Getting Started with Homeschooling
Practical Considerations for Parents of School-Aged Children
© Beverley Paine
Index
Homeschool
Australia
Basic Questions
There are more examples of learning programs in Part 7.7, Types of Recording.
You can plan a unit of study by simply using the basic question words - who, what, where, why, when and how, as starting points. Each question usually generates new questions, new learning to uncover. This can either be spontaneous or planned in advance, recording the questions on paper for the children to research or discover the answers.
For example, a present of a plastic model aeroplane kit was the impetus for extensive learning for the author’s two young boys. In addition to assembling and painting the kit, they carried out an investigation of how, when and why that type of aeroplane was built; who built them, and what materials were used.
This led onto other information about flight and aircraft in general, and covered topics such as history, geography, mathematics, science, technology, craft and art. They were very fortunate to be given an oral account of their grandfather's experiences of life during World War Two as a child.
Their interest lasted for almost a week, with periods of intense activity stretching on for hours at a time. The author was led by their interest, and complemented the learning by encouraging investigation of the basic questions, and obtaining materials, texts and resources to maintain the boys’ interest and stimulate them further.
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Excerpt from Getting Started with Homeschooling, Practical Considerations
© Beverley Paine, 1997
