A few years ago we were driving around Custer State Park and watched these Bison walking in a straight line, adult-baby-adult-baby-adult. It was amazing to see how they took care of each other and moved together. I hope we as a community can do the same, take care of each other and move together.
As we have settled into a new normal at home, grieved our losses and found a new way to live, I thought I would talk about some learning ideas for the summer or some ideas to put into your back pocket for the fall.
These ideas can help us care for one another through learning about other cultures, food,religions and holidays. We can take some time to research questions we may wonder about. Learn about social injustices, history of such injustices and great people in history who decided to get involved and make change.
For the Crafty:
- Lapbooks: homeschoolers have been using these for years for our tactile learner. You can find lapbooks for almost any topic and book. Print out, cut and paste various elements onto a file folder, learn and fill out, draw, create. You have to see one to get it. Lots of fun!
- https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-help/lapbooks/
For those who Wonder:
Create a Wonder Journal or Questions Notebook
1) Give your child a notebook and have them wonder about things by asking questions about whatever they have questions about, then write those questions in the notebook.
You can direct it by providing a broad topic but try to make it something that interests them. The purpose is for the child to the pick topic, what are they ‘into’, but you as a parent can ‘lay a feast’ in front of them-meaning show them a variety of topics to choose from like, countries, foods, animals, water ways, people, biology, earth science, environmental science, artists, musicians, instruments, jobs people do, technology, government, maps, geography, classic literature, movie making, the list is endless.
Still not sure? Try this exercise:
Sit with your child and read a few different books, picture dictionary or go on-line to your library’s World Book link and browse through the encyclopedia and see what peaks their interest then take that as a starting point.
2) Let your student pick a question they want to explore.
3) Explore and learn.
It’s a great way to keep learning fun and keep them engaged because they are curious about it. It could even ignite a passion for something that can fling them into a career…you never know.