Cultural capital - where to start?

[Bugalugg]

In the interests of full disclosure, I'm posting here for traffic as fostering, although helpful, isn't as active. To cut a very long story short the 15 year old has an education gap from Year 7 to very recently. They're responding well to gentle Maths and English language tutoring and are responsive and willing to try new things. I'm aiming to broaden their horizons without overwhelming them and aiming to strike a balance between things they've missed in their childhood and chronological age. All suggestions welcome! feelingslightlyoverwhelmedatwheretostartandknowmumsnetisamazingatstufflikethis

What do they like? What are their interests?

Are they homeschooled?

I got most of my early cultural capital from trips to museums, art galleries, stately homes, concerts, and then following up on whatever I liked. Are those things accessible for you? A lot of them now offer online tours anyway.

What about films? Since leaving school an awful lot of my historical knowledge has come from films (admittedly this has its flaws due to artistic licence, but a lot of times I'm on Wikipedia finding stuff out as I watch).

Films and TV i suppose I mean.

Not homeschooled, have transitioned into a small unit arrangement. They are quite creative, food orientated and into DC films and the odd bit of gaming. As soon as places open up, we'll be doing things like Tate Modern and Yorvick and going to the beach and stately homes. Will have a look at the online museums.

I get your point about films and TB though I'm trying to move away from that as they've spent years doing that.

Oh, and lots of podcasts in the car and R4 on in the flat too.

Cultural capital also covers stuff like taking a bus or train, going to the post office and basically being part of everyday life experiences.

Online cooking classes (we used Mrs Bun but that may be a bit young) or art classes?

How about subscriptions to First News / Science & Nature / The Phoenix / Aquila magazine?

Also, since you’re a foster carer, check if your LA accesses the Max Card scheme as it will gain you and your young person free entry to many places of historical and cultural interest ie Jorvik in York is definitely free of charge for Max Card families, and you can often also get free parking as well (Yorkshire Sculpture Park).

Good luck from an ex-foster carer!

Are they into rattling good stories?

When I was a kid, I loved all the stuff about the discover of King tut and thr mummy's curse etc... So trips to see mummies at brut museum and a visit to an archeology dig?

What about spies and spying... Link into the story about codes and Alan Turing and Bletchley? Good visit there where there are mock ups of the code breakers rooms...and how it changed the history of the war?

Also loved learning about astronomy too... Lots of gentle introductions to this

How about learning practical skills - sewing, gardening, diy, car maintenance etc. All of those have some history attached to them and help to give a person an understanding of how things are made and where they come from.

Depending on where you live, what about a gentle country cycle? There is lots to see at this time of the year and if you plan the route around places to visit that might be good? One of the living museums I have always found to be very useful for all ages of people. For example, the Black Country Museum in Dudley.

CC is a about using what the child already knows and building on that. Cooking I think is your way in here.

Measurements and conversions- maths
Food through the ages- history
Food and nutrition - biology, food tech, fitness
Recipe following and instructions, writing a recipe-literacy.
Food for occasions-social history, celebrations
Meal planing and shopping- money management and math

I would ask them to help me make something I know they’ll like and gently move it on. So they like scones and so you suggest shopping for a afternoon tea and writing an invitation to another let to join? Then you can do some investigating around where the idea of an afternoon tea came from and so on. So many skills embedded into each element of the task.

If they are food oriented, supermarket or market shopping, recipe books, cooking new things, working out how much the new recipe cost, timing on oven.
Covers lots of subjects and you might get something yummy as well.

Lots of good ideas here They're reluctant readers atm but hoping that will change.

I found sometimes doing anything charming and almost childish they missed is fine.

As long as you join in.

Definitely stately homes, national trust, lovley Gardens, London but from different pov eg a literary walking tour, Hampton Court, Parliament!
Museums, plays, theatre, musicals, documentary on TV but interesting ones!
Art galleries but again with a theme, something fun to look for.
You sound brilliant op.

Also a hook like enola Holmes, sherlock homes then follow the that up.

Maybe something like a local nature/wildlife reserve? Have a good walk, chance to discuss ecology, global warming, science, birdwatch, learn names of flowers/trees/birds..... possible volunteer opportunity.?

There's lots to be learned outside formal education, and many career opportunities via another route.

Another thought...Rangers / Scouts / Sea Scouts and or the Duke of Edinburgh Award in order to mix with peers and maximise on outdoor and life opportunities.

Is there a community choir or beginners brass band or similar you could join together and both learn from scratch?
Being able to play card games, board games, chess etc.
Learning how to bake and decorate a cake is a useful skill.
How to search for money off vouchers, to send emails/letters of enquiry, complaint and thanks.