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By Kim Vij 7 Comments

Making A Book Inspired by Family Outings {After School Linky Party}

Tips to Make the Most Out of Family Outings this Holiday Season 

This time of year many of us venture out and do unique things with our families.  There are various parks, museums, and events we get the opportunity to attend.  In the digital age we live in many of us are taking pictures to capture our memories.  They are such fun to look back at and share.  However I’d love to add my “Spin” to the idea and suggest that you encourage your child to write about their experiences to make their own book.  We have quite a collection of homemade books that my daughter has made over the years and I’m excited that my younger one is now starting to create her own books with me. 

You can create a book together about anything.  Here are some events that you may have done with your family recently or plan to soon that might inspire your next book.      
  • Pumpkin Patch
  • Hayride
  • Corn Maze
  • Field Trips
  • Nature Trail Hike
  • Apple Orchard
  • Historical Museum Visit
  • Holiday Light Exhibit
  • Holiday Show
  • Fall or Winter Festival
  • Amusement Park
  • Picking out a Christmas Tree
  • Visit to Santa Claus 

Tips on How to Write a Handmade Book

Where to Start? 
What was Your Favorite?
Start by encouraging your child to write down their favorite things that they experience on your adventure.  Photos are a perfect way to reflect on a trip and describe what made those opportunities fun.
What Facts Did We Learn?
Think back to the event and the things that you discussed.  There are facts that you learned that you can include in your book.
Dig a Little Deeper
Now it’s time to research things a bit further.  If you’re writing about a pumpkin patch or Christmas Tree Farm experience look up facts about how they grow.  Where do they come from?  When did the tradition start? 

Where to Find Information? 
You can research together using the internet and books from the library.  It’s showing your child the process of seeking information for data and facts. We usually check out a few books from the library to keep at home on the topic.   
Make a Book of It. 
Your child can create a book in a variety of ways depending on their age.  For younger children having them illustrate and you dictate what they are telling you onto the paper.  You could also write the text with them on the computer and print.  For older children encouraging them to write out description of their illustrations is a good starting point.  Plus they they can use their research to enhance their story.    

Once you’re written down all your information make it into a book.  Your child will look back at it often as a memory of their special times spent together with you.  Plus while they’re reading it they’ll learn a little background information and learn to write a piece of Non Fiction work.

What family adventure will you encourage your child to write about? 

After School Favorites from Last’s Week’s After School Linky Party
I’ve chosen a few seasonal posts to feature as we all celebrate the change of seasons it’s fun to have a few activities to do at home with the kids and also a fun way to create a book with your child.  

  • The Reason for the Seasons Storybook Fun by Enchanted Homeschooling Mom 
  • Books About Seasons by AfterSchooling Smarty Pants 
  • Seasons and Snow Globes from Life with Moore Babies 


After School Link Up is Cohosted by
The Educators’ Spin On It, After School for Smarty Pants, Boy Mama Teacher Mama, 
Coffee Cups and Crayons, Little Wonders’ Days, Mama Smiles, Relentlessly Fun, 
Deceptively Educational, The Measured Mom , This Reading Mama, What Do We Do All Day?

We would love to have you link up your School-Age Post (Ages 5 and up) about your learning week after school including Crafts, Activities, Playtime and Adventures that you are doing to enrich your children’s lives after their day at school, home school or on the weekend! 

When linking up, please take a moment to comment on at least one post linked up before yours and grab our after school button to include a link on your post or site! By linking up you’re giving permission for us to share on our After School Pinterest Board or Feature on our After School Party in the upcoming weeks! 

Don’t forget to follow along and join our After School Enrichment Community.


Please link up Activities for Elementary Ages Students ONLY.  THANKS!  

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Reading Tagged With: #learningafterschool, Afterschool Express, Family Adventures, Parenting with Purpose, reading activities

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

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Comments

  1. Marie-Claude Leroux says

    November 4, 2013 at 8:04 am

    What a great idea! What a great way to reflect and have great memories to look back on.

    Reply
  2. Natalie F says

    November 4, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    Great ideas. In my daughter's second grade, they have "Weekend News" journal exercise on Mondays, where the kids are encouraged to write about the events of that weekend. We haven't seen the journal yet – I expect it will be given to us in the end of the year, but we often discuss on Sunday the highlights of our weekend, so daughter has some ideas what to write about on Monday.

    Reply
  3. Jackie Higgins says

    November 4, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    Great writing prompt. I was going to have the boys write about our summer adventures but never got around to it! Maybe they could revisit them with the pictures, though 😉

    Reply
  4. Emma @ P is for Preschooler says

    November 4, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    What a fun way to remember outings!

    Reply
  5. Missy says

    November 4, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    This is perfect! We just went on a field trip today and I am going to use your tips to get my daughter to make a book about our trip 🙂 Thank you for sharing your post!

    Thank you for hosting the link-up too!

    Reply
  6. Megan Sheakoski says

    November 4, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Love your book prompts!

    Reply
  7. hey says

    November 7, 2013 at 8:52 am

    Love your family books. My kiddos write in their journals every day. Through the years the journals have turned into special keepsakes that chronicle our lives through the eyes of the children. They often write about our family outings and field trips.
    jeannine: waddleeahchaa.com

    Reply

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Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.
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