There are a number of ways to turn the trip to the park into an educational experience for children. Take your homeschool students back to nature and give them something to actually do with their time out there. Here are some activities that have been suggested but you can always change them to suit something that you know your children will enjoy better.
Combine the 5 Senses with Nature Exploration
Ask the homeschool students to bring a notebook with them and have them record in it 5 things that they can see, 4 things that they can touch, 3 things that they can hear, 2 things that they can smell and one thing that they can taste. Of course it would be more fun if they could actually take pictures of all their answers and paste them down alongside. Also do warn them not to actually taste anything unless they clear it with you beforehand.
The Scavenger Hunt
In this activity you can actually give them a printed list of things that they can find in nature and have them collect it all in a basket that you give them. Pair off a younger sibling with an older one to ensure that they have a better chance of achieving the goals set. Possible clues for things that they must find could include things like something brown, something green, something yellow in colors. Or give them something twisted, something thick, something thin, something brittle for different shapes. You could even give them less open ended clues by asking for very specific things.
Queen of Sheba Out in Nature
This popular party game is easily adapted to play outdoors in nature. Just like in the party crown someone the Queen of Sheba and let them ask with royal decree for things. “Queen of Sheba wants a dandelion” or “Queen of Sheba wants five different types of leaves” or “Queen of Sheba wants a pinecone” or even “Queen of Sheba wants an ant”. Let the Queen of Sheba change after about half an hour so that all the children get to ask for things and everyone gets to hunt for them as well.
