Real Life Social Studies

History, Geography, Government, Civics, Economics, Sociology, and Psychology are so much a part of our daily life.

Here are some real life ways to learn about social studies:

• Watch TV documentaries and DVDs.
• Play Internet and board games.
• Visit tourist sites.
• Use maps.
• Read magazines.
• Church Bible lessons and sermons.
• Go on a short-term mission trip.
• Host an exchange student.
• Attend town council meetings.
• Work on election campaigns.
• Visit Senate and House of Representatives while in session.
• Watch the news on TV.
• Read about current events in a newspaper of online.
• Chat online with people in other countries.
• Talk with an older relative about his life.
• Read historical fiction and biographies.
• Learn about a historical time period or event.
• Be involved in historical reenactments or renaissance fairs.
• Listen to daily radio shows.
• Learn about genealogy.
• Volunteer for a non-profit organization.
• Start a charity or ministry.
• Volunteer at church.
• Baby-sit.
• Travel

Field Trip Ideas: Children's Museum, field trip tours at universities, radio station, TV station, airport, ethnic food stores and restaurants, art gallery, police station, fire station, nursing homes, children's hospitals, 911 dispatch center, newspaper, hospital, bank, natural history museum, local missions, tour homeless shelter or food pantry, ride public transportation, the workplace of a homeschooling parent, behind the scenes at a church, local arts and craft fair, bus stations, train stations, native American cultural center, historical village, and the national guard armory.

Real Life Science

It is surprising how much science we learn about everyday. I've noticed that my kids have a natural desire to learn about science, especially if it is hands-on.

Here are some real life ways to learn science:

• Watch DVDs about science.
• Go to a hand's on science museum.
  
• Watch science shows and documentaries on TV.
• Have science related hobbies like: electronic kits, rocketry, chemistry labs, science experiments, gardening, pets, solar projects, nature, and horticulture.
• Join science and naturalist clubs.
• Go to science camp.
• Build projects that are science related.
• Fix broken electronic items.
• Invent
• Read science magazines.
• Read about science and scientists for fun.
• Research about something you are interested in on the Internet.
• Play online and board games that involve science.
• Enter science fairs and competitions.
• Go on nature walks and use field guides.
• Join 4-H, FFA, or Scouts.
• Volunteer or get a part-time job in a scientific field.
• Improve your nutrition.
• Audit a college science class.

Learn about science on field trips: planetarium, aquarium, hands-on science museum, botanical gardens, tour a nature preserve, hospital lab, scientific tour at a university, farm, nursery, orchard, arboretums, landfill, taxidermy shop, zoo, glass factory, bread factory, conservatory, Christmas tree farm, potato chip factory, dairy farm, electrical power plant, waste management and recycling center, worm farm, animal shelter, weather center, fish and wildlife area, Coast Guard station, water district, local mine, nature trail, duck pond, cheese factory, cabinet makers, the workplace of a homeschooling parent, tour a pet store, fish farm, dam, science camp, summer college day camp, cave tour, and lawn and garden show.

Real Life Math

My kids do math workbooks, but we don't go overboard with the thick textbooks. I let them do the assignments at their own pace. They keep up with the lessons, because they want to get ahead in Math. I don't want them to dislike math. It's such an important and necessary part of life.

Here are some real life ways to learn math:

• Compare prices and figure out the sale price.
• Personal and family budgeting.
• Calculate for a building project.
• Figure out distances and gas mileage while driving.
• Plan and set up a garden.
• Measure for cooking and double recipes for baking.
• Use a bank account.
• Invest money.
  
• Hobby - sport statistics.
• Be treasure for a club.
• Bookkeeping for a home business.
• Read charts.
• Learn computer programming.
  
• Do math game websites.
• Play math board games.
• Get a book to learn mental math.
• Join a rocketry or math club.
• Read magazines - Zillions or Consumer Reports.
• Use math for planning a trip and while traveling.

Real Life Spelling

I noticed that I was getting frustrated with the Spelling lists that my kids were using. They consisted of words that people seldom ever write. In real life, if we don't know how to spell a "big" word, then the computer spell checker catches it. I'm not saying that spelling isn't important. I still correct my kids spelling when they write and suggest that they write certain words down in their "Spelling Notebooks". We also have to keep in mind that "big words" will be on an SAT test.

Here are some real life ways for kids and adults to improve their spelling:

• Turn the spell checker on.
• Read a lot and pay attention to how words are spelled.
• Write misspelled and difficult words in a Spelling journal.
• Play word games.
• Copy poems, songs, and pages of books.
• Write a lot: letters, e-mails, stories, and articles.

Real Life Writing

• Read a lot and pay attention to how good authors write.
• Keep a journal
• Write thank you notes, letters, and e-mails to family and friends.
• Make a newsletter and distribute it through the Internet.
• Write letters to the editor, politicians, and businesses.
• Write articles for your own website.
• Write a blog.
  
• Write stories and essays for contests.
• Write a book or novel.
• Write articles for non-profit websites.
• Write stories to be published on a writing website.
• Write articles and submit them to magazines.
• Take a writing workshop and go to a writing conference.
• Read writing magazines.
• Read creative writing books.
  
• Join a writers critique group.
• Play online games that involve writing.
• Copy work - write pages from a well written book.