Do you ever find yourself and your kids getting a little bored with reading textbooks? It’s true that textbooks may not be the best way to spark curiosity in your kids. Curiosity is the key to lasting learning. And one of the best ways to spark curiosity is to dive into some hands-on learning activities. A regular dose will keep your kids energized in their learning.
What is hands-on learning?
Hands-on learning is focused on doing rather than watching, listening, or reading. It’s great for kinesthetic learners, but it’s also necessary for every learning style. Active participation in learning helps the concepts stick. So, let’s get our hands dirty—literally!
Why is hands-on learning important?
Although it takes longer, there is no substitute for hands-on learning. When your children are actively involved with learning, they will naturally ask more questions and become curious about what is happening. As a lifelong learner, I believe there is no substitute for curiosity in the mind of the learner. No matter your learning style, hands-on learning will promote that curiosity. If you have preschool children, you may recognize that they are naturally curious and learn by playing. Encourage the same in your older children by including hands-on learning in your weekly routine. Hands-on learning is a key part of a positive learning environment.
Benefits of hands-on learning
Increased Retention
When kids actively participate in their education, they’re more likely to remember what they’ve learned.
Boosted Creativity
Hands-on activities ignite the creative spark in our little learners. Whether by crafting, building, or experimenting, they get to flex their creative muscles and think outside the box.
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills
Facing challenges during hands-on activities helps kids develop problem-solving skills. It’s like a mini puzzle they have to solve to create that masterpiece or finish that experiment. They may also learn some project management skills along the way.
Better Understanding of Concepts
Abstract concepts become tangible through hands-on experiences. Suddenly, math isn’t just numbers on a page; it’s measuring ingredients for a delicious recipe or building a birdhouse.
Fostered Love for Learning
Perhaps the most significant benefit is that hands-on learning makes education enjoyable. When kids love what they’re doing, they’re more likely to develop a lifelong love for learning.
Fun hands-on learning activities for kids
1. Volcano Eruption
What you need:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Water
- Play-Doh or clay
- Plastic bottle
How to do it:
Create the classic volcano cone shape out of Play-Doh or clay by molding it around the plastic bottle. Mix baking soda with a little water and a few drops of dish soap and add to the bottle. Quickly pour in some vinegar and step back to watch your awesome eruption. This classic experiment works with just baking soda and vinegar. The basic baking soda reacts with the acidic vinegar to make carbon dioxide. Adding a few drops of dish soap helps trap the carbon dioxide in bubbles so your eruption is even more impressive.
Introduce chemical reactions to older students or just have fun with the younger ones.
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt
What you need:
- Basket or bag
- List of items (leaves, rocks, flowers, etc.) or conditions (living, nonliving, etc.)
How to do it:
Give each child a list of items or, for older kids, a condition for the types of items you want them to find. Take them to a nearby park or explore your own backyard or neighborhood.
Getting outside for a walk has many benefits beyond learning. I once took a group of college freshman on such a nature hunt and told them to bring back anything that is or was alive. Someone brought back a rock, so it was a great opportunity to talk about the characteristics of life. This hands-on learning activity can focus on biology, geology, or both!
3. Math in the Kitchen
What you need:
- Simple recipe (like cookies)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Ingredients
How to do it:
Turn your kitchen into a math lab! Choose a recipe that involves measurements, and let your kids do the math. It’s a tasty way to understand fractions. And the best part? You get to enjoy the delicious results together. With older kids, see if they can double the recipe or cut it in half. The opportunity to multiply fractions with a hopefully tasty outcome will help them remember how to do it.
4. Rainbow in a Jar Density Experiment
What you need:
- Honey
- Corn syrup
- Dish soap
- Water
- Vegetable oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Food coloring
- Tall, clear glass or jar
How to do it:
Add different colors of food coloring to each of the first six liquids. See if your kids can accurately guess which color should go into each liquid to make a colorful rainbow in the jar. (Note that the ingredients are in order of density in the list, but you don’t have to tell your kids the right order.) Pour the liquids in one at a time. Watch as the layers stack up, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect. This is a hands-on learning science lesson that’s as visually stunning as it is educational.
