5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement: Work it in Wednesday

Welcome back! It's good to have you here again today. This morning we will take a moment to discuss how to work in a few of those essential "extras," such as nature study, field trips, or service activities.

Nature study

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, and even more, if you're a follower on my Instagram, you may have noticed that I am pretty passionate about nature, God's beautiful creation, because I post collages from my morning walks of clouds, trees, flowers, butterflies, etc.

Believe me, I am thankful we are able to live in a mostly rural setting, so I can enjoy these walks. We have bird feeders up, too, to attract the birds.

What if you live where the houses are close together? Or perhaps you even live in a city? How can you possibly fit nature study in then?

Well, in most situations, you ought to be able to put up a bird feeder. Perhaps you can grow some flowers in a window box. Or even herbs. You could have an aquarium or terrarium. Or you may need to make regular excursions to the city park.

I know many homeschool moms keep nature journals and have their kids do the same. We tried that once, years ago. I personally find it easier to just take photographs!

Some good resources:

Handbook of Nature Study-Outdoor Hour Challenges and Nature Study
Simply Charlotte Mason-Nature Study
AmblesideOnline Nature Study Schedule
And for my Seventh-day Adventist friends, there are all those Pathfinder Nature Honors your children can work on.

Field Trips

There are many places one can go for field trips: museums; aquariums; theme parks; zoos; state and national parks; historic reenactments; factories; farms; even common every day places such as the post office, police or fire station, bakery, etc. I have Pinterest boards for Local Attractions, and Field Trip Ideas, if you want to check them out. I've shared some of our field trips in the past.

Service

This can be as simple as doing their household chores, or helping the grandparents with little tasks around their house or yard, or helping in the kitchen at church setting up for potluck or cleaning up afterward.

See about going to nursing homes, rehab facilities, or maybe even the pediatric ward. Your children can take homemade cards, crayon (or any other medium) drawings, or maybe even flowers, to the residents or patients.

Or visit the widow next door, or the single mom from church. Perhaps there are some simple tasks your child could do for her for which she would surely be grateful.

There is always preparing the Christmas shoe boxes, or volunteering at the local food bank. Or consider going on a mission trip.

I'm certain there are many more possibilities for field trips or service opportunities that I haven't mentioned. Would you please share your ideas in the comments below?

Remember to take time to work in these aspects of homeschooling, at least several times a year.

I hope to see you back here again tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are a few more members of the Crew who are participating in this blog hop. Stop in and say hello to some of them.

Jennifer @ Dear Homeschooler
Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Karen @ Tots and Me...Growing Up Together
Kelly @ Hope in the Chaos
Kellyann @ Walking Home ...
Kimberley @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
Kristen @ A Mom's Quest to Teach
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Laura @ Four Little Penguins
Linda @ Apron Strings & other things

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