Homeschooling and the holidays

November 15, 12:54 AMRaleigh Homeschooling ExaminerStacey Cotrufo

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The Thanksgiving feast and its preparation can be a great learning experience for the whole family!

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With Thanksgiving just about two weeks away and Christmas right around the corner, many homeschool moms worry about getting their school work done while prepping for the holidays.  What ends up happening is that many a home school "shut down" for the holiday season for an extended break.  But this does not have to be the case.

By including your children in the holiday preparations, many things can be turned in to a school lesson.  For example, baking your favorite cookies, cakes and pies for Thanksgiving can turn in to a lesson not only in home economics but also math!  That's right, with all of the measuring and formulas of baking, you have the ability to teach a rather thorough math lesson.  Health and nutrition can be covered as you plan out your special holiday meal.  What's in a Cornucopia?  What is it's origin?  House cleaning and cooking of the holiday meal again is not only a home economic lesson, but a wonderful time to talk about family traditions, how they get started and even trail back to the first Thanksgiving and what we have taken and learned from the Pilgrims.

All holidays have to start somewhere and while you are writing your shopping lists, your kids can be researching the history of Thanksgiving.  Younger children, after learning about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, can take on a fun arts and crafts activity of contributing to the decorating of your home using lessons learned.  Going out and collecting brightly colored leaves or pine cones can also turn in to a great science experience as your kids learn about why leaves change colors and fall from the trees each year and figuring out where pine cones come from and what their purpose is!

Teaching doesn't have to stop just because you are not following your traditional teaching schedule with your children at home.  Every activity that you do in your home is a teaching and learning opportunity.  Holidays offer us fresh material at at time when we may be ready for a break from the usual and also give us an excuse to eat some tasty "school" projects!