5. Literary Adventure with DIY Story Stones
What you need:
- Smooth stones
- Acrylic paint or markers
- Creativity!
How to do it:
Foster creativity and storytelling skills with story stones. Have your kids paint or draw various characters, objects, or scenes on the stones. When it’s story time, they can randomly select stones and weave an imaginative tale based on the images. Story stones are a fantastic way to combine art, language, and storytelling. If you don’t have the time or skill to paint stones, you can purchase a set of story dice and accomplish much of the same hands-on learning.
6. Geometry with Toothpick Structures
What you need:
- Toothpicks
- Mini marshmallows or Play-Doh
How to do it:
Transform basic geometry lessons into 3D fun! Use toothpicks and marshmallows or Play-Doh to create geometric shapes and structures. This hands-on activity not only reinforces geometry concepts but also enhances fine motor skills. Plus, it’s a blast to see what architectural marvels your little builders can come up with!
7. Solar System Planet Mobile
What you need:
- Styrofoam balls (for planets)
- Paints
- String
- Cardboard, construction paper, or a wire hanger
- Glue
How to do it:
Dive into the cosmos by creating a planet mobile. Have your kids paint Styrofoam balls to represent each planet in our solar system. Attach the balls to strings at varying lengths and hang them from a cardboard or paper base. As your kids assemble their own mini solar system, you can discuss fun facts about each planet for a space-themed, hands-on learning adventure. You can represent the order of the planets from the sun by adding them left to right on the base. For an added challenge, you could imagine the sun at the top and represent the order with the length of string. This would more realistically represent how the planets might look in 3D.
8. Time Capsule
What you need:
- A sturdy box or container
- Items representing the current time (photos, letters, small trinkets)
- Decorative materials (paint, markers, stickers)
How to do it:
Turn history into a tangible experience by creating a time capsule. Encourage your kids to choose items that represent their lives and interests. Decorate the box together, then seal it and set a date in the future to open it. Discuss what someone might think of your time capsule 50 or 100 years from now.
Another option would be to find very old items at a thrift store or in your attic, and pretend they were in a time capsule that you found. Try to find items that might be found together in a time capsule from a certain period of history.
A time capsule is a hands-on way to explore history and the concept of time, and it adds a touch of excitement to the passing years.
9. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
What you need:
- Paper or index cards
- Markers or crayons
How to do it:
Combine language arts with physical activity for young learners through an alphabet scavenger hunt. Write each letter of the alphabet on separate pieces of paper and hide them around your home or yard. Give your kids the task of finding and collecting the letters in order. This hunt is an interactive way to reinforce letter recognition and other pre-reading skills.
10. Oobleck
What you need:
- Corn starch
- Water
- Food coloring
- Bowl
- Plastic bag or tarp
How to do it:
Lay out a large plastic bag or tarp in your working space or go outside for this one. It may get messy!
Mix equal parts corn starch and water with your favorite color of food coloring. One cup of each will make a nice amount of Oobleck.
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian solid (so is ketchup). As such it sometimes behaves like a liquid and sometimes like a solid. The amount of pressure you apply to it is the key difference. See if you can roll some into a ball and toss it back and forth in your hands. Have fun and enjoy the mess while learning some chemistry.
Some other options we’ve written about before are melted crayon art projects and edible cell models. These hands-on learning activities will sprinkle joy and excitement into your daily lessons. Remember, the key is to keep activities light, fun, and tailored to your child’s interests. So, whether you’re exploring the wonders of science or creating artistic masterpieces, embrace the mess, cherish the giggles, and savor every moment of this hands-on homeschooling adventure. Happy learning!
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Valerie is a wife and a mother to a busy elementary school student. In her free time, she enjoys reading all kinds of books. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Bob Jones University, minoring in Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University. Valerie has 15 years of experience working in research laboratories and has coauthored 8 original research articles. She has also taught several classes and laboratories at the high school and college levels. She currently works as a Data Analyst and a freelance writer.
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