Home Schooling Hands-On Activities to Boost Learning
Aug 29, 2023
Learning does not just come from textbooks and flashcards, in fact, most learning happens when we least plan for it. Consider the age and maturity of your child before you begin with any of these hands-on activities. Below are some hands-on activities that you can include in your homeschooling lessons.
- Interactive Map - Create and build a 3-D map that includes both history and geography. Explain things such as why Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt are mislabeled on a flat map. These types of maps can explain wars, civilizations, and cultures from around the world. Maps can be created out of paper mache, salt dough, cookie dough, and crispy cereal.
- Create Costumes - This would be especially fun for your budding tailor. All kids seem to love to play dress-up. When they are allowed to make the costumes themselves then it can be even more enjoyable. You can incorporate store-bought or DIY costumes, or a combination of both. Sewing is an activity that requires math skills and is a great way to help children of all ages to learn new math concepts.
- Puppet Show - Puppets can be store-bought but are so simple and fun to make using socks. Allow your student to help write the storyline and design their own puppet character. Allow the student to perform their play without interrupting them. Remember, you are not looking for perfection or to critique your child because the focus of this activity is for the child to learn creativity, imagination, and understand the people, places, and events that they are currently studying.
The skills that could be included in this type of activity may include the following, as well as other related skills:
- Dialogue
- Descriptive Writing
- Public Speaking
- Art
- Creativity
- Public Speaking - This is one of the most dreaded adult responsibilities and the sooner you involve your children in this activity the better off they will be later in life. Allow your student to research their topic in-depth, then use software such as PowerPoint slides. Students of all ages can learn this skill. Keep in mind that each student prefers to learn in the ways they like and understand best. Many students may be shy. If you are dealing with an extremely shy child be kind and do not pressure them with a long or speech.
- Earth Models - These are fun for students to make, just be aware that is it messy. This type of project works great for learning or understanding history, science, and geography. This is a popular project for creating a 3-D model of the earth and solar system. You can get ideas for projects by looking online for ideas or even the pictures that are in the textbook.
- Themed Meals - Meals can represent concepts of any lesson you are learning. For example, if you are learning about Pi Day you could make a dessert pie or even a pizza pie.
- Book Reports - Instead of having your child write a book report allow them to find items or draw pictures that represent the story. As the child collects these items allow them to place them in a container such as a box or a bag. When it comes time for the students to give their report, all they must do is take one item out of the bag at a time and tell you how that item fits into the story.
- Notebook Stories - No longer are you and your student reliant on paper notebooks for reports. Today’s technology allows you to create interactive stories by using laptops, computers, and even smartphones. There are apps available to homeschooling families that allow you to create digital forms of written stories.
- Plastic Models - You are no longer limited by model airplanes or cars. There are unlimited plastic models for every person of every age. These models are often used in a diorama. However, you can use these on their own. If you want a unique, option have your child create a diorama using a shoebox and construction paper.
- Alphabet Book - This is not just for elementary students. In fact, high schoolers can have a lot of fun with this type of project. This is often called an “ABC Book” and can be adapted for every subject and lesson being taught.
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