Ready to hear about some active learning strategies that anyone can use in their homeschool – and with any age? Ditch the passive learning and piles of worksheets and try these ideas instead.
During our end-of-year homeschool evaluations here in Pennsylvania, I’ve had the chance to connect with so many inspiring families, and I’ve picked up some wonderful active learning strategies along the way. Two of my favorites are Interest Studies, which spark curiosity and independent research, and drawing the world from memory, a hands-on way for kids to truly learn geography. Both of these approaches will make learning more engaging and meaningful in your homeschool, and I’m excited to share how they work!
Listen to the Podcast
This is episode 317 of the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast.
Active Learning Strategies
As much as possible, look for strategies that require your kids to be actively engaged with the content. This is where real learning takes place.
Here are the two strategies discussed in the podcast.
“Study of Interest” is a wonderful way to nurture lifelong learning, as it encourages curiosity and engagement with new topics. The process begins with your child choosing a subject they’re interested in exploring. Next, they write down any questions they have about the topic, which helps focus their research. After gathering information, they wrap up the project by sharing what they’ve learned through either a written report or an oral presentation. It’s a flexible approach that makes learning meaningful and personal.
A fantastic way to help kids truly learn geography is by having them draw the world from memory, starting around 3rd grade. The idea is to focus on one continent or region for a whole year, working slowly and steadily. On Mondays and Tuesdays, your child traces or copies maps from a book, drawing one or two countries at a time and writing their names. By Friday, they try to draw those same countries from memory in a sketchbook. Over the years, you can move through the world in this order: the United States, then Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia (which usually takes two years because of its size). This method not only builds map skills but also gives kids a real sense of how the world fits together!
Want to Learn More About Active Learning?
How to Raise Self-Motivated Homeschoolers – Offers practical tips for fostering independence and a love of learning in your kids, so they take ownership of their education with confidence and curiosity.
For another powerful active learning tool, check out my post How to Use Notebooking for Effective Homeschool Learning, where I share how notebooking helps kids engage deeply with their studies and create meaningful records of what they’ve learned.
How to Use Unit Studies to Simplify Your Homeschool – Explores how unit studies encourage active learning and seamlessly weave in subjects like geography, helping make lessons more engaging, adaptable for different ages, and easier to manage.
