Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Adventure

Written by the Rose Family

We are the Rose family and we have been homeschooling our children at TLC since they were both in Kindergarten. Our daughter is now in 5th grade and our son is in 2nd.  We enjoy homeschooling at TLC because of the flexibility and the great working relationship we have with our Educational Partner, Mrs. Jacobus.  We have been partnered with her for several years now and she is very supportive of our travel schedule, allowing us to schedule EP meetings and wrap up the learning periods even while we are on the road.   Recently, we took our learning to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Our daughter has been reading a book series called Campground Kids that she received from a fellow TLC classmate. It’s full of adventure that centers around the National Parks. She asked if we could go to the Grand Canyon and see some of the sights highlighted in one of the books.   We love traveling as a part of our homeschooling curriculum because it brings subjects to life and helps to fortify learning in our students' young minds. During this trip, we were able to bring the following subjects to life:

• Math & Financial Literacy: The planning and budgeting process that takes place beforehand provides critical math skills that they will need in the future.
   
• Life Science - (habitats animal behavior): One morning on a walk, we happened upon a large herd of female elk. My daughter commented that we should be careful because there was probably a male elk nearby. Sure enough, laying under a tree and watching over the females was a large male elk. Later that day, when we researched this, we found that the elk mating season is in the fall and you will often see male elk watching over a herd – they can be very aggressive during this time.
   
• Physical Science: The Grand Canyon is one of the best examples of weathering and erosion. The Colorado River in combination with rain, freezing and thawing have contributed to a variety of amazing rock formations.
   
• Earth Science: The Grand Canyon is one of the most visible landforms seen from space.
   
• Geography: Learning how to use maps to plan routes and understand directions.
   
• Social Studies: While on a walk, we stopped at an art exhibit and listened to Native American stories detailing the meaning of their artwork and pieces they designed.
   
• Media: We enjoy incorporating photo and video editing into our students' studies while on these trips.
   
• Language Arts: Upon returning home, the kids typically create a Google slide report for class.

One of the hands-on learning moments that stood out was the treetop ropes adventure course our children participated in. It incorporated practical skills such as problem-solving, technical skills, communication as well as locomotor skills for physical education. One of the most memorable moments of this homeschool trip was when we were eating breakfast in our trailer and two elk came right up to our door and started grazing on the grass. The kids loved it because they were able to see them incredibly close while still being safe.  It was one of the moments they still talk about. If another family is interested in learning outside of the classroom or home, I would suggest they ask each member of the family somewhere they would like to see or learn about. Pick the one that fits best logistically and go for it - it is something that the whole family can enjoy and breaks up the school routine. Most importantly, it provides lasting family memories!