10 Ways to Learn {Without a Textbook}

When I was a kid we had a textbook for everything.  Grammar, reading, math, science, etc., even in first grade.

But when I taught in our local schools, we had only a math book and a curriculum.  I was on my own to teach everything else – and that’s when I realized just how many fun ways there are to learn the simplest information.

My absolute favorites, though, are when you leave the classroom – or the dining room table – behind and go out into the ‘real world’ to get your hands into the subject matter.  Fortunately, there are many places that are welcoming to homeschoolers – and to children in general – and will go above and beyond to share with them.

**While I do love all of these options, we enrich as many of them as possible with books.  Not textbooks, but storybooks.  Non-fiction books.  Also documentaries, Youtube videos, websites, and the like, mostly because these amazing community members get the kids so fired up that they can’t wait to find out more.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Classes offered by special-interest clubs, extension services, and community organizations.  My Big Helper is taking a beekeeping class right now, and it’s intense!  She’s learning a great deal about honeybees and their care, as well as  the environment.  With a college lecture-style format, she’s been busy taking and reviewing her notes, researching related topics online, and preparing to receive her bees.  It’s been a fantastic opportunity – and not one that could be simulated with a textbook.
2. Library programs.  Libraries often offer really neat classes, and they bring in cool experts.  Check out what your library has to offer, and don’t be afraid to make suggestions.
3. Restaurant owners.  Many restaurant owners, especially those of smaller, local businesses, are happy to share their expertise with you.  It may mean coming in at an odd hour to suit their schedule, but the wealth of information they have to share is well worth it.
4. Small business owners.  These people have a vested interest in the community and in your children.  They want them to succeed and do well, and they want you to have a good opinion of their product.  Most are happy for the chance to tell you exactly what makes their product or services so special, and in the process, your child can learn about research, development, marketing, and the work ethic behind running your own business.
5. Museums.  Many museums run special programs just for kids, and these often allow them to get their hands dirty, so to speak.
6. Historical sites.  This is one of my favorites.  Historians love their craft and usually love to share it.  They’ve got all the awesome info about how people used to live – all the nitty-gritty details that make history so exciting – and aren’t usually found in textbooks.  They can give you the skinny on what mealtime might’ve smelled like when nobody had showered for 10 months and deodorant wasn’t invented yet.  They can teach you to make brooms and candles and milk a cow.  Fun stuff!
7. Sporting arenas.  You might think that a baseball game is just that, but sports are big business, and it takes a lot of people – and a lot of work – to pull off these big events.  Touring these spaces and speaking with representatives can teach you about the business behind what you might see on TV – and sometimes they have curriculum information to share, as well.
8. Authors, artists, and other experts.  These people are professionals, and they know about a specific thing that many others don’t.  Having them share is invaluable and inspiring.
9. Parks.  Local, state, and national parks offer some really great programs.  There is one near us that has orienteering classes each summer, as well as survival, wildlife identification, canoeing, and crafting classes each summer, and for a very nominal fee.  Check around and see what might be offered in your own area. *I also read this morning that President Obama is giving all fourth-graders a free pass to all of our national parks for the next school year!  Be sure to check that out in the coming months – it’s not quite live yet.
10. What would you add?

For more ideas, check out the Creative Learning tab above.