Are you planning a trip to the amusement park with your homeschooled children this summer? It was always one of our favorite trips, and I especially loved going because it was easy to weave learning into the adventure! Homeschooling at the amusement park is so much fun!
Here are some ideas for turning your fun day out into an educational experience. These engaging activities integrate core subjects into any amusement park adventure!
Activities for Homeschooling at the Amusement Park
Now before you worry that your day at the park will be spoiled, I actually suggest that you do a lot of these activities before you go. Many parks will have maps that you can download and print out to make some of the field trip activities safer for you and your family. Not sure what I mean? No worries! I have marked the activities that are best done at home with a map or paper and pencil for you below.
Roller Coaster Physics
Take advantage of the thrilling roller coasters to teach physics concepts such as velocity, acceleration, and potential energy. Discuss how the design of the coaster influences the ride experience.
Tip: Talk about this one before you go and then ride the coasters and time them. Jot down the times and revisit the lesson on your next day of classes.
Math in Motion
Utilize the rides to practice math skills such as measuring speed, calculating distances traveled, and understanding angles. Encourage children to apply mathematical concepts in real-life scenarios.
Tip: Check out the park map ahead of time and discuss rides where calculations of speed, distance, and angles make the most sense. The log flume and even the merry-go-round are great options!
History of Theme Parks
Explore the history of the amusement park and its evolution over time. Discuss the cultural significance of the theme park you’re visiting and how it has become a popular attraction.
Tip: Many amusement parks have a ride, show, or bulletin board that’s dedicated to the history of the park. Check it out and take pictures when you’re ready for some down time during the day.
Creative Writing Prompt
After experiencing various rides, encourage your kids to write a descriptive narrative or a creative story inspired by their amusement park adventures. This activity enhances their storytelling and language skills.
Tip: If your kids like writing while they’re in the car, this can be done on the way home as a journal prompt. If, however, they’re like mine and get carsick if they try to write while we’re driving, save the activity for the next morning.
Artistic Impressions
Capture the vibrant colors and exciting moments at the amusement park through sketches or paintings. Encourage children to express their creativity and emotions through art.
Tip: Carting around art supplies in the amusement park is cumbersome and unnecessary. To capture the scenes your kids are interested in putting on canvas or in their sketch pads, take some pictures with your phone. Then they’ll be able to use the photos as a reference for their artwork.
Nutrition and Health
Discuss the importance of healthy eating habits and staying hydrated during a day at the amusement park. Use this opportunity to teach children about nutrition and the impact of food choices on their well-being. If you’re allowed, bring in your own trail mix (this easy trail mix recipe is our favorite) to munch on when you need a break.
Tip: This one we always weaved in throughout our lunches and when we were going for snacks. It was very informal, but it made a big impact when we talked about hydration especially!
Social Studies Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt focusing on different aspects of social studies, such as identifying cultural influences in park themes or discovering historical references within the park’s attractions.
Tip: Some amusement parks already have scavenger hunts created that you can follow, but if yours doesn’t, you can create clues ahead of time for your kids to find throughout the day. Use the park’s website and map to help come up with the clues.
Environmental Science Exploration
Observe the park’s landscaping and wildlife habitats to introduce your kids to environmental science concepts. Discuss the importance of conservation, biodiversity, and sustainability in maintaining a balanced ecosystem within the amusement park.
Tip: This sounds much more complicated than it actually is, but it’s easy to have these conversations when you’re watching the park squirrels or birds flit around while you’re walking. If the park has a butterfly garden, that’s also a fabulous opportunity to introduce environmental topics.
Business and Economics Analysis
Encourage children to analyze the operations of the amusement park from a business and economics perspective. Discuss topics such as supply and demand, pricing strategies, customer satisfaction, and the economic impact of tourism on local communities.
Tip: Have these conversations and lesson before you go when you’re planning your budget for the day. Ticket prices can be high and that means the budget for other things like souvenirs and treats might need to be less. Creating the day’s budget with your kids really cuts down on the “can I get” questions!
Physical Education Challenges
Transform the amusement park into a playground for physical education challenges using a park map. Have your kids work together or independently to create a path where each ride is touched without backtracking, or something similar.
Tip: Don’t try to do this in the actual park. You’d probably get kicked out. This is definitely a challenge to do at home or on the car ride there using a park map as a reference.
These activities at the amusement park not only make learning enjoyable but also provide practical applications of academic concepts in a real-world setting. They build that background knowledge that’s so important as your kids are learning! Turn your next visit to the amusement park into a memorable homeschooling adventure! Have fun!
