by Stefany Smith

Created on: January 16, 2009

Children need more than lectures, textbooks, and chalkboard dust. The homeschooled student has the opportunity to experience their lessons and feel the power of unrestrained exploration. Whether it is a walk in nature, converting fractions, or telling time; hands-on activities help the child experience more than grasping a concept, they gain an understanding of how to use it. With a little bit of guidance, an inviting environment, and the resources necessary; the homeschooled student will be eager to learn new things.

Without the school board controlling every aspect of the curriculum, the homeschool parent has freedom to allow life to overflow into education and education into life. With these hands-on experiences, the lessons become real, as well as, important to the student. By measuring ingredients for a cake, they understand why it is important to learn fractions. Through trips to the grocery store (comparing prices and adding up purchases) the student realizes the need to learn about money. A trip to a an old plantation brings History into the present.

While everyday life experiences can be a great way to provide hands-on experiences, it isn't the only option. Our "school room" is filled with manipulatives. The human body model has proved to be helpful during Science class, and the doctor's kit gave the little ones some hands-on fun during Health. We also have play money, clocks, stickers, foam cutouts of animals, numbers, shapes, and letters, as well as those fun tanigrams for Geometry. The resources are endless.

Another great option to incorporate hands-on experiences is field trips. This is another area where kids in traditional school settings miss out. Funding and resources are limited, so the opportunities are inadequate. It is helpful to think out-side-of-the-box here. As homeschoolers, you are not confined to the ordinary school-time trips. Museum visits can last longer than 2 hours, nature walks can turn into camping trips, and vacations can become History lessons.

Understanding the vast opportunities for hands-on experiences is only the first step for your home school. The second step is to understand your child's needs. They can all be very different, so the resources that will work best will vary as well. The third step is by far the most fun; experience the learning along with your children. Remember to remain flexible; laughing will occur, rabbit trails will form, and new adventures will take flight.

Here are some helpful links to get you started:

Timberdoodle

Discovery

Lifelearning

Learningstyles

Homeschooling

Unschooling

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