Branching Out: Using the Web to Further Learning

Posted by Meg | 0 comments

Every week, our curriculum focuses on an object, country, or some other topic. Even before I used a “formal” and structured curriculum, I still compiled and used thematic unit studies in our preschooling-at-home. With most topics, it’s easy to incorporate and pull in a variety of school subjects that still revolve around the subject at hand.

To make it easy for the children, I create a new toolbar folder that they can easily find within the web browser. In it I place links that I search for that go with that week’s topic. Some of the links are artistic applications, while others are phonics or science related. Other links are just for fun, multimedia pages that really bring the subject alive.

When we recently studied African animals, I added in a couple of links to live webcams of African wildlife reserves. These real-time video feeds provided daytime and nighttime images and atmospheric sounds. It was like we took a trip and went on safari without even leaving home!

To find these links, a simple Google search suffices most of the time. I also find lots of link recommendations through homeschooling forums, especially those that have a spot for thematic theme unit discussions.

What about those times when your children are just bored? Or when one child finishes his or her work before the others and you need some “free time” to fill while at the same time keeping them focused and in the learning mindset?

Here are a few of our favorite sites that I keep within our browser’s toolbar all of the time. Browse and explore — make note of the ones you know your children would really enjoy.

In a world where the internet is so often a portal for immoral and mind-wasting things, we must remember that it can also be a very powerful tool in furthering learning and fostering creativity. Have fun!

Art:

• odosketch Draw your own creations on parchment-like paper using a variety of lifelike tools and effects.
• escape motions A website featuring experiments of a 3D graphic animator. Not just artsy, but scientific, too. “Why does fire burn through wood but not stone?”
• Liquid Particles Just an artistic experiment with multicolored dots. Mesmerizing and addictive to play with!
• Flower Garden Create a fantastical, colorful flower garden with the click of a mouse.
• Sketchpad Another drawing palate program, this one more suited for older kids.
• Jackson Pollock Splatter paint just like Pollock…without the mess

History, Geography, and Science:

• Quest for Compassion Compassion International’s game for older children that let kids virtually travel around the world and keep a travel journal, all the while learning about cultures and the way children live in other countries.
• Bzzzpeek Animal calls in other languages? This site lets you hear children worldwide imitate common animal sounds.
• Highlights Build-a-Castle Choose a background and then create a virtual medieval palace.
• BallDroppings Pure physics. Create lines for falling balls to bounce off of and around.

Math:

• Hooda Math A site begun by a math school teacher to make mathematical concepts easier to grasp.
• Cool Math Games A site full of all types of interactive math activities.

Music:

• Bottle Tunes One of the many fun games on Boowa & Kwala’s entertaining site.
• Raindrop Melody Maker Create beautiful chime-like music by clicking on raindrops.

Meg Wilson is a devoted wife to her husband, Ken, of 10 years, and mom and homeschooling teacher to her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. When she’s not writing or creating something, Meg loves to cook for, host and entertain friends and family. She also enjoys reading, the outdoors, eclectic music, yoga, and studying history. You can read all about her adventures (and misadventures) at her blog, Muses of Megret and read her product reviews at Muse Reviews.