Some parents have found that homeschooling their children is a great way to continue their education while keeping them safe since the pandemic. If you have made the decision to homeschool, there are a vast number of resources available to you – right out your back door! If you have an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your California property, you’re in even more luck! With an ADU, you have limitless opportunities to educate your children without having to impact the main living space. Here are five ways you can use your backyard space to homeschool your kids.
1. Garden Lessons
There are many different ways that you can homeschool your kids when you have an ADU. One great idea is to incorporate gardening lessons into your homeschooling routine. By growing herbs and vegetables in a garden bed, your kids can learn all about the life cycle of plants, as well as how important healthy soil and sunlight are for growth and development. They can also learn about topics like pest control, composting, and planting seeds. The ADU can serve as a work area to prep, clean and plan the garden without interrupting your main living space. ADU builders like Acton ADU can build personalized ADUs that have kitchens for cleaning extra storage spaces for their gardening tools.
Gardening is a great opportunity for kids to get some physical activity outside, which is especially important when they spend most of the day sitting at a desk or computer screen. Whether you opt for a small herb garden or have room for multiple beds, your kids will benefit from learning about nature and the great outdoors in a garden.
2. Animal Studies
Another fun option is to incorporate animal studies into your children’s educational experience. This could involve working with and learning from animals in your own backyard, whether that means tending to a garden or watching and interacting with local wildlife. There are also many resources online that you can use to learn more about insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and other creatures, both at home and in the classroom. By immersing your kids in the world of animals, they can gain a better appreciation for all forms of life on Earth and learn valuable skills such as caring for others and observing the natural world.
Do you have any pets? If so, they also can be a great tool for teaching kids about responsibility, empathy, and animal behavior. If you don’t have any pets, maybe now is the time to get a class pet to house in the ADU! Every day, the children can go to the ADU and write down their observations of the pet or perform daily duties such as feeding and cleaning. This also gives them a classroom feeling by getting to go to a separate space each day. Depending on your local laws, you may be able to get a chicken or even a goat. Just make sure you do your research first.
So if you’re looking for creative ways to homeschool your children in an ADU, consider incorporating animal studies into their education!
3. Art in Nature
If you’re looking for ways to homeschool your kids in your ADU, one of the best options is to explore art in nature. This immersive learning experience allows children to discover their own artistic voice as they explore and interact with the world around them. Some possible activities could include sketching or painting in natural settings, watching and recording the weather, or tracking animal movements. No matter what skills or interests your child has, there are plenty of ways to engage with the natural world through art! You can also take a day trip to your local park or simply open up windows in your ADU to let nature in. There are endless opportunities for creative exploration and growth. The best part about having the art studio in the ADU is that it offers much more creative freedom, and because Acton ADU offers personalized ADus in Albany, CA, you can include a kitchen area for quick, easy clean-ups! So why not start today and give your kids an education that’s truly unique?
4. Backyard Reading Nook
Another unique homeschool idea for your ADU is creating a cozy backyard reading nook in your ADU, where your kids can curl up with their favorite books while enjoying some much-needed downtime. You could decorate the space with fun blankets or pillows and add some comfortable seating options, like beanbag chairs or lounge chairs. This unique learning space will help foster a love of reading in your kids while also providing a relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So if you’re looking for ways to homeschool your kids more effectively, consider creating a reading nook in your ADU!
5. Science Experiments
There are many ways that you can homeschool your kids in your auxiliary dwelling unit or ADU. Perhaps the most fun and engaging way to do so is through science experiments. Whether you are exploring new topics or reinforcing concepts that your kids have already learned, educational science experiments are a great way to keep their interest and help them learn in an interactive way.
One great way to get started with science experiments is by integrating STEM activities into your homeschooling routine. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and it covers the foundations of many different fields of study. You can find countless online resources providing step-by-step instructions on how to carry out these kinds of experiments at any level, from preschool through high school. For example, you could try making constellation jars, investigating buoyancy with a homemade boat, or building contraptions out of household materials to test simple machines.
You can also use everyday objects as the basis for learning about science principles in more traditional lab settings. Some easy examples include filling plastic bags with different amounts of water and then gently agitating the bag to see how much it changes shape or creating chemical reactions by mixing various household substances together in bowls or Petri dishes and observing their behavior over time. You could even try conducting simple experiments based on what’s happening outside your ADU—for instance, conducting temperature tests based on sunlight shifts throughout the day using thermal imaging cameras or mixing up cloud formation in miniature DIY terrariums as a nearby storm rolls through town.
Whatever methods you choose for homeschooling your kids in your ADU, science experiments are sure to be both engaging and educational. So dive right in and let your imagination run wild!
ADU Builder in California
If you don’t have an ADU on your California property and are looking for a way to boost the space in your home, Acton ADU can help! As one of the leading builders of ADUs in California, they are experts in creating customized units that are tailored to meet the unique needs of your family. Whether you’re looking for a backyard space to homeschool your children or even an extra bedroom for aging parents or simply need some extra storage space, they can build it! Their experienced designers will work with you to create the perfect ADU that meets your specific requirements and matches your existing home seamlessly. So if you’re ready to make the most out of your Albany, CA, property, click here to contact Acton ADU today and let us help you get started on building your dream ADU!
