By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors
Florida Heritage Outdoor Sports It was the fall of 1978. At 4 am, the bells began ringing on my grandfather’s wind-up alarm clock. I had slept in my clothes to prepare for the fishing trip. It was quiet and still in darkness as we loaded the nets, buckets, and coolers into the truck. We were […]
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By Holly Giles | Field Trips , Florida , florida vacations , Great Outdoors
Outdoor Adventures Living in Florida gives us a unique advantage to outdoor adventures all year long. City playgrounds to sportsman activities give families plenty of options to add adventure throughout all our homeschooling years. Toddler Years When my children were young, simple outdoor adventures were easy to find. Nature centers, museums, and many parks offer […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Outdoor Learning Spaces Nature on its own is a powerful tool for outdoor learning spaces. Nature is a classroom. Extended periods of outdoor time increase attention, yes, INCREASES attention in children. It aids in behavior, activates creative development and all senses are activated in nature. What do you see? What do you smell? How do […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , florida vacations , Great Outdoors
Florida traditions Quail hunting was a staple in my grandparent’s generation in providing food for the family. However, I had not experienced a hunt myself, but I remember having quail for dinner. My grandfather cleaned and dressed them out behind the barn and my grandmother would coat them in flour and fry them up in […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Lifestyle Learning Many families view home education as a lifestyle. A specific schedule, routine, or curriculum do not bind learning. In addition, families who embrace a learning lifestyle weave education into their daily life. Generally, they do not categorize learning into subjects or grade levels. In the philosophy of education, learning is the product of […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , Nature Study
First Aid First aid kits and contents can vary with your activities, but having basic supplies on hand is key. An at-home first aid kit is a must and keeping a smaller kit for the car or taking on hikes or walks is a good idea. Beth Goodale joins me as we talk about what […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Play in childhood Delia is a pediatric Occupational Therapist. Moreover, her specialty is pediatrics and play-based therapy. I met her several years ago at a homeschool event. She is a popular workshop speaker in our area. She has wonderful insight into helping children. And get the most out of body movements. Play is […]
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By Holly Giles | Family , Florida , Great Outdoors , Nature Study
God’s mercy One morning this week I was exhausted from motherhood by 9 am. First, the boys had pushed my buttons and ignored their chores. Then, I began yelling too much and a myriad of other things that made me run out the back door looking for fresh air!!! I needed God’s mercy before I kept on […]
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By Holly Giles | Florida , Great Outdoors , Nature Study
Become a Backyard Naturalist A naturalist is someone who studies living things in their habitat. Naturalists observe the same thing over time to see how it changes. Backyard naturalists appreciate nature, the life, and behavior of plants, animals and other living things. You and your children can become naturalists by observing the changes in nature […]
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By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , homeschooling
Childhood We recently attended a student day event at a beautiful state park. The day was supposed to be filled with demonstrations and hands-on activities for students to learn primitive tool making. A great event for childhood development. Grayson was most excited because this is one of his hobbies. Another family joined us for the […]
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