As part of the How We Homeschool series, I reach out to families who roadschool. Yvie Field, amazing mom behind Homeschool on the Range, and her family find roadschooling has enriched their children’s education in ways they hadn’t expected. Kids gain abilities and a sense of confidence on the road, while also making math, reading and writing and all the expected subjects more interesting.
Incorporating Geography into Roadschooling
For six years, our family roadschooled, which means that we traveled throughout the year, focusing on studies on the opportunities we meet each week. As a contractor, hubby’s job took him all across the USA, and we got to jump on the train (well, RV) with him and take the journey as a family!
The beauty of roadschooling is having the opportunity to immerse yourself in different places and cultures…and all the amazing field trips! That doesn’t mean that we neglected basic studies….math, language arts, science, social studies, copy work, physical education. What it means is that we took advantage of our location to emphasize certain studies at certain times – when they would make the most lasting impression.
Why travel?
When students have the opportunity to visit different places – rural, suburban, and urban – it helps them to better understand the nuances of the world around them. This includes the people and culture but also the landscapes. How better for urban students to explore geographic features, landmarks, and ecosystems than by actually visiting them?
Rural students can get a better feel for the frenetic pace of an urban area by visiting and living within city limits for a while. This cross-cultural knowledge will help them to become better citizens and leaders in the future, as they apply their experiences to decision making.
Take a Virtual Trip!
There are so many different ways to infuse geography into your roadschooling adventure! Here are just a few of our favorite virtual roadschool trips that will inspire you to get started on your own journey…
- Combining both geography and history, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, Vermont focuses on the historical role that this area played in two wars, as well as general maritime history.
- We headed south to explore the bayous of Louisiana, including the local culture of the Acadians!
- Downtown Seattle offers up a culture of its own, iconic landmarks, and some very unique tours…
- Visiting the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area allowed us to step back in time and into a completely different culture!
Getting StarteD Roadschooling
Not everyone has the opportunity to travel full-time, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn a one week family vacation into a bit of fun-school! COVID is going to end someday, and life will return to a new normal.
I would encourage you to sit down with your family….start daydreaming about places that you’ve always wanted to visit…make a list of realistic and dream places. Choose one location from each list and start researching it – actually plan your trip! Two things will happen here. First, you’ll have your ducks in a row for when you’re able to actually make the trip. Second, you’ll be surprised at just how much you learn during the research!
Tips to Help You Begin Your Journey
Think outside the box. When asked, most children aren’t going to list architecture at the top of their ‘coolest things’ list. But after seeing such unique architectural styles, visiting places like the Biltmore House, Overholser Mansion, and Cornwall Iron Furnace might change that!
Plan ahead. Scout websites, including the city’s municipal site, to learn about the area you’re visiting – check for museums, events, festivals, factory tours, and anything relevant to that specific location. Site-specific websites will often have free educational resources to help guide your field trip.
Relax. We school through the summer, on the weekends, at midnight…pretty much whenever we want. We get more than the required days in, and that’s fine. We have a lot of field trip days, too. Want to know which style helps the kids learn and retain the most? Life experiences, of course!
Yvie is a veteran homeschooling mom and the high school counselor for Sparks Academy, a non-profit organization. She helps to create unit studies and enjoys helping other families on their homeschool journey. When not teaching or counseling, she enjoys reading, spending time in her garden, and traveling the country with her boys. You can find her at Homeschool On the Range, on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest
