5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials- Day 2

Yesterday, I shared that HANDS-ON LEARNING is essential in our homeschool.  You can read all about it here.

Another essential in our homeschool is FIELD TRIPS.  Whether it be in our own backyard in historical Philadelphia,

Valley Forge or other Revolutionary War sites, or in Washington, D.C.,

seeing and experiencing is priceless learning!  And, field trips do not have to cost a lot of money.  The sites in Philadelphia and Washington D.C., for example, are owned by the government, so they are free of charge to enter.  So is Valley Forge and other state parks.

The farm show that we visited last week was free of charge to enter and we learned and saw SO much.

I have also found that if you have a membership to a particular museum, other museums around the country offer reciprocal benefits, thus allowing you to enter without charge.  Shop around and see which museum have the least expensive membership fees, purchase a membership there, and then you have access to literally hundreds of facilities across the country.

Field trips are educational for a myriad of reasons.  I believe wholeheartedly that one needs to see, hear and DO in order to truly learn.  So, as often as we are able, we see, hear and DO, whether it is in hands-on experiences like I wrote about yesterday, or with field trips where you walk where Washington walked instead of reading about it in a book.  You can follow up these experiences with your children writing about what they saw and experienced.  We always ask our children to write (one even makes Power Point presentations) about their experiences- what they learned, what they liked most and what they would like to see more of in the future.  Our kids like to take their own photos on our field trips, as well.  it is always fun to put albums together with mementos, stickers or other materials.  These are the experiences they will cherish and remember.  A chapter in a book about an event will fade in their minds.  Being where that event actually took place and what they see, learn and encounter there will not easily be forgotten.

Don't forget to enter the iPad Giveaway here.

Here is the link to all of the 89 bloggers who are writing and sharing this week! 

Also, here are 10 of those 89 participating in this series.  Stop by and see what they thought were their essentials.  :-)

Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge for Whining
Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
Heather @ Thrift Schooling
Joanie @ Simple Living Mama
Lisa @ Home to 4 Kiddos
Amy @ Homeschool Encouragement
Monique @ Living Life and Learning
Jenn @ Fresh Start Academy
Lori @ Special Connection Homeschool



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