Homeschool Away from Home: Educational Activities Out of the House

Anyone who homeschools knows the word is a misnomer- it rarely resembles school, and certainly doesn't have to take place in the home. There's a whole world outdoors waiting to be explored. Here are some ideas for homeschooling away from home.

1) Libraries.

Not only are libraries chock-full of educational resources, they are often a source of some great educational social activities for kids. In my own local library, we've taken advantage of reading programs, chess clubs, homework help, sign language classes, writing group, performances, Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, and even a Lego club. If your library doesn't have many programs, see if you can create some interest and get some started.

2) Community Centers.

You can often find inexpensive classes and sports programs at community centers. If there is a large enough homeschooling population in your city, they might even have some special programs in the middle of the day when other kids are at school.

3) Historic Landmarks.

Visit a historic landmark nearby, and learn a little about local history. Many have child-friendly tours and sometimes they offer classes, workshops or hands-on exhibits for kids. You can extend the topic by doing some research on the landmark or the time period. Make a video documentary of the visit, take photographs and make a scrapbook page, or write a report on the landmark.

4) Museums.

Large museums are great, especially if they have child-friendly exhibits. You can learn a lot about the kinds of things that interest your child during a walk through a museum, which might give you some ideas for your next project or unit study. Don't overlook some of the smaller, more obscure museums in your area, though. Check your phone book, you might be surprised at what is out there.

5) Charity Work.

Not only educational, but character building, helping out with a charity is a great way for kids to learn. Spend some time working at a soup kitchen, building houses at Habitat for Humanities, or helping out at a botanic gardens or zoo. Nothing beats experience, and the rewards will be greater than what you can learn.

6) The Theater.

According to the publication Young Children and the Arts, written by The Task Force on Children's Learning and the Arts: Birth to Age Eight, "For all children, at all ability levels, the arts play a central role in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional development. The arts motivate and engage children in learning, stimulate memory and facilitate understanding, enhance symbolic communication, promote relationships, and provide an avenue for building competence." A lot of little theaters have great deals on shows, and large cities often have all kinds of performances you can find, sometimes for free.

7) Camp Outs.

Introduce your children to the natural world. This can be an especially valuable activity if you live in the inner city. Borrow a tent if you don't have one, or rent a cabin, and go on an overnight at a local campground. Sing songs, tell stories, listen to the sounds of nature and try to identify them, learn to build a camp fire. What a great way to spend time together without distractions.

8) Nature Preserves.

If you can't camp out, at least try to go for some hikes through your local preserves. Bring a field guide along and start a nature journal. Take a walk, try to identify local flora and fauna. Draw pictures and make notes in your journals. Pack a lunch and make a day out of it. Study an ecosystem, such as a swamp, beach, or forest. If there's not a nature preserve in your area, look for a botanic garden.

9) Fire House.

Many fire houses will talk to kids and give them tours. In my experience, fire fighters are great with the kids, teaching them fire safety lessons, showing them around the fire house and telling them about their job, answering questions, even sometimes letting them sit in the fire truck. Call ahead and see what would be a good time to go, and bring them a basket of home-baked muffins or cookies to show your appreciation.

10) Fossil Hunts.

Grab some baggies and jars, some hand shovels, clean, dry paint brushes, tweezers, rubber gloves, hand sanitizing lotion, and put on some old clothes. Head out into the yard, or over to a natural area, and dig. See what you can excavate. Take samples and try to identify them. Just be careful, and leave live creatures where you find them.

11) Festivals.

Browse your local papers and fliers for exciting things coming to your home town. There is usually something interesting and educational that can be done. It doesn't matter if they are cultural, art, farmer's markets, ecological- you can usually find interesting things to learn about, and gather lots of educational resources such as pamphlets and hand outs to go through when you get home.

12) Road Trip.

Take a day trip to a near by city, farm, historical landmark, or find somewhere you can get to on a tank of gas and plan an overnight. Plan ahead and do some research on what the city has to offer, and then plan a visit.

13) Sports.

A great way for a family to get exercise, sports help children with developing motor skills, team work, and physical fitness. Join a local T-ball or basket ball league, join a martial arts class, take up ballet, or just go outside and start bicycling or inline skating together.

14) Watch the Stars.

Do some stargazing at night. Visit a planetarium. Take a telescope out and see what you can see. Research constellations, make a map. Try to plan evening picnics somewhere outside of the city, where there isn't too much light pollution. Planning these trips around events such as meteor showers or eclipses is particularly exciting.

15) Get Involved in an Election.

Head to the office of your political party and see what you can do to help- stuff envelopes, make phone calls, go canvassing or hanging signs. Follow the election at home in the news. This will help your child learn about their local politicians, political offices and what their function is, and teach them the importance of being informed and getting involved.

16) Treasure Hunt.

Start visiting antique stores and auctions, and look up items of interest on line. Get some guide books, or research how to identify antiques on the Internet. When you find something, take it home and do some research on it. You might find a real treasure, and your child will be introduced to different time periods and a host of interesting objects.

17) Grocery Store.

Would you believe there are loads of learning opportunities in the market down the street? At a grocery store, you can perfect examples for learning about nutrition, marketing and advertising, or learning to plan and stick to a budget.

18)

Zoos.

Some people have ethical concerns about zoos, but most zoos are run these days under strict ethical guidelines. These animals are often taken in or rescued, and wouldn't survive anywhere out in the wild. A zoo gives us the opportunity to see some noble creatures up close that we would otherwise only be able to see in pictures. A zoo membership will give your family the chance to visit anytime they like, when there are no crowds around. Many zoos provide special workshops, short-term courses or special events and tours to make your trip even more educational.

19) Aquariums.

Like zoos, aquariums offer children to see some fascinating creatures up close that they wouldn't otherwise normally have the opportunity to examine live. Also like zoos, many aquariums offer membership deals, as well as educational programs for children of all ages.

20) Church.

Sunday school, children's choir, and other activities can be found in many churches, which are a great opportunity for children to learn. If you're not a member of a specific religion or don't subscribe to any faith, you might want to consider the religious education programs at Unitarian Universalist churches, a liberal church with members who identify as everything from Atheists to Zoroastrians, where all beliefs (or non-beliefs) are respected, and a diverse blend of religious and cultural traditions are taught without specific focus or indoctrination by any specific one.