Day 5 - Hands on Projects

When ever I consider hands on projects these days I always seem to think twice as it feels like so much work to do for one child.  I find it a challenge homeschooling an only as it was never really an issue when homeschooling my first two. One of the biggest influences in this area is my own personal learning style. I am a textbook read it kind of person.  I don't need to do in order to learn I get just as much satisfaction watching someone else do a science experiment than doing it myself. Sir N on the other hand loves to do. Monday's topic of Delight Directed education has inspired me to look at doing more Hands-on learning with Sir N in our homeschooling.

Things to consider

• The activity needs to be appealing to your student
• Engage the mind
• Consider your students learning style.
• Base the activity on an idea that will encourage the student to ask questions and grow from the experience.
• Needs to enlarge the students understanding

Chinese Proverb

Benefits of hands on learning

• The student is able to be an active participant in their learning.
• Hands-on learning does not look like or feel like school so it encourages reluctant learners to participate in learning.
• Encourages creativity
• Produces a sense of accomplishment in your student.
• Helps to reinforce a concept.

Ideas for Hands-on Learning

• Explore Pinterest
• Participate in field trips. Amy has some great ideas over at Bow of Bronze about this.
• Use Lapbooking & Notebooking 
• Play games, create games, puzzles
• YouTube
• Incorporate your kitchen in learning
• Craft activity
• Mapping activity
• Re-enact (Dress Ups), Puppet shows, make a YouTube clip
• Language Arts - Poetry, essay,
• Explore the local Museums, Science Museums, Public Library, Farms etc

Source:

On the www

• Pinterest is an unending font of ideas. A word of caution here: Don't become paralyzed with so much choice you don't do anything.
• How Pinterest can Ruin your Homeschool over at Jimmie's Collage.
• Hands-on Shakespeare by Jimmie on Squidoo
• Top 6 Reasons to Use Hands-on Projects  by Jimmie on Squidoo
• Hands-on Projects A-Z over at Heart of the Matter
• Websites with Hands on Lessons & Games by Teddi14 on Squidoo
• Fun, FREE Hands-on Unit Studies by iijuan12 on Squidoo
• Hands-on Learning eBook over at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
• Am I a Bad Homeschool Mom if I don't use Hands-on Projects ?by Jimmie over at Jimmie's Collage
• Hands-on Learning for Homeschoolers by Julie Knapp over at Homeschool Dinner 

Some of our Hands on Learning projects

• Paper Snowflakes  
• Snow Globes  
• Peg frogs & Finger Firefighters 
• Field Trips - {38}
• Geography Unit Studies

What are your favourite hands on learning projects ?

Blessings
Chareen

5 Days of Teaching Creatively

Day 5

1. Delight Directed Instruction
2. Schooling in the Kitchen
3. Toy's, Games & Puzzles
4. Homeschooling in a Crisis
5. Hands on Projects

Don't forget to enter the Teaching Creatively Giveaway.  Pop on over to Ben and Me to enter in order to win one of three prize packs. (1st prize $525 value, 2nd prize $225 value and 3rd prize $190 value)

Hands on Learning graphic courtesy of David Castilo Dominici

To read about more ideas on Hands on Projects have a look at what these ladies are saying.