zak frost
05-26-2006, 07:03 PM
Well, :alone **big sigh** :pout since I am the one and only homeschooler. :alone **sniff sniff** :cry I figured I would start talking to myself. :teehee I figured that I would start posting some of the stuff that we do for "school". We unschool (meaning we don't use curriculum). We do use Singapore Math though.
We have a book about the plants of the Pacific NW and another about the birds around here. We get a sheet and lay it out in the yard. We lay there and watch the birds (and the clouds) and identify what they are (the birds, not the clouds). We walk around the yard and identify the plants that are growing wild. We try to have the books with us in the car at all times (you never know when you will find a cool plant or bird!).
We take an "activity" bag with us when we go anywhere. They pick out two to three books (each) to take with us. Once in a while, other things get thrown in, but, right now, they are into reading. There are wrap-ups, fan things (each "blade" has info on things like the presidents, inventors, or whatever), brainquests, and the like that could be thrown in.
Field trips: We constantly go on field trips. We are going on a sailing one in a few weeks (on the Lady Washington, one of the Pirates of the Carribean ships). We toured a different ship the other day. We have toured the police horse stables, a chocolate factory (that had a chocolate waterfall), a police station, a fire station, a pizza place, a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream place, a bank, several other ships, and nature places (Jackson bottom wetlands in Hillsboro, Mt. St. Helens, Tualatin nature park, Trojan). I am sure that there are more, but this is what pops in my head. We have also gone on a free day at the Art museum.
Other "events": We have gone to medieval faires (and they got to see knights fighting, a trebuchet/catapult throwing watermelons, they got to shoot a bow and arrow) (about $20). We have gone to Civil War reenactments (they got to see the battle and a hospital demonstration) (free). We went to a military history thing at a military museum (and the kids and Grandpa got to ride on a tank!!!) (free). They got to ride in an airplane (small one) through the Young Eagles program (they fly them while they are up there also!!) (free). We go fishing (went to a "fishing" event for kids a few weekends ago and Beak won a fishing pole!) (pretty much free).
Regular activities: We go rollerskating in the winter alot (about $15). We go ice skating once a year (because of the cost) (over $20). We go bowling in the winter (about $10). In the summer, there are park days every week (free). There is lasertag once a month ($25). There is Safari Sam's (huge indoor play area) once a month (about $15).
Other things: We listen to Schoolhouse rock cd's in the car. We have had halloween skeletons hung on the wall to help us learn the bones of the body. We have a life size human anatomy chart on the wall. We have the manual alphabet on the wall. We have had everything labeled (and a few still are) like doors, windows, stove, cabinet, etc. We watch a ton of PBS programs.
I will post more as I think of them.
We have a book about the plants of the Pacific NW and another about the birds around here. We get a sheet and lay it out in the yard. We lay there and watch the birds (and the clouds) and identify what they are (the birds, not the clouds). We walk around the yard and identify the plants that are growing wild. We try to have the books with us in the car at all times (you never know when you will find a cool plant or bird!).
We take an "activity" bag with us when we go anywhere. They pick out two to three books (each) to take with us. Once in a while, other things get thrown in, but, right now, they are into reading. There are wrap-ups, fan things (each "blade" has info on things like the presidents, inventors, or whatever), brainquests, and the like that could be thrown in.
Field trips: We constantly go on field trips. We are going on a sailing one in a few weeks (on the Lady Washington, one of the Pirates of the Carribean ships). We toured a different ship the other day. We have toured the police horse stables, a chocolate factory (that had a chocolate waterfall), a police station, a fire station, a pizza place, a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream place, a bank, several other ships, and nature places (Jackson bottom wetlands in Hillsboro, Mt. St. Helens, Tualatin nature park, Trojan). I am sure that there are more, but this is what pops in my head. We have also gone on a free day at the Art museum.
Other "events": We have gone to medieval faires (and they got to see knights fighting, a trebuchet/catapult throwing watermelons, they got to shoot a bow and arrow) (about $20). We have gone to Civil War reenactments (they got to see the battle and a hospital demonstration) (free). We went to a military history thing at a military museum (and the kids and Grandpa got to ride on a tank!!!) (free). They got to ride in an airplane (small one) through the Young Eagles program (they fly them while they are up there also!!) (free). We go fishing (went to a "fishing" event for kids a few weekends ago and Beak won a fishing pole!) (pretty much free).
Regular activities: We go rollerskating in the winter alot (about $15). We go ice skating once a year (because of the cost) (over $20). We go bowling in the winter (about $10). In the summer, there are park days every week (free). There is lasertag once a month ($25). There is Safari Sam's (huge indoor play area) once a month (about $15).
Other things: We listen to Schoolhouse rock cd's in the car. We have had halloween skeletons hung on the wall to help us learn the bones of the body. We have a life size human anatomy chart on the wall. We have the manual alphabet on the wall. We have had everything labeled (and a few still are) like doors, windows, stove, cabinet, etc. We watch a ton of PBS programs.
I will post more as I think of them.