Seven Years, Seven Lessons - Lesson 2

 Give Experiences

I think one of the greatest ways to learn is to do.  Now, it isn't the only way to learn.  I learn in many ways.  I read a lot, and reading, for me, is kind of like doing.  There are some books that draw me in and I feel like I actually know the characters.  I can picture them in my head, like a movie.  However, this doesn't happen naturally for everyone.  Some learners literally have a tough time doing if they can't see it themselves and do it for themselves.  For example, Laura struggled with learning how to count money when we simply used her math curriculum.  A few days of "playing store" with her older sisters, and it clicked.  As she had to add up the money for purchases and give change, she understood.  She never struggled with counting money again.

Playing Store

Giving our children experiences is very important.  I would love to give them more experiences.  My high school girls are going this summer on a missions trip to Alaska.  I know this will give them many experiences that they would never get by reading a book.  I traveled around a bit as a child and even more as a young adult, and those experiences of living in other states and meeting many different people from all over the world and of different cultures was wonderful. 

A couple of years ago, we made a couple trips to Missouri to visit my oldest daughter as she was in College.  We drove through St. Louis and the beautiful Ozarks.  That experience was great for my girls, to visit a different place.   The older ones have gotten to travel to various States, and it is always an adventure they enjoy.

One of our trips to St. Louis, Missouri

In our homeschool, there are times where it seems as if we are doing a lot of seat work.  I try to come at education from a few different ways, so that my children aren't simply learning from one way.  I add in movies and videos when I can because I have a daughter that learns best this way.  However, even for the ones that learn best by reading, I think doing and watching is important.  The workbooks and computer curriculum may offer them a precept upon precept way of learning, building and repeating.  Adding in experiences adds a deeper level to learning, teaching them how the material applies to their world.  The information becomes personal as they physically interact with it.

Seeing the trains inside and out.

For example, we visited a train museum a few months ago.  The girls got to climb aboard old trains and see them from the inside as well as the outside.  

Up Close and Personal with Old Trains

Over the years, I have tried to find experiences for my children.  I want to add more, and sometimes I have to be creative.  I may not always have the funds for travel, but I still wish to give my girls some hooks to hang the information on that they are learning about.  Many times we just look for things in our world that provide more experiences, without being overly expensive. 

Some experiences aren't "field trips".  Some of the best experiences are learning by doing.  For instance, every summer two of my daughters participate in Teen Mission.  Teen Mission is a group of local churches that ban their youth groups together to do service projects over a one week period of time in the local area.  They paint houses, build wheelchair ramps, do yard work or gardening, or whatever else needs done for those that may be elderly or handicapped and can't do this for themselves.  This has given my girls new skills as they have been a part of a team effort to serve our local community.

My husband loves music and plays bass.  My oldest daughter is a worship team leader.  All of my children love music.  My younger girls are learning piano.  Some of the greatest experiences they have gotten to have is going to concerts.  From choir concerts at the local school to professional concerts, my girls have gotten to be a part of a lot of it.  Recently the girls got to go to the Rock and Worship Roadshow with Jamie Grace, Matt Maher, Tedashi, Group 1 Crew, David Crowder, and Mercy Me.  We don't go to a lot of concerts, as they can get expensive with a larger family. However, it is almost always an experience. 

Traditionally, when we think of giving our children experiences, we think of Field Trips.  I look for opportunities to do these, and they usually don't coincide with what we have been studying.  However, I refuse to miss an opportunity just because we might be studying something different that year.   Here are some examples of field trips that we have taken:

The Traveling Vietnam War Memorial.  The Girls found their Great-Uncle's name.

A trip to Arkansas 

Visiting a local farm

Jasmine getting to visit the White House

We try to get to a local zoo at least once a year.

We've gotten to go boating a time or two.

 

 

Visiting the Children's Museum is always fun.

We loved the Creation Museum, and Jasmine's first camel ride.

Visiting the 1800s log cabin, post office, schoolhouse, and blacksmith

I could go on and on, as we love visiting places and seeing them personally.  Giving children experiences doesn't have to cost a lot.  Just live your days with them.  Take them to the store with you.  Go hiking with them.  Homeschoolers tend to believe that ALL of life is school.  I may use traditional materials for school, but the learning doesn't stop when we are done with our lessons each day.  If you see all of life as an education, then you begin to see the world differently.  You begin to see that VBS over the summer as an experience, that festival two towns over as a way to introduce a culture that isn't your own, that reenactment as a way to show them history come to life, that house project as an experience to teach your children a skill they didn't know. 

Most homeschoolers live on one income.  Money for experiences is slim, and usually a sacrifice.  Make them count.  Give them plentifully.  As the weather turns nice this Spring and summer, turn off the television.  Go to the park.  Take the kids to an outdoor concert... or have them put one on!  Plan a day away where you can go visit the next state over.  If you can't afford to go far, then watch for local things happening in your area: a play, an outdoor movie, a festival.  Eat before you go and take a few bucks for a lemon-shakeup or cotton candy.  Make memories with your children.  We go blueberry picking every summer, and have a blast. Your children will be richly educated by having parents that long to create memories, to spend time with their children, and to show the love of Christ.  God will open unbelievable doors.