Farm . schoolhouse . summertime .
At first glance , these Christian Bible do n’t seem to go together . “ Farm ” may call forth images of long , punishing hours of physical study during the growing season , while “ school ” paints an image of lino - tiled classrooms fill with wooden desks in tidy rows face the teacher up front .
Of course , the give-and-take “ summer ” ushers in the opposite word of these , where exemption , merriment and full - throttle fun abound .
As a Wisconsin farmer and homeschooling parent , I get wind the trio of words and thought start rolling through my mastermind . For farm - based homeschooling families like ours , each season — even summer — fetch a new array of place - schooling opportunities .
Blending these summer educational opportunity on the farm with the reality that this is commonly the busiest time of the growing season can be a challenge . But with a dash of organisation and preparation , summertime can take on a deeper , richer substance for everyone in your sept . Here are six general strategies to keep in mind :
1 . programme and organize . For some habitation - school families , a little structure decease a tenacious means in bring about results . Others need mundane and have designated certain topic for each daytime , such as “ Science Mondays ” or “ Field - tripper Fridays . ” We ’ve gone on free tours of community facilities , but be indisputable to call ahead for particular .
2 . embracement spontaneity . hug the playfulness of summertime with a panache of pedagogy . Just after the fry put on their pajamas , head outside for astar - identification lesson . Storm rolling in ? Sounds ripe for a lesson onweather fundamentals . After a full day of plain employment , my husband , John , and I will announce that it ’s “ cultural grasp nighttime ” and lead to our town second power for a free biotic community concert in the park .
3 . Scrapbook the summer . Track your summertime - pick up journey with an on-going record to which everyone in the family can contribute . This can be a traditional newspaper scrapbook with pic , paper clippings and drawing , or in today ’s digital age , think about anonline blogor send telecasting on YouTube .
4 . believe “ one - room school . ”While the syllabus ideas below suggest general appropriate years stove , do n’t feel limited or restricted by a child ’s tier stage . Summer gifts us with the chance to get out inspiration from those one - room schoolhouse days , where various age group worked and get wind together .
5 . Focus on process , not merchandise . Remember that learning is in the journeying , not the destination . I may intend tohike around the farmwith my boy , Liam , to place prairie flora but discover a new mint of infant bunny along the way and spend the next hr sitting quiet and observing their antics . likewise , the morningegg - collectingchores can turn into a lengthy lesson on the innate Hz of life and end . adopt the second and do n’t sense obligated to wedge with Plan A when a little serendipity may lead you to an even more rewarding places of noesis .
6 . recapitulation and hash out . Take time to reexamine and talk about dispatch activities . expect capable - ended questions to get kids to verbalise about and process what they just experience , enhance the learning process . We do n’t typically formally “ examination ” Liam on summer farm - learning opportunity , but we regain that focus , process - oriented discussions get educational activities to take on deeper significance .
As your summer learning journeying evolves , embrace the conjuration of the season and the moment . Savor the existential schoolroom on your farm with an undefendable mind , and rekindle your inner child with every name glitch , star and chance .
For summer home - schooling ideas , download the following moral plans :
Click for more farm - base object lesson plans .
