What about Disney is educational?

[Burnedout]

I can't imagine anything being 8th grade honor student educational. You have to dig deeper for that sort of learning if that is really your goal. Research something she interested in, countries, activities, potential careers. That sort of thing. Look for ways to work on vocab, etc. perhaps have her do all that before or on the road, so she can actually just relax while on vacation.


Schools make stupid hoops to jump through. This is one. They set people up to be creative in their definition of education.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this is a once only plea to play nice

 

[BayouMickey]

Folks this is a once only plea to play nice

my apologies cyrano.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Our cruise was approved last year for the same reasons.

Well, maybe it's not nearly as tough as it appeared on paper. Sounds like you'll get it worked out

 

[crzy4mk]

I've always thought Disney is extremely educational for lots of different reasons, and my kids have learned lots of things there that they will carry with them the rest of their lives. Can't say that about alot of things they learn in school.

Plus, watching people at WDW is a GREAT Sociology project!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Any my immediate response would be "Real-world budgeting!" followed closely by "We live in the Midwest - we can see firsthand how the latitude of a particular geographical location affects the same season. Autumn in Florida is vastly different than autumn in Chicago, and I want my child to see this difference firsthand"

The admin would probably respond with the $$$$ the school is losing due to your child being gone

Does sound like OP has it pretty much covered though

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Plus, watching people at WDW is a GREAT Sociology project!

Yeah, but so is Walmart

 

[StuckInKS]

If you can coordinate your timing with a YES class (just google it), she would actually have the opportunity to do a class while there which the school should easily see as educational.

It also looks like she might be there around the end of Homeschool Days (Oct 1-18), which will offer many educational classes. But, I do think you have to purchase HSD tickets (prices range from $155 for 3 days to $200 for 8 days base passes, with an extra $20 for PH and another $16-20 to add WP&M). The tickets include entrance into the main event, and then you can add additional classes for $30/each. They include things like chemistry, physics, animal behavior, marine life conservation and animation history. Very educational stuff

 

[KatieCharlotte]

The admin would probably respond with the $$$$ the school is losing due to your child being gone

Does sound like OP has it pretty much covered though

Whether the school is losing any money depends entirely on the state. In our state, we have one count day for the year, so they just ask that we not plan vacations for that one day. In our district, family vacations are excused absences with no need to explain the educational value. We have received nothing but encouragement from teachers and administrators when we have taken our children out of school. I offered to have my oldest do an extra project and was told that was not necessary. One teacher told us his childhood vacations were always during the school year because that was the only time his father could take time off work.

We have decided on our own to minimize the time DS misses now that he is in middle school and, therefore, will be tackling WDW at spring break for the first time, but I wouldn't hesitate to take him out of school for a few days if we had a good opportunity. Life experiences are educational.

For the OP, when I was in h.s., my class visited a theme park to study physics concepts on the roller coasters.

 

[Nature Mom]

It also looks like she might be there around the end of Homeschool Days (Oct 1-18), which will offer many educational classes. But, I do think you have to purchase HSD tickets (prices range from $155 for 3 days to $200 for 8 days base passes, with an extra $20 for PH and another $16-20 to add WP&M). The tickets include entrance into the main event, and then you can add additional classes for $30/each. They include things like chemistry, physics, animal behavior, marine life conservation and animation history. Very educational stuff

We do HSD and Y.E.S. classes usually twice a year for the past few years. The classes are really great, and the vacation can really be a way to connect certain studies with what their curriculum is currently.

OP, your DD is the same grade as my youngest, this year is a Life Science year so I am making sure we do the Behind the Seeds tour for enrichment. US History is common for 8th grade History curriculum, so take some time for Hall of Presidents and the American Adventure. There really are lots of ways to incorporate educational values to a vacation. Last year my daughter had finished a test and given it to me to grade, a few questions were about something we hadn't covered a lot yet, but I wanted to see what she did know. To my surprise, she knew far more than I expected. I asked her where she read it, she said, "Oh, I remembered all that from Universe of Energy!" lol They learn, even when we think they are not. It helped that I picked that attraction to go on during a year she was learning that type of science, so it broadened her learning of that instead of trying to add something entirely new.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[StuckInKS]

Were I the administrator, the first question I'd raise is, "What specifically makes October in Disney more educational than June in Disney?".

The classes offered for HSD, Oct 1-18

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The classes offered for HSD, Oct 1-18

My daughter took an individual YES class last June

Side note, won't bother with that again thanks to the new pricing structure

 

[Mom2six]

It does not sound to me like you need to provide for each subject she studies, so you may want to come up with one or two big projects. I like the journal ideas, and video ideas. If your family especially likes Epcot, you could have her do a little research ahead of time about each of the countries represented and maybe write a paragraph about each. Put those paragraphs in your own notebook/passport/journal. Have her take photos of the architecture in each "country," get the passport stamp and a phrase in the language of the country (like others suggested). That definitely really does fall into world cultures.

