We home-educate our children, but it's very rare that their education actually happens at home, we travel around in our tinyhouse with our children exploring this world, at the moment we are back in Sweden earning some money before we head off again, at the end of August we go on another Euro trip, ending up in Portugal where we plan on buying some land to start our eco-village.
Just because we are not out exploring the world doesn't mean we stop learning, this week we have been Rock climbing, we have also had a Medieval history lesson, so I thought it would be a good idea to finish off the week with a Science lesson.
Luckely for us, a new Exploratorium had just opened in our "hometown" this I thought would be a great place for exploring the world through science and it fitted in nicely with our policy of informal learning.
Here we learnt about water and its ability to generate energy with the use of water wheels and water turbines, the trick was to direct the flow of water to generate the maximum amount of energy, we did OK but in the end a member of staff felt sorry for us and showed us how it was supposed to be done.
Powering up the mega turbine was great fun.
Here the children got to learn about how to properly manage forests to protect the eco-system and save our planet from destruction.
Then it was theater time where we learnt all about the origins of electricity and how it will be generated in the future, the lady really got my attention when she explained that we will all be driving around in electric cars paid for with bitcoins, I nearly fell off my chair with excitement, this woman, up in the north of Sweden was teaching children the potentials of Bitcoin, I immediately thought"wow, I had better go home and buy some more while they are still cheap.
After me getting excited about Bitcoin and the kids about what happens to a soap bar when you put it in the microwave, we went to learn about the solar system, planets, gravity and inside the sun was a dark room where we got to see all the stars.
We then found a big box of building materials and being the only tinyhouse family on steemit and in the north of Sweden we couldn't resist building another tinyhouse. :)
This place was amazing, you could almost see the kids brains exploding with activity, they really did learn a lot about the world and how it works, I was very impressed with how up to date it all was and how they really tried to teach the kids how to look after this world we live in. I am usually a bit sceptical about places like this as they are usually filled with plastic toys and coca cola adverts but not here, they had no extras and no pushy salesman tactics, once you had paid to get in that was it.
I strongly believe in this way of learning and will continue to teach my children about the world by seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, feeling, hearing and believing what they see in front of them instead of forcing them to sit in a classroom with 30 other children learning propaganda from a textbook.
I will leave you with some more pic's from the day's adventures.
Peace and love to the World.
I Love this Post!!!!! Let me start off by saying You have a Beautiful Family @markwhittam. I just took my Son who is Autistic to the 'Buffalo Museum Of Science" my Son had the best time ever. I tell you it was the Best Experience watching my Son enjoy himself while Learning & Engaging in Play with his Peers. Thanks For Sharing...God Bless You & Your Family!!🙂
Wow, that's great, glad you liked the post and thanks for the compliment @thesocialqueen
I think this way of learning is the best way for all children and adults, and seeing their little faces light up is the best feeling ever. I'm sure your son had a great time and will remember it for years to come.
Thanks for reaching out to us and sharing your experience.
Bless :)
We love going to this type of science museums. We have a membership at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia that gives us free access to lots of places like this all over the US and the world (Teknikens hus in Luleå is free with our membership). We are planning to check out Exploratoriet in Skellefteå later this week.
This is such a great way of learning and building an interest in science.
Definitely, we loved it and The kids were in awe. I would recommend going as they had lots of different activities throughout the day, so much that I could not fit it onto a post :)
Det var lite dyrt, 4 personer för 320kr men värt
So interesting that the Swedish woman was talking about Bitcoin. If bitcoin had been around while I was homeschooling my children, I believe I might have based many math lessons off of it. As it is, my children find it fascinating and we have had many great conversations about it that have expanded their world view, math skills, and business minded prowess. Such great lessons you just don't get from a textbook. Looks like a lovely time!
Wow this was an Amazing post @markwhittam! My children and I felt like we were there with you as we enjoyed these pictures! I always say the best learning is hands on! I believe they retain more when they are able to see, touch and taste rather than just reading a book. A good balance of all of these is an ideal way of learning in my opinion. You all are doing a Wonderful job with your children. Such a great foundation for them. Looking forward to more. Upped and Resteemed ;)
Wow thank so much, we love being able to share these days with all you lovely people, and to know people really do appreciate it makes it even more special.
Like you say it's all about a good balance.
Thanks again @crosheille
I will be visiting your blog when I get a minute and when my voting power recovers :)
You're absolutely welcome! We really do appreciate you sharing things like this. I believe it encourages others seeking to homeschool. Keep it up!
Nice to see more Swedes here. Followed! Is it universeum in Gothenburg? I'll check your blog now. Tinyhouses are awesome, hope there are pictures here.
Tjenare, I am not actually a Swede, I am another love refugee from England :) but I have been here 10yrs and consider myself to be a bit Swedish,
We live up in Skellefteå when we are not out traveling :)
Thanks for stopping by.
Followed :)
Aha, cool :) Loved your tinyhouse!!
:[) It looks like the whole family had a wonderful time @markwhittam! Another really enjoyable post buddy and a nice way of introducing others to the possibility of learning outside of the four walls of a classroom and outside of the state indoctrination system.
Thanks as always for sharing these post with us mate. Great photos too! :)
Ahhhh thanks @tonyr
I love reading comments like this, you really get it and understand the whole point of why we do this and share it here. :)
Cheers buddy
I love education on the go, it is amazing how much more learning happens when the world is your classroom.
Exactly!
Thanks for sharing that with us @tecnosgirl
Thanks, enjoyed that. I don't think the formal classroom is going to be around for too long in any case.
Yeah I totally agree, it seems people are waking up FINALLY!!!
i allready woke up, because of you :-)
Good on ya
Your children are so beautiful! I love watching them learn and grow :)
Thank you @acrobutterfly
We are very proud of these little angels :)