"Homeschooling"-type question (kind of)............

[Windy Mountain]

Hi! I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question, so please let me know if it's the right forum.

I'm looking for books, references, websites about what homeschooling families study before going to WDW, if they go on a regular basis like we do (we're DVC members), to enhance the educational aspect of the experience. My oldest goes to Kindergarten, but we do some supplemental creative learning at home.

OK, if anybody knows of any references, could you please point me in the right direction? I'm not sure where to start.

Thank You,
Windy Mountain

 

[minnierocks]

Before we went to Disney the first time, we were homeschooling. We took our social studies time to do unit studies on each country that is represented in Epcot. I went to the library and got references, folklore or tales from that country, stories set in that country...
We enhanced that learning, by making foods from that country, learning about the types of games that children in that country play, what their schools are like, their family structure and made crafts that would represent something from that country.
We had a blast and I thought it made exploring those countries much more interesting for the kids (who were 8 and 10 at the time).

 

[Temair]

allears has a page that lists educational stuff at Disney. Its found here, http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/educ.htm

Hope you have fun.

 

[bless7ings]

Sorry to interupt this thread, but...

Minnie rocks, I am starting your thread on your magic keys to the kingdom trip and see that you are planning a trip in fall 2007. How do you plan a trip that can even compare to that? What are you planning?

 

[bless7ings]

We too homeschool and before we went in September of 2005 I did a lot of checking. These are some of the sites that we found. (it is a sticky)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=429399&page=8

There is also an Animal Kingdom Lodge guide you can down load about the animals at the AK. http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/resorts/aklguide.htm

 

[minnierocks]

Sorry to interupt this thread, but...

Minnie rocks, I am starting your thread on your magic keys to the kingdom trip and see that you are planning a trip in fall 2007. How do you plan a trip that can even compare to that? What are you planning?

LOL!!!
That was a once in a lifetime trip!
We aren't even going to try to compare...but we can't wait to go back!

Derick was the one that was really fired up about the idea of going back while the YOMD was still going on. We are going with DH's parents and sister for Thanksgiving...
This is definitely a budgeted trip though...POP Century and no dining plan!

Although both the kids asked if I thought that "anyone would recognize us?"
I told them, "Don't count on it...we are yesterday's news!"


Besides, being at WDW as mere mortals, is better than not being there at ALL!

 

[Windy Mountain]

Ohmygoodness, thank you so much for the references, everybody!

(I had forgotten about the question because I haven't figured out how to set it up so that disboards sends me a message to my home email address to let me know somebody has responded to my post! Gotta figure that out.)

I love all of your ideas. I'm going to try the Epcot ideas with the countries, and I'll jump over to that Animal Kingdom site, too, so we can learn about the animals. Even at Magic Kingdom last trip, I had wished we had talked about Tom Sawyer before we went, and the wild west, and that sort of thing. Also, I'm sad because I heard they've turned the Swiss Family Robinson tree house into Tarzan. I guess I'm too late for that Swiss Family Robinson classical American experience!!!

Our ds is only 5, anyway, and dd is only 2, so we'll keep it simple, but I do want to do some learning and fun enrichment before we go down in May, to enhance the trip.

Thanks so much for your ideas,

Windy Mountain

 

[princesspwrhr]

Also, I'm sad because I heard they've turned the Swiss Family Robinson tree house into Tarzan. I guess I'm too late for that Swiss Family Robinson classical American experience!!!

Only at Disneyland in CA. MK in WDW is still Swiss Family Robinson.

If you've got a long trip down, audio books are fabulous! Pick up Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn or Swiss Family Robinson, or stories from around the world. It's great becuase while mom or dad's voice may only have the stamina for 20-60 min you can play the CD several hours from one stop to the next. Or on the plane with a set of headphones and let your 5 yo color while he listens.

 

[Windy Mountain]

Yes, that's a great idea. We're planning to drive down this time, which we've never done before. So, I'd like to try the audio books. We have a DVD player in the van, too, so that will help.