Also, she could read the original of a few fairy tales like Cinderella or Snow White and then write a paragraph, (or tape a video in front of the castle) that discusses differences in how it is depicted at Disney as opposed to in the original.

Animal Kingdom has a lot about conservation throughout the park. Many true learning opportunities there. We learned when we at Rafiki's station (I think - or on the Safari ride?) that recent research has shown Elephants are afraid of bees (who knew?) and so in Africa conservationists are now beginning to use bees to keep the Elephants from trampling their local people's crops, and saving the Elephants from being killed by those people. They also had a lecture about a snake while we were there (complete with being allowed to touch the snake). We learned tons of info while there both times! Stop and read the plaques! Very informative.

Good luck. There have been many great ideas by OP in this thread. You should have no troubles coming up with a real education plan.

 

[theelfqueen]

I know you are being facetious, but hey if ya wanna go there
Captain EO = music theory
TriceraTop Spin = inertia

always something to learn even in the smallest mundane things.

OOOH OOH Have you seen the Science of Disney Imagineering videos? We found them at our library and they are AWESOME. Explaining scientific principles and how they are used in the park attractions. Like the magnetism one talks a lot about Rock N Roller Coaster, and the Fluids one Kali River Rapids and the Water Parks? They're super cool!

 

[Sur]

I know you are being facetious, but hey if ya wanna go there
Captain EO = music theory
TriceraTop Spin = inertia

always something to learn even in the smallest mundane things.

AND vocabulary (facetious)!

Love of World Showcase has our kids interested in visiting the countries represented.

 

[afinnteach]

Any trip can be educational. Are you driving? Map reading, budget planning, pIanning gas stops all this can be teaching moments. There are similar learning moments when flying or riding a train. Have your child keep a journal of their trip. Encourage them to get creative and write poetry about what they see and do or take photos and create a collage.

Others have already pointed out all that a kid can learn in Disney. With some effort and focus there are tons of teachable moments at Disney. I am the product of two teachers and every vacation (even Disney ones)were educational. I still have some of the journals I made to prove it!

Have fun on your trip!

 

[kittyninja]

I think this is fabulous OP!!

I was a homeschool kid and my parents used everything as a way to teach me something and I'm glad you're taking your DDs public (or private? either way) school education further!!

We went on a trip to DC when we were younger, for a wedding no less!! My grandmother/teacher assigned us journals too!! My uncle also made us a video so we could remember the trip and use it as a learning tool!!

Now DC is VERY educational, but using the suggestions from the previous posters I think your Disney trip can be educational and fun (just remember--it's still a vacation ride Toy Story!!)

 

[Burnedout]

Any trip can be educational. Are you driving? Map reading, budget planning, pIanning gas stops all this can be teaching moments. There are similar learning moments when flying or riding a train. Have your child keep a journal of their trip. Encourage them to get creative and write poetry about what they see and do or take photos and create a collage.

Others have already pointed out all that a kid can learn in Disney. With some effort and focus there are tons of teachable moments at Disney. I am the product of two teachers and every vacation (even Disney ones)were educational. I still have some of the journals I made to prove it!

Have fun on your trip!

I agree that any travel opportunity can be educational. However they need to be age appropriate. I think your idea of poetry is great and skill appropriate. A lot of the stuff listed were more like 3rd or 4th grade.

 

[aristocatz]

The "BS factor" comes in when someone says, basically, "Tell me how to take my kid out of school for WDW and still get to count the days", not "I want to make WDW educational for my kids ... anyone got any helpful hints?"

In 100% agreement here Looking for educational examples for the mere purpose of pleasing the school is, well....

I actually LOVE the idea that the OP's school has this program. Teaching our kids to step outside the box and appreciate the culture and learning opportunities involved in visiting different places is fantastic. I feel the experience matures them a bit. I would hope the OP's child has to write a report or present an extensive project when she returns.

One of the things I have always loved about WDW is it's educational value. Admittedly, it had way more learning opportunities when I was a child of the 80's (many of those attractions are sadly gone), but many do remain. My parents used to say that Epcot was like a childrens' museum gone wild lol

 

[Punzie]

I think having to explain to a school why you should be allowed to take your own kid on a vacation. They're your child not the states.

But if you can get the days to not count against attendance then that is great. There have just been so many threads with people asking how to get trips approved and such by principals and I find that insane. I'd be pulling my kid in a heart beat.

Of course we already home school so...

However I do think parents as a whole should take an active role in educating their kids in a natural way so am all for opportunities that foster this.

Now being forced by the school in order to allow a student to go- that is over stepping .