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By Kim Vij

Making A Book Inspired by Family Outings

Create a book with your child inspired by a visit to a living history museum. Follow these step-by-step prompts to encourage your child to write a book!

Tips for Learning with Living History Musuems

Learning with Living History Museums

Kids can learn a lot from visiting a living history museum. They can learn about history in a hands-on way, and they can also learn about different cultures and lifestyles. Living history museums often have actors who dress in period clothing and demonstrate how people lived in the past. This can be a great way for kids to learn about history in a fun and interactive way.

Here are some specific things kids can learn from visiting a living history museum:

  • How people lived in the past
  • Different cultures and lifestyles
  • How to use tools and equipment from the past
  • About historical events
  • About the importance of preserving history

Living history museums can be a great way for kids to learn about the past and to develop an appreciation for history.

Make the Most Out of Family Outings

During the holiday season or summer vacation 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 

Here are some of our favorite places for family travel that you can do this with too!

Life on a Farm in 1890

Tips on How to Write a Handmade Book

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 About 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.

Tips of Making a Book with Kids about their adventures

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

You may also enjoy these activities for your child…

what a year of kindergarten writing looks like
Tips for Writing with Kids at Home
samples of second grade writing

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, grade school, History, Parenting with Purpose, Preschool, 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. 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

  2. Megan Sheakoski says

    November 4, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Love your book prompts!

  3. 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!

  4. Emma @ P is for Preschooler says

    November 4, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    What a fun way to remember outings!

  5. 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 😉

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

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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 all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
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