How to Take Field Trips like a Homeschooler

Homeschoolers take a lot of field trips. Some people may think this is wasted time, but if you approached field trips the way homeschoolers do, you would know how valuable these activities are. Here is a guide on how to take field trips like a homeschooler.

First, understand that field trips are not just for schools do be done in classes of thirty. You can take a field trip anytime you want with your child. You can take a few field trips during the summer months. You can do it on the weekend. You can do it on holidays, or you can play hooky with your child (though I am not officially recommending it).

Next, you need to decide where you want to go and what you want to do. Instead of just choosing the first educational outing you stumble upon, think about what your child is interested in. If your daughter loves dinosaurs, go to a science museum that has dinosaur bones on display. If your son interested in history, take him to a historical reenactment. If your child is begging to go to the fair, then find a way to make it educational.

Plan lessons for before and after the field trip. Often, museums, zoos, and even theater shows have educational materials you can use. You can also gather educational materials related to your field trip plans from the library and online. For a trip to the zoo, get books on animals and zoo keeping. For science museums, get books that help them learn more about the exhibits there. If you are going to the fair or amusement park, find information on the physics of roller coasters.

Spend a week or two pre-learning before the trip. They will be willing to do the work because they are excited about the trip. The advantage of these teachable moments. You will see the fruit of this work when you are on your field trip and your child begins informing you about different aspects of the trip and essentially being your tour guide.

After the field trip, have the do a project or write a report. It can include pictures that you took, or they can make models of what they saw and did. This is the way to get the most out of a field trip, and this is how homeschoolers do it.