With the arrival of cold weather and rain, many people head indoors. However, autumn provides a perfect opportunity for learning and fun at the park. Here’s how you can turn a visit to the park into an educational experience covering most school subjects:

1. Spelling/Vocabulary:

Create a spelling list utilizing things you expect to find at your park like slide, tree, leaf, pond, and duck or more difficult words like adaptation, camouflage, conifer, and deciduous. Look up definitions for each word and then go find an example of each in the park.

2. Grammar/Writing:

Write a letter to a grandparent telling about your visit to the park or write a story that takes place in your park. Sharpen your grammar and proofreading skills while editing your rough draft.

3. Math:

Draw a map of your park to scale. Collect acorns, measure their circumference, draw a graph with your data, and determine the average circumference of an acorn.

4. Science:

Choose a tree, shrub, plant, or animal that you saw in the park and research its common and scientific name, how it reproduces, what it needs for survival, etc.

5. History:

Research the history of your park. Who designed it? When was it created? Where did it get its name? Have any significant events occurred in the park?

6. Art:

Sketch or paint something in the park. Younger children can collect leaves to be used in an art project at home.

7. Foreign Language:

Learn the names of various things you see in your park in your language of choice.

8. Occupational Education:

Read about various occupations affiliated with parks such as park rangers, professional grounds management, and park planners.

9. Music Appreciation:

Listen to music inspired by the season such as George Winston’s Autumn.

10. PE:

Take a long walk along a trail, play catch, start a game of tag, or enjoy the playground.

Next time the rain stops, consider bundling up and heading to the park for a fun and educational experience that your kids are sure to love.

JoAnn believes visiting the park a great distraction to traditional homeschooling. She blogs their many adventures at Homeschool Distractions.