How Homeschoolers Can Enjoy the Spring

Can you feel it? Spring is in the air…finally! No more dark afternoons, frigid temperatures, or leftover piles of dirty snow. Best of all, you can start working some outdoor activities into your homeschooling again! It comes at the perfect time because, after a long winter stuck indoors (in many regions, anyway), most homeschooled students are ready to enjoy the warmer weather. And there are plenty of ways to incorporate the wonderful spring weather into your homeschooling lessons. Here are a few ideas that take advantage of the season while helping you finish your homeschool year on a strong note.

1. Take a field trip. Nice weather opens the doors to so many field trip possibilities. Visit your local zoo to hold a lesson on animals and their habitats. Head to a nearby ocean, river, or lake to discuss the science of water and aquatic animals. Take a nature hike at a local park or trail and teach a lesson about plants and trees. You can even step into your backyard to plant a flower or vegetable garden while explaining the growth process. Toss around a football or a baseball and give a lesson on the aerodynamics of a pitch or pass. The ideas are as limitless as your–and your student’s–imagination.
2. Learn the history of your city or town. Urban exploring can be quite fun…and educational! Take a drive into your local city and take a walking tour (many of them are free or very affordable). These tour guides often know the city inside and out and love sharing stories about its history as well as little-known facts. Walking around the city also gives you a glimpse into different neighborhoods and cultures, which can also be informative. Plus, the exercise is a great bonus! If you’re not in a walking mood, however, many cities offer affordable bus tours that take you to landmarks while explaining the history and significance behind them. If you don’t live near a major city, explore your town! Many towns have a municipal office or a place dedicated to the town’s history. Learn who founded your town, what was its main industry when founded, and what major events shaped the town.
3. Start your spring cleaning! Ok, this might not sound all that appealing to your student–in fact, it probably just sounds like chores and work. Which it is. But there are some benefits! A clean, clutter-free homeschooling space, for one. But there’s also a lesson in there about how to be and stay organized, which is an important life skill to have. Plus, maintaining a clean learning space can even help minimize stress.
4. Find a fun fact-of-the-day and center lessons around it. For example, on April 24, 1916, the Easter Rebellion began in Dublin, Ireland, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Republic of Ireland. Focus your social studies lesson on events that led to the rebellion, have a civics lesson on how to establish a government in a new country, and introduce math and economics by talking about how you would fund a new country.
5. Let your learner pick a topic they’re interested in. Your student is probably passionate about a certain subject or topic, so have them complete a project based on that topic. By letting them pick, you can ensure it’s something they want to learn about. And since they’re already interested in it, they’ll be more likely to dive into the project and complete it fully. As a bonus, if the weather is nice, take the project or lesson outdoors and bask in the sunshine!

Spring is a beautiful time of year, so take full advantage of it and enjoy the home stretch of the homeschool year. Sure, students might start getting a bit antsy as the school year winds down, but by breaking up the routine a bit and taking advantage of what spring has to offer, you and your student will fly through the rest of the year successfully.