Homeschooling Chronicles - Enrichment Activities
A full schedule doesn't mean a better one. Conscientiously choosing extra classes can be enriching and not overwhelming.
By Kristen Kindoll
Cooler weather and the changing colors of the leaves signal the beginning of a new school year. For some homeschoolers, lessons may have already started. However, extracurricular classes often don’t begin until later. Now is the time to think about which activities you would like to have supplement your schooling, and how you are going to fit them into your schedule. Here are some suggestions for considering which enrichment activities to add to your curriculum plan.
You Might Start With a Flurry of Activity
When I first began homeschooling, I was so excited about all of the enrichment opportunities available, that our schedule involved a flurry of activity. We visited science labs, went on nature excursions, took art classes and participated in anything else that looked interesting. It wasn’t long before I realized that we spent more time in the car than we did at home. I took advantage of the car time by having my children listen to their literature curriculum on recorded books. While we waited for classes and field trips to begin, I often used the time to review my teaching material for history and science lessons. My kids brought their workbooks and worksheets in case there was time to work on them. The notion that I was car-schooling, rather than home-schooling, was not lost on me.
Getting Back to Basics
Finally, I became so overwhelmed with the schedule, and tired of refueling my gas tank, that I cancelled all my children's extracurricular classes. We stayed home for several months, rarely venturing out. This was such a pleasure. We had idyllic mornings with leisurely breakfasts, instead of gobbling down a meal as we headed out the door. My children finished their classwork by noon and they began to occupy themselves with creative pursuits. Eventually, we began to miss the supplementary activities and change of venue. There were some things we just couldn't do at home. We missed factory tours, planetary viewings, and group science labs.
I knew there had to be a way to engage in extracurricular activities and still feel like we are actually schooling at home. I started out by picking a day for field trips. I discovered that Fridays worked well. It offered an end of the week break from routine. This way, we could spend our week doing schoolwork knowing that every Friday would be a different adventure. I also started to sign my children up for once a month activities. It allowed them to socialize regularly, but didn't require extra homework assignments.
Activities to Supplement Classroom Curriculum
The other way I chose extracurricular activities was by looking for the types of experiences I couldn’t accomplish in our home environment. For example, art is something I can teach, but Chinese is not. Advanced math is manageable, but a homeschool band is something beyond my capabilities. Recognizing what I can, and cannot do, helped me to choose the best supplemental classes for my students. I also learned to accept the fact that we cannot do everything. Concentrating on a few really good things made for a more rewarding experience.
The final step I took in figuring out how to integrate extracurricular activities was to designate the morning hours as school time. I have kept that sacred. It provides us with the consistency and normalcy that was lacking in the beginning. Now we have a regular morning routine which makes our school run smoothly. The children may have classes in the afternoon, but our activities are reduced to a manageable level. We only do one extra thing a day. We are able to experience variety without feeling harried.
Extracurricular Activity Ideas:
Students visit Central Park in New York City. They catalog the signs of the seasons in a nature log. This activity could be done at your local park using this template.
Stanley Park and Aquarium Field Trip
This is a lesson for a full day at the aquarium in Vancouver and Stanley Park. Children compare each ecosystem, notate the changes and make observations. Students could follow the format in this lesson for a trip to the aquarium, zoo, or other location in their local area.
The lesson provides a preparation before a field trip to Chicago Field Museum. The link provides three experiments to try. The experiments can be completed in any area.
Engaging in a little exploration outside of your house or school can lead to a math adventure. Students use multimedia means to share their findings.
