Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Learning through unschooling

To celebrate the release of my new book on homeschooling, I had a thought of doing a Wordless Wednesday with a catalog of all our recent unschooling, home-education, natural-learning photos. As it turns out, there are far too many, so I decided instead to put in a few examples from the eight class headings the state of Washington informs me are the key curricular subjects that every home educator must address.

Enjoy a glimpse into our kids' everyday learning!

Language Arts

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
A very happy boy with a book

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Reading clues in a scavenger hunt

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Writing letters to the grandmothers

Mathematics

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
A chess match

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Playing with shapes

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Um … measuring things?

Social Studies

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
This is pretty hobo, huh? Putting the kids to work pounding in
railroad ties at the Museum of History and Industry.

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Exploring their heritage!

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Boarding Rosa Parks's bus at the Henry Ford Museum

Science

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Scanning for fingerprints with a CSI kit

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Mikko's idea: Weaving an orb web through the living room with yarn.
The cat wasn't sure what to make of it.

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Brothers making flubber

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
We put the cats through Kitty College. Only one graduated.

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Watching a squid dissection at the aquarium.
Mikko got right up close and stayed after to ask a ton of questions.

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Enthusiastically investigating friction at the science museum

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Up close and personal with the fish

Life Skills

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Learning fire safety from a firefighter

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
This boy's got some sharp (ha!) knife skills.

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Learning how to put together furniture

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Cooking his own grain-free cupcakes

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Learning to solder at the Science Expo

Health & Fitness

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Bouncing down the track at the gymnastics playground

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Hiking through the grounds of the waste treatment plant (no, really)

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Exploring super low tide with friends

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Kick!

World Languages

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Going to the library for German DVDs

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Singing the German song I composed about riding the bus

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Reading through books together like Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt.

Arts & Music

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Painting time

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Directing his own movie at the Science Expo.
(We ended up buying one of these kits.)

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
An impressive foam mural

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
A creation from parent-child pottery class

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
Crafting his own musical instruments

Learning through unschooling == Hobo Mama
I'm pretty sure the Fumigation Super Dragon counts as art.


You can see Mikko's especially strong on Science & Life Skills,
since he tells me he's going to be a Ninja Scientist.



Preview of What Will We Learn Today? at LaurenWayne.com

I've just put out a new ebook about our unschooling activities called What Will We Learn Today? — an ideabook of more than 550 quick and simple homeschooling activities. You can read a full description and excerpts here.

Right now What Will We Learn Today? is available exclusively through the Mindful Learning eBundle Sale: 6 natural-learning e-resources to encourage and inspire you and your children — all at an incredible 75% off the cover prices! Read more at my review post, or purchase the bundle NOW through my affiliate link.

HURRY: Today is the LAST DAY to get the bundle!




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19 comments:

Erika Price said...

Lovely fun images - and the very best way for kids to learn!

Abelle | The Wows! And Oops! Of Life said...

Looks fun! My 2-1/2 baby girl doesn't talk yet. Maybe we can do some of these stuff at home too ;o)

The Mad House of Cats and Babies said...

Lovely pictures. We are still looking at options for my son, for schooling. My daughter is doing well in school, and is happy, am not 100% sure how things will go with him. He starts a pre school nursery in September, 3 hours a day, we will see how he goes. I am still chuckling at the cat not graduating bit... :)

Masshole Mommy said...

Looks like they're having a blast!

Unknown said...

Congrats on your book. Your kids are adorable.

Create With Joy said...

Congrats on your book - sounds awesome!

Love the photos - esp your cat!

I have a great book series giveaway for middle school readers going on at Create With Joy that you might be interested in for your kids! :-)

Unknown said...

The Rosa Park's bus was extraordinary.

Danica said...

Isn't homeschooling the best?! Great breakdown of learning the unschooling way. :)

Ms POSH said...

I love that your kitty gets into it too :)

POSH

Karren Haller said...

I admire you for having the knowledge and patients to teach your kids at home. I enjoyed your photos they are neat. Hope you can stop by this week.

Momma Jorje said...

Unschooling... OMG you're doing it right! So glad I got the bundle! I look forward to reading your eBook.

Lauren Wayne said...

@Abelle | The Wows! And Oops! Of Life: Absolutely! Mikko was a late talker, but we had a good time doing activities even back then. Baby signing helped a lot, too!

Lauren Wayne said...

@The Mad House of Cats and Babies: Yup, one cat never did figure out how to get those darn treats out. :) The other one was super sly and figure out ways around the obstacles that weren't even in the guide! I was impressed.

It's definitely a kid-by-kid basis for choosing schooling and which kind. Hope you figure out what's best for him and that he enjoys his nursery! Mikko was miserable in his preschool (no one else was, just him), so it worked out well that we wanted to homeschool anyway. :)

Lauren Wayne said...

@Create With Joy: Thank you! I'll check out the giveaway. Always looking for new books! :)

Lauren Wayne said...

@Wendy S: Wasn't it, though? Gave me chills. I didn't even sit in her seat, because it felt sacred somehow … and then I looked over and my FIL was sprawled there, browsing through the pictures on his camera, lol. Oh, well!

Lauren Wayne said...

@Karren Haller: Oh, you know … sometimes I'm patient, lol. But it's a fun life!

Unknown said...

Great pics, great experience. The children don't know it now but these are " Precious Memories"

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