Homeschool and Distant Learning Choice Boards

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I love using choice boards with kids! They are a great way to let children guide their own learning. If you are in a position that you are starting to homeschool, or need activities for children, or students to do at home through virtual learning, choice boards are a great option.

Choice boards are valuable during times of distant/online learning and to homeschool and these boards are filled with enough ideas to last you all year!

Teaching, and learning, look different right now as many schools and classrooms have gone online.

Teaching virtually has many challenges. Not knowing what supplies and materials children have available to them at home can be difficult for planning.

I have included a FREE choice board that includes an activity for each subject area that children can easily do at home. It also give you an example of what my other choice boards, available to purchase, are like in terms of activities.

For more homeschooling ideas, visit Large Family Homeschool.

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All of the choice boards are are teacher created and curriculum based. Best of all, they are kid friendly and fun!

They are designed for children in grades k-3, but the ideas and activities are a great review for older children, and a beneficial introduction for younger children.

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A few examples from a science choice board link to purchase below.

The FREE printable choice board included at the bottom of this post includes 12 activities that you can try out at home today. Each activity has a subject area for its focus.

So when you choose activities from the choice boards you know there is learning and educational value to it.

Whether you’re using the choice boards for virtual learning, homeschooling or simply for some hands-on engaging activities for your children to try at home, they are a great resources for families and educators.

If you’re a homeschooling family these boards will give you lots of ideas. For more ideas on your homeschool room setup click the link for great ideas!

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Using the choice boards at home. Children can pick and choose which activities interest them.

There are also 19 printable sheets that have been bundled together available – and I’ve got you covered in all subject areas! All activities can be done at home and require little to no preparation and very few materials. (19 sheets is a bundle of 3 sets together, for over 450 activity ideas.

Individual sets are also available.

The materials required for some of the activities are materials that most families would easily have at home, such as pencils and tape.

There are focused scavenger hunt type activities and since all activities are done at home and are hands-on it makes the activities more valuable as children explore their surroundings.

Subjects covered include, math, language, science, social studies, health and physical education, the arts (music, drama, dance and visual arts) and a bonus outdoor education choice board.

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Changing states of matter science experiment.

There are many ways to use the sheets. Each sheet provides a variety of activities. Many of which children can complete independently, which is ideal during times of online and distant learning.

The curriculum is still covered, but the activities are hands-on and children can pick which activities interest them each day.

Another great way to use choice boards, is simply for ideas. If you have a specific subject area that you are looking for ideas for, check out that subject areas choice board and grab an idea that works for you and your children.

Choice boards are a great spring board for ideas. Often when I am looking for an idea I search online. I often see an idea that I like and then alter it so that it works for me and for the kids that I am planning the activity for.

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Fireworks in a jar science experiment

I personally created the choice boards for my class to be able to use during online learning so that if children and families were looking for some extra ideas for learning activities, they had lots of ideas to choose from.

I also made the choice boards available in my online classroom. If a child finished their work early, they knew to check out the choice boards and pick an activity that was of interest to them.

Simple, independent art projects

At home, with my own kids during distant learning, my kids chose one square from each subject each day. During the summer we often would pick just one or two squares for the day.

This way I know they are learning a variety of information and working on their school subjects. It also gave us a simple activity to keep everyone busy during the day.

Because there are so many activities on the boards, they are a great resource simply for ideas to keep kids busy and learning.

Some activities only take a few minutes, others carry on for a full afternoon. In our house, some of the activities have even lead to further investigation and turned into a week long project.

Either way children are learning and excited about learning!

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Creating a community map for social studies.

By allowing children to choose their daily activities they are guiding their own learning when you homeschool. The choice boards also allow teachers a variety of ideas to use for distant learning.

Teachers can pick and choose which activities fit their class and learning goals.

On days where there may not be as much time, math and language are always a good area to focus! Happy learning!

To download the FREE choice board, enter your email address and subscribe to my blog. Click on the “Subscribe Today” image below.

You will have access to my library where various FREE resources are available. Check my library frequently – I’m always adding new things.

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Extension Ideas

If you enjoy the layout of the choice boards, and the kids enjoy the freedom, there are lots of other things you can do with choice boards. Some classes use them to help structure a “Free Friday” period where children get to choose their activity.

They can be used to guide learning if you homeschool. They are all hands-on creative, but simple activities ideal for at home learning.

You can also challenge children to come up with an activity, for a specific subject area that would work on a choice board and everyone could do at their house.

Collect each child’s choice board idea and create a class choice board together.

You can also create a class choice board by asking all children what their favourite activity has been online. This is a great idea for an end of the year activity.

Looking for More?

If you are looking for more ideas to teach or homeschool, below are the bundles and choice board sets available. The activities are straight forward like the freebie above, but there are more activity ideas – a page for each subject area!

The choice boards will give you lots of ideas for activities that you can do with your child at home to homeschool, or your students through online learning.

There are enough activities to fill a year!

 

 

 

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