Family education trips in holidays

[whattimeislove]

So I've had a look at the curriculum for next year (year 3) and there are a few subjects in history/geography that we could explore as a family over the holidays (think historical buildings or museums).

They won't be visiting the places in school time, so I'm thinking it would be ok to do these trips and talk through the subject with our child, ahead of it being covered in class.

Does this sound ok? Would teachers think child is a know-all and we're a bit try-hard?? Child loves learning and the thought of these trips and it would be nice to be involved in his learning, but not sure how teachers would feel about it.

I think it's a great idea. I think they can engage better if they are familiar with the topics.

Depends on your DC. If they will enjoy it and it won't feel like school then yes but not if it's their worst nightmare. At that age mine would have enjoyed it if there was a trail/quiz/play aspect to it - so learning on a fun day out (museum, National Trust, castle, nature reserve) rather than going on an educational trip. We nearly always holiday in UK so when, in year 7, DD was given a list of places to go to, to back up their history learnjng, I was secretly rather proud that she had already been to about 15 of the 20, and all through fun days out. Now mine are older it's a bit harder to encourage them to go to such places so if your DC will enjoy it then do it now while they are enthusiastic!

Thanks! He's quite enthusiastic so (as you say) I'm keen to jump on this before he loses interest!

Do it. We spent a lot of time backing up the curriculum with our own visits. If a child has a thirst for learning then they will get a lot out of it.

If DC study the Maya later on, it gets a bit more tricky, and expensive, so if you can go to places now, why not?

Might it perhaps be better to do trips at a weekend while the topic is in progress (if nearby)? Then they would have more knowledge?

We once did the British Museum Egyptian section with the DDs just after/while DD2 was doing Egyptians. DD1 & DD2 had a great discussion about canopic jars. If they know about something, they are interested, but much less interested otherwise. (Your DC might not be the same though).

Tbh you are overthinking this a bit, it you want to go and you and family would enjoy it just go. I wouldn't give the curriculum a second thought. Why would the teacher think a child was a know it all because they'd visited somewhere?

It's lovely if a pupil has some prior knowledge. It can be a real confidence booster for them. Buy the nice guidebook & write their name in it for show & tell.

Show and tell in Y3? Honestly it always amazes me how some posters would be happy to stifle learning!!!

One of the problems in term time, is that if you have music centre or sports at the weekend you might not see the castle you can see in the summer holidays because it’s in Northumberland and you live miles away. Ditto any museum in London. Sometimes the holidays is the time you have available and no one should poke fun at a child that’s enthusiastic and wants to learn! Not even in MN!!!

That's the trouble bubbles - 1-2 of the places are a bit of a trek, so I thought we could make the most of the time next month & go then (plus the weather is better!)

Bubbles Who is poking fun? I don't think anyone is saying it is a bad idea? I only pointed out that my DDs get more out of visits if they have prior knowledge (whilst simultaneously acknowledging that OPs DC might be different).

It's a great idea. I used to do it all the time when my lot were at primary. They're teachers loved that they'd been places and showed enthusiasm for whatever topic they were doing. I learned a lot too!

We go to museums and historical buildings with DD since she is born, in fact she was in a sling, 5months old and “saw” the Chinese Warrior exhibition in London.

We often go somewhere when a topic is announced and fits into our plans. We also go just because it is fun and interesting to see, be it the UK or abroad.

What's wrong with Show & Tell in year ?! I used to teach mixed 3-4 and very much encouraged S&T for items relevant to the topic.

They still do show and tell at our school in ks2, just they don't call it show and tell. It's great way to share things related to what they are learning.

Show and tell is absolutely fine from an educational perspective. Develops public speaking skills, social skills and questioning skills. "Stifle learning", my arse.

Anyway OP I think it's really nice to go visit things related to school work, it shows an interest. I'd be careful to make sure that they definitely won't visit these places though.

The one thing Id be wary of is that some kids would treat it as an opportunity to show off to others about how much they know, but that depends on the child. If they do it's a learning opportunity anyway to teach them not to do that.

Show and tell is the one way to get up the noses of the other children. Always does. It’s always the same DC who have something to show and tell. It’s divisive and always has been so most schools I know have dropped it for older children. The op was keen to avoid this. I have never seen show and tell in Y3 because it can seem like boasting. It’s not the same as enjoying visiting interesting places that support the curriculum because you enjoy it as a family. Why does the good fortune of one child have to be shared to the less unfortunate children who cannot go? As for public speaking - try drama.

Having had this very conversation quite recently with DC school (tiny independent special needs), I was quite disappointed in their response. I had been hopeful that the school would inform us of the year ahead so that we could plan activities if the school werent going to organise that eg local museum exhibition on topic, theatre production of GCSE text etc. Plenty of notice would help all parents (if interested or able) to plan ahead. I can only take DC to ONE theatre event every few months so would rather take them to something relevant than a random one! But the school refuse to plan ahead and disclose what they will or wont be doing.

Bubbles, it's very negative way of seeing things. It's not always boasting. Sure, the child should feel proud to present something they share. And not all children feel bad that they aren't doing the same. They can feel really inspired. I can't remember how many times over the years that my ds excitedly told me XX brought this to school, YY went to this place etc. and enthusiastically told me about it.

I think it's a great idea. We have been to the British museum a few times to tie in with what they've been learning in school. Also the natural history museum and others in Birmingham and Liverpool.

Irvine - if you are very poor, you are unlikely to be inspired by little Jonny coming back in September to tell you all about his amazing trip to the Galápagos Islands when you don’t even get breakfast! You probably feel pig sick! It’s ok to bring something from home and keep it low key, but going on about your wonderful holidays and trips to the rainforest in Borneo really isn’t the way forward! We took our children everywhere we could, but show and tell wasn’t going to happen.

I know the op wasn’t going to do this, but it rarely inspires others - it turns them off. Don’t forget it’s never the poor child from a dysfunctional family with dad in prison that gets to show and tell anything, apart from the odd visit into a prison of course! Perhaps that’s a good topic for show and tell? If your child is inspired because you can provide an identical or similar experience, that’s great, but it really isn’t inspiring for lots of children. Actually being taken by the school is inspiring!!!

All good schools share the curriculum. Lots put it on the web sites. Shame an independent school is so backward. We were always told at DDs prep.

We won't be able to do any fancy trips abroad due to ds's health conditions, but he is always inspired by others who gone to places, Bubble.

If you're holidaying in Northumberland and you know that they're going to be 'doing the Romans' it would be odd not to take your kid to some of the forts and museums and get as much out of them as your DC wants. But OTOH if you're holidaying in Northumberland and you know that the Romans isn't on the curriculum it would be weird not to take your kids to some of the forts and museums and get as much out of them as your DC wants!

If there was a choice between doing something they are going to cover in school anyway versus something they aren't, I'd probably go with the latter.

I was surprised at one of my son's teachers when I mentioned something similar. I thought he would be fully in favour of the idea but he was quite unenthusiastic, talking about making sure that you don't turn a child off a subject by overloading them during the holidays. I hadn't expected that response. I suppose it depends what each child is like. Some will probably enjoy an educational holidays while others might resent it and moan about feeling like they're still in school.

Re yr 3 'show and tell' - DDs school did something a bit different- the kids prepared a little presentation on something they were interested in. It didn't matter what.