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“Homeschooling has been a great fit for us and has allowed our kids to explore their passions in a learner-centered environment at home. As they’ve gotten older, they are each looking for more community and academic interaction through their learning.”
-Quote from Prisma family
What does it mean to be a “homeschooler”? For many people, that word conjures up an image of siblings sitting around a kitchen table, while a parent (likely a mom) teaches traditional academic subjects to them from a workbook. This stereotypical image also comes with stereotypical assumptions: that homeschooled kids lack socialization, that homeschool parents want to overly shelter their children, that homeschool learners won’t be prepared academically for high school or college.
Twenty years ago, this stereotype might have held some truth. However, with today's technological advancements (spurred on by the pandemic that led many families to explore new educational methods) homeschooling has never been more common, or more diverse.
The “homeschooling” families we meet at Prisma may do any combination of the following:
Whatever form your homeschooling takes, you might be looking for additional homeschool activities to add your arsenal. Plus, one of the most fun parts of being a homeschool parent is creating fun learning opportunities for your kiddos! In the rest of this post, we’ll list some of our favorite at-home activities from the Prisma curriculum and the best homeschool resources on the Internet.
Create a classic volcano with baking soda and vinegar, make slime, or try another experiment. There are many simple and fun hands-on experiments you can do with household items. We recommend aligning your experiments to what your child is learning in science at this point in the school year. So, instead of searching Google for “at-home science experiments” only, add the topic at the end: “at-home experiments to teach erosion.”
Use cooking as a fun way to teach measurements, chemical reactions (like we did in the Prisma theme Food Lab), and even history by cooking dishes from different cultures (like we did in the Prisma theme United Nations). Or, simply to teach a useful life skill! Tons of kid-friendly recipes can be found on Pinterest, or, try following a video tutorial. This is a popular cookbook for kids available on Amazon.
Choose a book and read aloud together. Don’t think this is just for younger children! Discuss the plot, characters, and themes. With older kids, we find the best books to read aloud are ones that are told from the perspectives of multiple characters. Each reader can choose a character, and always read when the story switches to that character’s perspective. You might also try reading plays out loud, each taking on a character.
Start a story chain where one person begins a story, and each person adds on, or try writing poems or short stories. Prisma learners have loved writing prompts like: write a poem about what you can see in your backyard, write “fan faction” about a favorite story or character, or write a critical review of a new video game. Find more ideas in our guide to writing prompts for middle schoolers.
Use recyclables or household items to create art. For instance, create a collage of cut-out magazine pictures that represent a specific theme or topic. Or, try an “Upcycling” project like Prisma learners did in our Remix theme. They redesigned an old, broken, or no longer used object into an item with a totally new purpose. We also love using the Instructables website for easy-to-follow crafts and design projects.
Tackle a challenging jigsaw puzzle. This helps with concentration, patience, and spatial reasoning. Or, play educational board games that foster learning, like Scrabble (spelling), Wingspan (biology), or Oceans (ecosystems). You can also have your learner design their own board games! Here’s a guide from PBS.
Create an escape room challenge with educational puzzles and clues. This can be tailored to what your children are learning. Here’s a more detailed guide to pulling this off!
Research a historical event and reenact it. This can be as simple as a conversation between historical figures or as complex as a mini-play. In our Hidden Histories theme, learners researched either the American Revolution, Civil War, or Great Depression, and then either wrote a play, made a portrait gallery, or designed a new monument to represent a lesser-known story from that era.
Use blankets and furniture to build a reading or activity fort, then learn inside it. Everything is more fun in a fort! Or, use Lego, clay, or other building tools to build creations based on what you are learning. Prisma learners have designed their own cities & buildings as part of our Cities of the Future theme. Check out the PBS Design Squad website for some of our favorite building prompts.
This traditional Japanese art of paper folding can teach geometry, precision, and patience. Here are some great guides to learning origami with homeschool students at home.
Watch educational documentaries on topics of interest. Discuss and analyze afterward. Many documentaries have educational materials available online to use to help guide your discussion. Common Sense Media is a great resource for finding lists of high quality documentaries that are appropriate for your children’s ages.
Learn about constellations and planets. If you have a telescope, set it up, or use apps to stargaze from inside. Apps like Star Walk Kids can also let you know when there might be exciting celestial events like eclipses to plan your curriculum around.
Getting outside and learning about plants is great for science, physical education, and mental health! Try this Garden Scavenger Hunt free printable from Homeschool of 1, or try doing science experiments involving plants. In our Food Lab theme, learners experimented with corn seeds, seeing how many sprouted using various germination techniques and placements.
Most homeschooling families strive for a balance in the homeschool day between old-fashioned pen and paper curriculum, online activities, and outdoor, hands-on education. Although they happen on a screen, online learning experiences can be incredibly interactive, personalized, and enriching.
Since Prisma is an online school, we’ve become experts in the best fun activities available online. Here’s a small taste of what Prisma learners have loved doing most:
By integrating these community-based activities into your homeschooling curriculum, learners can have a holistic education, combining academic learning with real-world experiences and essential social skills:
Want to learn more about how Prisma can empower your child to thrive?
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