Take your classroom outdoors
One way to inject some excitement into your homeschool routine is to take your classroom outdoors. Learning outside can be a refreshing change of pace. It also provides a chance for your kids to connect with nature and engage their senses in new ways. Whether it is reading a book under a tree, doing a science experiment in the backyard, or going on a nature walk to collect leaves and rocks, there are countless ways to incorporate the outdoors into your homeschooling curriculum. It is always fun to do art projects outside as well. It makes for easy cleanup, and why not use God’s creation as your backdrop when painting a canvas? In addition, getting some fresh air and exercise can help improve focus and productivity when it’s time to come back inside and hit the books again.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
Psalm 19:1 ESV
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Use exercise balls
Another way to keep your homeschool routine dynamic is by using exercise balls instead of traditional chairs. Sitting on an exercise ball engages your core and promotes good posture. This can help prevent fatigue and improve focus during lessons. Plus, it is a fun and active way to incorporate movement into your day, which is especially important for kids who may struggle with sitting still for long periods of time. Exercise balls are affordable and easy to find, so why not give them a try?
Sitting on a chair all day can get monotonous, especially for kids. Incorporating simple tools like these into your homeschooling routine can keep your homeschool environment dynamic and exciting. Another great way to add some fun to your homeschool routine is to get creative with art supplies.
Get creative with art supplies
Art is a powerful tool when it comes to learning. It encourages creativity, imagination, and self-expression. Incorporating art supplies into your homeschool routine can provide a fun and engaging way for your children to learn. For instance, instead of merely reading about dinosaurs, why not have your kids draw and paint pictures of them? This not only makes learning more fun but also helps kids retain more information.
Experiment with different mediums like paints, markers, crayons, and colored pencils to see what your kids like best. Once you have finished your art project, you can use it as a springboard for the next section of your homeschool day, like a discussion or a writing prompt. And don’t forget to try it outside!
Moreover, art can also aid in developing essential skills such as hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and critical thinking. You can even find art projects that coincide with subjects you are already teaching, like creating a diorama of a historical event, recreating a Bibical account or creating a science project to display. I do not have a creative brain, so thankfully there are countless online resources and guides available that can help you get started.
Incorporating art into your homeschool routine not only helps break up the monotony of traditional learning methods. It also encourages your children to think outside the box. For example, who says that there is a rule that you have to use a plain old pencil for math? One of my favorite homeschool hacks is to switch it up by using colored pencils for math. Adding art supplies to your different subjects can be a fun, educational and creative way to revitalize your home learning environment. This next homeschool hack is my favorite!
Incorporate games and field trips
In addition to incorporating art into your homeschool routine, you can also add some fun and excitement by including games and field trips. Games can help to reinforce concepts learned in traditional homeschool lessons while adding an element of competition and excitement. Many educational games are available online or in stores, and you can even make your own games tailored to your child’s interests and needs.
One of our family favorites is You’ve Been Sentenced. Each player is given 10 cards with different words, and they receive points for their sentences that they create. I always liked to give bonus points if they were able to tell me what part of the sentence each word represented – this takes diagramming sentences to a whole new level in a fun way!
Another fun game is Shape by Shape. This one is great because you can play it alone or as a group. It is a wonderful way to sharpen their logic skills and teach them to think ahead. It is also an easy game to take with you wherever you go. Click the link below the photo for a link to this super fun game.