We all have days that are busy and full of errands and appointments, but that doesn't mean that those days are wasted as far as homeschooling goes. Learning can happen anywhere. In this post I share lots of ideas for taking your learning on the go.
Math:
Grocery Store Math- The grocery store is a great place to practice math skills. Teach your kids to weigh produce and have them help you calculate the price of various produce items. Have them read and compare prices. Ask which brand is cheapest, which is most expensive.
Mileage Calculations- Teach your kids to read your vehicle's odometer and to understand prices at the gas station. Record your starting and ending odometer reading for the day, and have your kids calculate how many miles you drove and how much you spent on gasoline for the day's errands.
Counting Cars- For preschool and early elementary aged kids, assign a color and have them count how many cars of that color they see on your drive. Or for kids still learning their colors, simply have them point out the different colors of cars that they see.
Skip Counting- Skip counting can help a lot with learning multiplication facts and is an easy thing to practice on the go. While your in the car or stuck waiting for appointments, practice skip counting. Start with the easy ones like 5's, 10's, and 2's. Then move on to harder ones like 3's, 4's, and 6's.
Geography:
Map Your Trip- Get some maps of your local area, (you can even print them off Google Maps) and have your kids map out your trip for the day.
Licence Plate Game- This was always a favorite activity of mine on car trips when I was a kid, and it's a simple and fun way to get familiar with the names of different states. Print a list of all 50 states and have your kids search for cars with out of state license plates on your car trips. Have your kids put check marks next to states on the list as they find them. You can even extend the learning by having your child research the new states they found and look them up on a U.S. map after you get home.
History:
Places Of Historic Interest- When there's time in your schedule, stop at points of historic interest. Read plaques, take pictures, and just explore for a few minutes. You can then do additional research on the places you visit after you return home.
Science:
Backseat Bird Watching- Get your kids a bird guide and have them search for and try to identify birds they see on your drives.
Tree Identification- Get a tree and plant guide and have your kids find and identify the different trees they see on your drives.
Reading And Writing:
Audio Books- Audio books are great for listening to in the car. They're an excellent way to expose your kids to different types of literature and are easy to take on the go.
Read In The Car- My favorite pass time on family car trips as kid was simply to relax in the backseat with a good book. It's an easy way to squeeze some free choice reading time into busy days.
Descriptive Writing- Have your child bring a notebook and a pencil on your errands. Have them pick something on your drive to describe.
Yelling For Spelling- Car rides can be an excellent time to orally practice spelling words. If you can handle the noise, try "Yelling for Spelling". My kids love practicing their spelling words as loud as they can.
Miscellaneous Activities For All Subjects:
Watch Documentaries- If you have a tablet you can bring along or a DVD player in your car, set it up to watch documentaries relevant to whatever your kids happen to be studying.
Learning Songs- Songs are always fun for car rides. Download some good learning songs to sing on your travels. Here are a few of our favorites:
-50 Nifty United States
-The Phonics Song
-The Solar System Song
-The Bone Song
-7 Days Of The Week
-Months Of The Year Song
Take Advantage Of Car Rides And Waiting Rooms- Car rides and time stuck in waiting rooms are great times to get worksheets and reading assignments done. Plus this can be a good way to pass the time for kids who hate waiting.
What are your favorite ways to take learning on the go? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your ideas!
If you enjoyed this post, check out:
-Homeschooling With A Toddler
-Homeschooling Curriculum And Resources: My Top Picks
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Grocery Store Math- The grocery store is a great place to practice math skills. Teach your kids to weigh produce and have them help you calculate the price of various produce items. Have them read and compare prices. Ask which brand is cheapest, which is most expensive.
Mileage Calculations- Teach your kids to read your vehicle's odometer and to understand prices at the gas station. Record your starting and ending odometer reading for the day, and have your kids calculate how many miles you drove and how much you spent on gasoline for the day's errands.
Counting Cars- For preschool and early elementary aged kids, assign a color and have them count how many cars of that color they see on your drive. Or for kids still learning their colors, simply have them point out the different colors of cars that they see.
Skip Counting- Skip counting can help a lot with learning multiplication facts and is an easy thing to practice on the go. While your in the car or stuck waiting for appointments, practice skip counting. Start with the easy ones like 5's, 10's, and 2's. Then move on to harder ones like 3's, 4's, and 6's.
Geography:
Map Your Trip- Get some maps of your local area, (you can even print them off Google Maps) and have your kids map out your trip for the day.
Licence Plate Game- This was always a favorite activity of mine on car trips when I was a kid, and it's a simple and fun way to get familiar with the names of different states. Print a list of all 50 states and have your kids search for cars with out of state license plates on your car trips. Have your kids put check marks next to states on the list as they find them. You can even extend the learning by having your child research the new states they found and look them up on a U.S. map after you get home.
History:
Places Of Historic Interest- When there's time in your schedule, stop at points of historic interest. Read plaques, take pictures, and just explore for a few minutes. You can then do additional research on the places you visit after you return home.
Science:
Backseat Bird Watching- Get your kids a bird guide and have them search for and try to identify birds they see on your drives.
Tree Identification- Get a tree and plant guide and have your kids find and identify the different trees they see on your drives.
Reading And Writing:
Audio Books- Audio books are great for listening to in the car. They're an excellent way to expose your kids to different types of literature and are easy to take on the go.
Read In The Car- My favorite pass time on family car trips as kid was simply to relax in the backseat with a good book. It's an easy way to squeeze some free choice reading time into busy days.
Descriptive Writing- Have your child bring a notebook and a pencil on your errands. Have them pick something on your drive to describe.
Yelling For Spelling- Car rides can be an excellent time to orally practice spelling words. If you can handle the noise, try "Yelling for Spelling". My kids love practicing their spelling words as loud as they can.
Miscellaneous Activities For All Subjects:
Watch Documentaries- If you have a tablet you can bring along or a DVD player in your car, set it up to watch documentaries relevant to whatever your kids happen to be studying.
Learning Songs- Songs are always fun for car rides. Download some good learning songs to sing on your travels. Here are a few of our favorites:
-50 Nifty United States
-The Phonics Song
-The Solar System Song
-The Bone Song
-7 Days Of The Week
-Months Of The Year Song
Take Advantage Of Car Rides And Waiting Rooms- Car rides and time stuck in waiting rooms are great times to get worksheets and reading assignments done. Plus this can be a good way to pass the time for kids who hate waiting.
What are your favorite ways to take learning on the go? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your ideas!
If you enjoyed this post, check out:
-Homeschooling With A Toddler
-Homeschooling Curriculum And Resources: My Top Picks
Follow me on:
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