Easy Unschooling Activity for Your Emerging Reader
Original Title: Oh The Places You’ll Go/ Limitless Learning
Originally PUBLISHED ON October 13, 2016, Simplewithatwistblog.com
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This is one of the simplest ways to help your young reader learn.
Keep reading for how this one exercise can be used to engage the interest of your older children as well.
Learning how to read opens up one’s eyes to all the world.
Quite literally in this case.
As a result of my son’s newfound reading ability, we stumbled into a fun activity that turned into an interactive, educational expedition around the world (while at home). Let me tell you all about it.
(Think: “If You Give a Mouse A Cookie” Storybook by Laura Numeroff)
My son began reading the “made in” labels on the back of his toys— because he could. (Cool! Sparks). That led to reading the labels of his stuffed animals (more sparks), then his clothes (more sparks).
OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO WITH THIS ONE ACTIVITY
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Most of the labels read “Made in China”. This prompted questions like, “Why is everything made in China?!”, “Why isn’t anything made in the USA?”
(I smell smoke).
Good questions son.
(Time for Mama to fan the flame.)
I answered his questions and made a few suggestions that involved competition and counting. (Remember, I’m the fanner of the flames.)
“Let’s make a chart. How many things can you find that are made in the USA?”
“Let’s locate the places you find on the map.”
He began to expand his search around our home for “made in” labels. (Even his little brother got in on it.) They found places all over the globe. It was eye-opening to find things from Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, India, El Salvador, Vietnam, Philippines… from clothes to shampoo bottles, we were living internationally without having stepped outside. (He found 3 “Made in USA” labels and 20+ international labels in our home.)
Of course that led us to locate each place on the globe,
then to write down and tally our findings,
which led to a comparison chart,
which has the potential to lead to probability and percentages,
And categorizing the items found by how they are used or according to materials,
Or
You may look into the manufacturing process: the steps it takes to get into an American store.
You can also learn the number of languages in each country, a day in the life, their money system, and gross national product.
The opportunities for education and exploration are endless. It’s what I call a “limitless learning” opportunity because it has no end.
I wasn’t fully aware of it at the time but from that one activity, we covered reading, geography, math, economy, manufacturing, mass production, social studies, research, and statistics.
Not bad for a day’s work. This was a Saturday by the way!
There are still more places to go with this activity for beginner readers testing their skills to teens interested in global economics.
That’s what a child’s interest or sparks does, it takes them places.
As a homeschool mom, I’m so glad I get to be the tour guide & (fanner of the flame.)
Where has your child’s curiosity taken him or her?
What limitless learning experience did you encounter that was sparked by an interest?
-Altesa
Easy Unschooling Activity Quick View.
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