It’s hard homeschooling in spring with spring fever! That magical time of year when the flowers bloom, the birds sing, and homeschool parents everywhere start to twitch at the want for more seasonal kids’ activities outside while balancing the need to finish algebra and assessments. We have six homeschool tips to help, especially if you’re wondering, How do I keep the motivation for kids to finish lessons instead playing outside all day when the weather turns nice?
From Daffodils to Decimal Drills: Navigating Homeschool in Spring Without Losing Your Chill
The Epidemic of Enthusiasm: Spring Fever and Its Symptoms of Spontaneous Joy
It’s that magical time of year when worksheets flutter in the spring breeze like lost butterflies, and history lessons compete with the epic tales of migrating birds.
As spring unfurls its green fingers and daffodils start winking at us from the garden, we homeschoolers face a conundrum that’s as perplexing as a teenager’s mood swings:
How to keep our focus amidst the seductive call of the great outdoors and the relentless march of decimal drills as year-end creeps closer?
Spring Outdoor Learning Adventures vs. Indoor Education Escapades: 6 Creative Learning Ideas For This Homeschooling Season Showdown
Here you are, trying to teach fractions, but all they want to do is frolic in nature’s splendor.
(Honestly? Valid.)
The solution? Combine the two!
Math in the garden, anyone? Who said you can’t measure the perimeter of a flowerbed, add up the number of leaves, or calculate the velocity of a swing?
(Imma leave that last one to you. Get back to me.)
Or, what about literature and landscapes? Yes, please!
Get creative and let the great outdoors be your classroom. (Cliche, but true. Plus, you get to shake all those pesky winter germs off of everyone. Gross.)
Try these pro homeschooler tips:
1. Math Meets Mother Nature: Set up a treasure hunt where each clue involves solving a math problem that leads to the next location. Use your backyard or a nearby park, incorporating natural elements like trees, rocks, and streams into the equations. For example, calculate the distance between two trees, add or multiple trees in a certain area versus another area, or figure out the angle of a rock slope or hill. This turns abstract math concepts into tangible, interactive outdoor experiences.
2. Science on the Go: Create a mobile science lab with simple, portable equipment (magnifying glass, notebook, pencil, tweezers, and sample containers / envelopes) for exploring the outdoors. Assign projects like observing different types of plants, insects, or drawing cloud formations. Encourage your kids to sketch and note their observations, fostering scientific skills like detailed observation, classification, and hypothesizing about the natural world around them.
3. Literature and Landscapes: Take story time outside by reading books in an environment similar to the setting of the story. For example, if you’re reading a book about forest adventures, find a wooded area to immerse yourselves in the story’s setting. Discuss the book’s themes and how the physical setting impacts the story’s mood and characters. Act out what you’ve read. This activity can help deepen comprehension and analytical thinking and help bring to life what you’re reading.
4. History Hunt: Organize an outdoor historical scavenger hunt. Each clue or task can relate to a different historical event or figure. For example, “Find a plant that was crucial to the local indigenous people’s diet,” or “Sit by the river and imagine you’re a trader in the 1800s. What goods might you be trading?” This encourages kids to connect with history in a physical space, making it more engaging and memorable.
5. Art in the Open Air: Encourage your kids to create art inspired by their surroundings. This could be landscape painting, nature photography, or creating sculptures with natural objects they found. This not only cultivates their artistic skills but also teaches them to appreciate and observe the beauty in nature. Discuss the different colors, textures, and patterns they see, and how these elements can be represented or abstracted in art.
PRO HOMESCHOOL TIP: Try making dandelion paint! It was one of our most fun outdoor learning activities ever! We’ll definitely be doing that again! You know what they say: When life gives you dandelions, make dandelion paint. (Ok, “they” totally don’t say that, but I’m printing it on a t-shirt anyway…)
If you’re feeling really inspired, create your own outdoor classroom or nature learning space with these tips.
6. The Field Day Frenzy!
Who says homeschool P.E. can’t be an all-day event?
(Ain’t nobody the boss of you!)
Declare a surprise field day and get those youngins’ hearts pumping with a blend of educational races to get you out in that spring air but still keep the creative learning flowing.
You can do things, like “The Great Historical Figure Relay” or “Multiplication Obstacle Course” of “Social Study Scavenger Hunt.”
(It’s fitness, it’s fun, and hey, it’s learning! Yes, these things count as homeschooling, too!)
The key to moving forward during this time of year is to sprinkle a little bit of what they love among all those must-dos.
A dash of fun, a pinch of adventure, and voilà! You’ve got a recipe for spring motivation.
PRO HOMESCHOOLING TIP: Slay those science credits by learning about spring equinox and have a spring equinox celebration with kids!
Also keep in mind…
Spring Illnesses: Because Life Isn’t Fun Without a Challenge
Spring weather is iffy and you never know what you’re going to get, but there’s a good chance with all the changes it just might be a cold.
When one of your little scholars goes down for the count, it’s time to adjust those lesson plans faster than you can say “achoo!”
REMEMBER: in homeschooling, flexibility is your best friend… even when you’re trying to race toward that end-of-year finish line.
Maybe today’s lesson is about the history of medicine or listening to a fun kids’ podcast about science behind sneezes and colds.
Or, maybe today is just a sick day (or sick week). Remember, a day (or week) off won’t derail your homeschooling train.
Think of it more like a scenic detour through Snifflesville.
Next School Year Planning: Because Who Needs a Break, Right?
If you’re like me, the Siren Song Of Shiny is strong is spring and you’re looking so far ahead to new, fun lessons that you forget that your current lessons are drifting out to sea.
(Guilty? I see you. Me, too!)
Choosing homeschool curricula, eyeing new online courses and homeschooling resources, and buying school supplies can feel like preparing for an exciting expedition, but it can also distract us from what needs to get done right now.
(I’m pointing those fingers at you, self.)
But here’s a secret: it’s okay not to have everything figured for next year right now (and more importantly, not to follow that Siren Of Shiny too early!).
Take a deep breath and maybe, just maybe, set aside some time to actually enjoy the spring and winding down this year without jumping ahead with next year’s planning.
Wrap up this year with a pretty bow first.
NEED MORE SPRING HOMESCHOOL INSPIRATION? CHECK OUT:
- Fun Kid Activities For March (March Lesson Plans and March Themes)
- Fun April Event Ideas and Spring Activity Calendar for Kids
- May Month Activities For Kids And Spring Activity Calendar Holidays
Let me know how your spring homeschooling is going!
