When I was in grad school, and even once I started teaching, “experiential education” was one of the buzz phrases we talked about in class or at teachers’ meetings often, among others phrases like differentiated instruction, higher-order thinking skills, and technology integration.
Experiential learning usually happens outside the classroom, through field trips and other hands-on experiences. It utilizes all of a child’s senses, thereby making the topic more meaningful to the learner. As Confucius put it, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” One of the perks of homeschooling is to be able to practice this all the time.
Every summer, we take a road trip to visit family in the Northeast. Since we just finished learning a portion of American history this year, I jumped on the chance to spend a little time exploring the cities that played a starring role in the American revolution throughout our trip.
On one sunny day (there weren’t many this trip!), we decided to tour downtown historic Philadelphia. Philadelphia’s historic district is perfect for kids, and many sites have been restored for individual visitors and group tours. One of our favorite sites was Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted and signed. Our tour guide described the sweltering heat of that summer of 1787, when the Constitution was written, helping us to visualize the moment. She showed us the chair on which George Washington sat, overseeing the proceedings of those fateful weeks. She also pointed out the sun on the back of the chair, of which Benjamin Franklin famously described:
“I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I… know that it is a rising…sun.”
We learned about all of this in American history this year, and we even read about Benjamin Franklin’s remarks above, but seeing it? That was something else entirely. Something completely different than reading about it in a textbook. My 8-year old remarked that visiting Independence Hall was the highlight of his whole vacation (and we even went to an amusement park!). It was surreal to be there, and even he could feel it.
The best part for me? When our tour guide asked the group of 50 people if we had any questions, and all 4 of my kids raised their hands, with questions about the statesmen present that day to why the tablecloths were green. They were taking an active role in their learning, curious about their surroundings, not embarrassed to ask questions, experiencing it in ways we never could at home. It was one of those homeschool moments I’ve had abundantly this past year, when I know that the education they are getting is truly experiential, and for this opportunity, I feel tremendously blessed.
Even if you’re not homeschooling, experiential learning is everywhere. I saw a sign in a quaint country store recently, “Live every day like someone left the gate open.” Seize the opportunity, ask questions, explore. Create memories your kids won’t soon forget.