School Note

[VroomVroomLightning]

Hi! We are taking our kiddos out of school for vacation in November and I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on what to include to make it "educational"? We have been trying to go on this trip for three years and we are so ready to go! I am looking for some fun ideas to include in our letter to the school to give it an educational "twist"!

 

[tinkerjo]

1.Well if you’re not from Florida you have a geography lesson
2. Physical education- tons of walking and swimming
3. Map reading. Gotta get those park maps
4. Diversity and Cultural education.
5. Time management.- gotta plan the perfect day
6. Culinary appreciation- eat around Epcot
7. Finance lesson- show the kids how saving and hard work pays off. Or give them a “budgeting class” with money to spend on souvenirs
I hope this is what your Looking for, just kinda a cute way to make it look educational? Have fun

 

[Carol_]

Physics of roller coasters
Chemistry of fireworks
History of Disney (HS: Walt Disney Presents)
Biology: ANIMAL KINGDOM
Math: All the bills and taxes, savings accounts and credit cards, and possibly the calculation of DVC points and maintenance fees
English: Writing cast compliments
Special Skills: opening the packaging around that Disney train, cooking scrambled eggs in your villa, swimming

That’s it. I’m homeschooling at WDW from now on. I’ve got myself convinced.

 

[DisneyOma]

You need to write a school note to show it's educational? Once they hear from the kid that it's Disney, doesn't that just kind of fly out the window?

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Depending on age of kids....Wilderness Explorer books at AK, Kidcot postcard collecting at Epcot, Epcot used to have a Seas sticker book scavenger hunt too. Remy or Holiday scavenger hunt at Epcot? We did the Flower and Garden one and it was informative about plants. You could visit the Fort Wilderness horse barn and talk to one of the cast members there about equine care. We homeschooled kindergarten last year and included our Epcot, AK, and Seaworld days as part of our lessons.

 

[jo-jo]

I haven't been since the CM have started coming back. But I've read of kids asking a CM in each country to write out their name in english and whatever the country's language is. Maybe beforehand have the kids make a book with 3 x 5 cards and a ring holding them together. Make a page with the country's name.

I'd explore the stores in each country and take a picture of child with some thing like the troll from Norway.

You could expand this as much as you want.....Germany is X thousand miles from Springdale AK. Japan is Y thousand miles.

Try a food or candy from each country.


MK Go to Hall of presidents. Take note of the display in the hallway.

Ak, spend 20 talking to a animal guide person. Have questions ready to go. Pick an animal, how much does a X eat, how tall will they grow, how long will they live.

HS, Check out one man's dream.

 

[DISfam2401]

Personally, I don't feel like you need to give your school note an educational twist. They see you're going to Disney and they get it. Our schools (Mass) have never had a problem with taking my kids out for a week through elementary school as long as I give plenty of notice and ask what the kids should do while they are missing school. Usually it's been something like reading every night (part of their schoolwork anyway) and keeping a journal while they're there. One year my daughter had some math sheets to complete which she did on the plane. But I'd say just be honest that it's a family vacation and they will understand. I think if you start trying to explain how it's educational, they'll just roll their eyes.

 

[greeneyedchick]

You need to write a school note to show it's educational? Once they hear from the kid that it's Disney, doesn't that just kind of fly out the window?

My kid's school takes the kids to Epcot and Animal Kingdom on field trips, so schools must think it's educational. My ither kid's school goes to Sea World and Busch Gardens (the physics class goes there). I have also homeschooled my kids and all of the things listed above are valid tings that you can learn in a real world environment. It's funny that people assume that if you're having fun, it must mean that you're not learning. The same thing for video games and YouTube. My kids learn a ton from Game Theory and Film Theory and playing MInecraft.

Although I will say, when I take my kids out of school for vacation (because I feel like the travel experience is much more enriching than what they're usually learning), I simply state that my child will not be in school on these dates due to travel. I don't explain where they are going or what they will be learning. I don't think the law requires that.

 

[tinkerjo]

I’m not 100% sure, but I thought the OP just wanted some cute ways to give the note an educational twist, not that the trip necessarily needed to be educational or that a note was required but just wanted to have some fun with it. I could be very wrong though.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

You are right! I like to be creative and fun with things and the school already knows we are going but I have to submit a letter for formality reasons and I want it to be fun when they read it!

 

[jo-jo]

Wasn't there a big deal about 4 years ago about schools not "letting" you take your child and having you heading to court?

Has that changed? My kids are in their 40s, so waaaayyyyy out of the loop.

 

[lanejudy]

Wasn't there a big deal about 4 years ago about schools not "letting" you take your child and having you heading to court?

It depends on the state - I think it may be TX with the strict rules.

 

[Disneychick13]

I probably wouldn’t go there. They know it’s not an educational trip (even though you could of course incorporate educational aspects to it). I would just tell them the dates you are going , that it’s a long planned vacation, and that your kids will make up their work. They get it (or should anyways). Enjoy your long awaited vacation!

 

[SLThomas318]

Our district in PA requires notice when you are pulling kids for vacation. The form has a spot that asks about educational activities while away. My husband teaches in the district and was chatting with the principal... he said he loves reading what parents write and that some get pretty creative. It is a formality, they won't deny the time out. We usually mention learning about different cultures in Epcot

 

[KristaZ]

You can talk about the different cultures in Epcot, animal biology and habitats at Animal Kingdom, American History from the American Adventure, Carousel of Progess, and Hall of Presidents, having your kids keep a daily writing journal of what they've done, physics of roller coasters at Hollywood Stuidos or MK, budgeting for souvenirs, g forces on the mad tea party.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m not 100% sure, but I thought the OP just wanted some cute ways to give the note an educational twist, not that the trip necessarily needed to be educational or that a note was required but just wanted to have some fun with it. I could be very wrong though.

The educational in quotes tips me off that it's likely expected for the OP's district (or even just the specific school) to justify in some way being out of school.

Yes I'm sure the OP is looking for ways to do it and I'm sure we can come up with ideas but my guess is there's a need in some way to prove the destination serves a purpose other than wanting to go on vacation but conflicting with school schedules.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Disney can be educational like many destinations.

Zoo-like meaning all the different animals from different regions of the world as well as cultural for AK, agricultural and cultural and geography for Epcot with The Land pavilion and the other countries as well as futuristic with test track and the aerodynamics of vehicles used to be more safety but less so with 2.0 version, history for MK (think Main Street and history behind Walt Disney as well as Liberty Belle Riverboat), while lacking these days the movie industry for DHS.

Sounds like you're just doing it for the vacation rather than educational part because these come immediately to my mind without much thought. No judgement on this, you do you, just if you're thinking with education in mind it's not difficult to find ones that would satisfy in a basic enough way. Have fun on the trip!

 

[Disneylover99]

You are right! I like to be creative and fun with things and the school already knows we are going but I have to submit a letter for formality reasons and I want it to be fun when they read it!

If you need a letter for formality reasons, I’d probably stay away from fun. Is there a possibility you could be denied?

Or, if you want to go the fun route, maybe just sign the letter

Sincerely,
VroomVroomLightening
lol

 

[Wdloepp]

Years ago my daughter kept a journal of our activities to share with the class when we got back.

 

[Kcnc]

My first grader is in a school out of district, so is limited to 5 unexcused absences she could have (or they could theoretically bump her out the following year!) I've already assumed our trip in January will be unexcused. So the couple other times I've pulled her out this year (family wedding, etc) I found little ways to show the teacher we had lessons and got them excused. Hadn't considered trying to make Disney educational. These are good ideas, even if we didn't do all 5 days but just our AK and Epcot days. I'll try!