If you are looking for tips on how to make social studies interesting while traveling, you’re in the right place. Since becoming a full-time traveling family, there’s one thing we’ve figured out – how to homeschool on the road.
How to Make Social Studies Interesting While Traveling
Contrary to popular belief, homeschooling on the road doesn’t look much differently than homeschooling in a stationary place. Most of what we do now are things we were already doing when we had a “permanent address.” The biggest difference is our surroundings change quite a bit.
If you ever find yourself traveling full time, part time, or even on vacation, you don’t have to put learning on a screeching halt. Instead, when it comes to how to make social studies interesting while traveling – or any other subject for that matter – try some of the following tips.
Diss the textbooks.
Curriculum is such a catch-22 topic when it comes to homeschooling, and rightfully so. Some families thrive from having textbooks and full boxed curricula to help them get through each school year while other families depend on printable worksheets and life. Neither are wrong, but sometimes everyone can benefit by giving the textbooks a break.
So, I suggest trying it for a day. Instead of going straight to the books, trade them out for other resources like movies, educational videos, and/or games.
Make it hands-on.
I don’t care how old children get, they love hands-on assignments. Whether it’s recreating the Bill of Rights, drawing a huge timeline of events, or making a dish that was popular in the 1920s – kids love it. And what’s even better is how much more they enjoy learning. Any chance you get, let your kids get their hands on some projects and assignments that will help teach an aspect of social studies in a unique way.
Take advantage of field trips.
Who doesn’t love a good trip to a local museum or a iconic train ride? We recently took our kids to a museum that used to be an old hotel and the owners turned each room into a themed room filled with memorabilia from time past. On our next adventure, we had the opportunity to take a train ride and learned so many cool things about the towns we passed and stopped at. The kids didn’t realize how much learning was happening because it was so much fun.
Use project-based learning.
Although it may seem like the public school system coined “STEM” and “STEAM” learning, it has actually been around for quite some time. This type of learning can be seen as doing a project that looks at technology through the lens of different eras or studying and creating a lapbook of the different branches of government. You can even let your kids brainstorm some projects to do that interests them. You may be surprised by what they come up with!
Learn About the States
This United States Activity Notebook is a great way to help your kids learn all about the United States. Each activity page features:
- the state to color
- a box to draw the state’s flag
- a space to write the abbreviation
- prompts to research the state’s bird, flower, and nickname
- an area to research more facts
- a map to locate and color the state
This pack also comes with 2 types of printables maps: 1 with states only, but stars to mark where the capitals are and 1 with states and capitals labeled. Each one comes in black and white, half-page size, and can be used as a poster.
What are some ways you teach social studies in your homeschool?
Whether you’re a traveling family or not, I’d love to hear about ways you teach social studies in your homeschool. Let me know in the comments below!
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Check out the full Homeschooling the Subjects While Traveling series here!