What do you think of this?

[Casha'sMommy]

We live near a living museum and I was wondering what you all think of following their kids schedule of events as a sort of pre-k/k curriculum?
A link to the schedule http://www.connerprairie.org/Learn-A...rie-Tykes.aspx
It would give us a minimum of two "field trips" per month, with our membership we can do other things at no additional cost, it's close to home, and I'm thinking we'll find some other hs families there. I thought I'd supplement the field trip with books and other learning materials and games and such at home in between each visit.
For example, later this month they're doing a day about apples. I thought I'd get a Johnny Appleseed book, make some applesauce and apple pie, save some seeds and draw some pictures for a lapbook. What do you think?

I'm new to hs'ing and am feeling less than confident lately and was thinking this might be good practice for me so maybe next year I'll need a little less help this time of year.

TIA for your input.

[kgianforti]

That would be awesome! Our museum had all sorts of cool summer classes but is 45 minutes away, so we didn't do any. I think your plan sounds sooo cool!

[deditus]

That's a great idea! Have fun!

[Casha'sMommy]

I know it's just prek/kindy so it's nothing to sweat over but I'm still feeling a little nervous about things. I need a helpful nudge so I thought maybe the place I mentioned in the op would be a good way to begin this journey.
Thanks for your enthusiam.

[zebra15]

That looks great, DS loved little things like that when he was preschool age... enjoy those days and I so miss living somewhere that actually has 'fall' season

[moongazer]

I think that sounds wonderful! You are so lucky to live close to a place like that! You might even want to think about volunteering there. We volunteered at a living history farm when my oldest was in Kindy. It was great. We got to wear the 1880s clothes, do all the chores, and even use the outhouse (his favorite part--LOL). He learned SO much and we had a great time.
Hope you have a wonderful year!

[Mizelenius]

We went there on a trip! Sounds great!

I will say, that when your child is older, you will look back and wonder why you ever felt pressure to have any sort of learning goals or even curriculum for a young child. Did you when your child was a baby? Probably not, because you saw that your child was ALL ABOUT learning. That is what children are born to do: learn (and love). In other words, just enjoy this time. Enjoying your child means being present . . .and there is no better "gift" than that. As my friend says, when children are that young, it isn't homeschooling . . .it's parenting.

However, something I think is beneficial is having a rhythm or some sort of structure. It helps that whole problem (well, luxury) of, "What are we going to do today?" It sounds like CP will be a great place to go to regularly! You are so lucky to have that AMAZING children's museum nearby, too. We live near Chicago by several children's museums, and nothing can compare to the one by you. I envision many fun trips this year for you!!

[luv-my-boys]

I think thats a great idea!

[Casha'sMommy]

We play all day, all the time. It's all we do. We have lots of days when we decide that morning what we'll do that day. However, dd is getting increasingly bored. I'm seeing some negative behaviors I've never seen before. YIKES! I think she may be ready for "more", whatever that is, so I thought CP would be a good place to start. I'd planned to set up something like a workbox system with things to do relating to an up-coming or recent trip and dd would be choosing which activities to do or not do. I'm simply planning to provide the ideas and materials in boxes/cubbies/whatever and dd will do all the deciding.
Additionally, I'd like the practice for what the coming years will bring. I'm not trying to do pencil and paper work or anything like that. I'm truly hoping to get dd ready for what school actually will be in a few years. My plan is to get her accustomed to what a workbox system is and how to use it so that when she needs to work more independently we won't have to deal with a learning curve. I imagine the cubbies containing things like clay and sculpting tools, yarn and lacing cards, pasta and yarn, scissors and paper, glue and shapes, etc, etc. The most formal thing I'm thinking of doing is lapbooks. I think she'll really enjoy making them as she loves to cut and paste, loves to draw, and tell stories.

Sorry if this isn't a very cohesive post. I've been back and forth to a few different things while trying to post.

[CherryBomb]

Sounds great! I haven't been to conner prairie in forever, I think I'll take the kids later in the month! (I just realized I've never taken them! Geesh!)

[Casha'sMommy]

I've never taken mine either.
We used to spend quite a lot of time at the children's museum with older dc but 4yo dd has a hard time with the noise level there so we don't go there anymore.
dd and I looked at some pics and videos on the conner prairie website and she was really excited. I'm thinking this will be good for her.