and there are often interactive exhibits designed especially for kids. You could visit a space museum, a natural history museum or a local museum which tells the story of the place you live in. You could visit galleries as a way to appreciate and understand different art forms. Best of all, museums and galleries are often free to get in making it a budget family activity.
Watch anime and other types of media
We all know children love to watch cartoons, and so getting them to watch anime will be no trouble whatsoever. Anime is a style of Japanese film and television animation, and watching this enables them to learn more about a different art form and style of media. Because anime is often subtitled, it can be a great way to get them to work on their reading without them even realising! Furthermore, it gives plenty of information about Japan as a country too, you can then build on this interest in more formal study. There are plenty of shows aimed at children, which you can find for free online.
Play educational games
As far as kids are concerned, games are fun- and so it’s easy utilising educational games so they’re learning in an enjoyable way. There are so many that you can play online or apps that you can download to an iPad. They work on things like memory, problem solving and can even help with hand- eye coordination. They can help with maths and spelling, they can teach them new words and concepts and so much more. There’s plenty that can be learned from even traditional board games, such as what the rules are and how to play by them, as well as patience.
Go on cultural family holidays
A holiday is a fantastic way for the family to take some time out and bond, but it’s also a way that children can learn outside of the classroom. You could take them to religious buildings, teaching them about the religion and what people believe and worship. You could take them to city ruins and teach them about the history of a place, and even the mythology surrounding it. Even outdoorsy holidays can teach kids life skills outside of the classroom, from reading a map and orienteering, to putting up a tent, learning to fish, build a campfire and much more.
link- PexelsCook together
We’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic, and one of the best ways to come out of the other side is by educating our children. If we teach them the importance of nutrition, get them into healthy habits and encourage them to make good choices, it puts them on the path to being healthy in adulthood. One of the best ways we can do this is by cooking together. This teaches children about different ingredients, and by getting them involved, they’re more likely to try different foods. You could have them wash fruits and vegetables, carefully cut herbs with scissors and mix ingredients for you. There are plenty of child appropriate tasks which will really allow them to feel that they’re helping out. You could even go a step further and get out into the garden and grow vegetables together, this lets them see every step of the process and really understand where their food has come from.
There’s so much to learn, understand and enjoy outside of the classroom. And while formal study sessions are extremely valuable, they will never give a child all of the knowledge and understanding they will need to navigate life. As someone who homeschools, you’re in a great position to utilise this, as you’re able to be flexible with your lessons. It prevents your children leaving school with lots of knowledge but absolutely no common sense or skills!
What kinds of lessons do you like to teach outside of the classroom?
