A trip to Walt Disney World can be educational as well as fun…
Homeschoolers may all approach education differently, but most homeschool families have one thing in common: they can find learning opportunities just about anywhere. Walt Disney World is packed with educational places where kids can enjoy hands-on learning in truly immersive environments. If you’re looking for a way to incorporate your own lesson plans into a Walt Disney World vacation, these ideas will offer a great place to start.
Since every educator does things differently, these sections offer broad ideas that are easily customized to suit your children’s ages, interests, and learning style.
1. American history in Magic Kingdom
Liberty Bell at Magic Kingdom
The whimsical air of the Magic Kingdom doesn’t immediately make you think of American history, but if you take a closer look at Liberty Square and Frontierland, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for an educational experience. These areas were designed with great attention to detail so they could provide an immersive step back in time.
Liberty Square is the perfect place to bring your lesson plan on America’s founding fathers to life. The architecture includes period-specific details that take you back to the late 1700s. In the Hall of Presidents you’ll find several authentic artifacts from the lives of various American presidents. Study the presidents before your visit and see how many your children can accurately point out on stage. Each one says his name, so you can check to see if you were right.
Head to Frontierland and you’ll travel into the old west of the early 1800s. Look for period details in the architecture here as well. Read “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” before you come and see how many scenes and references you can tie back in to the book as you explore Tom Sawyer Island.
2. World cultures in Epcot
Each pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase transports you to another country. Whether you learn about one country in-depth or you cover them all, doing a lesson on world cultures before you arrive will give you endless opportunities to tie your lessons in with real life experiences on your visit.
Brush up on your French and see how many signs and menu items you can accurately translate in the France pavilion. Look for iconic landmarks that closely mimic the originals, such as the red tori gate along the lagoon in Japan, which resembles the gate to the Itsukushima Shrine, or the minarets in Morocco that are inspired by the Chella minaret in Rabat and Koutoubia minaret in Marrakesh.
Cast Members throughout World Showcase are genuine locals from the countries they represent. If your children have questions about modern day life in these locations, make sure they write them down before coming so they can interview these invaluable sources of information.
3. Trains, trains, trains
Walt Disney loved trains, and you’ll find plenty of them throughout the parks. The locomotives that run on the WDW Railroad date from 1916 to 1928. If your family includes someone who’s fascinated with trains – just like Walt – put together a lesson covering the history of railroads so you can appreciate the authentic steam engines on site. For an in-depth look, you can sign up for Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour.
Add some more fun on the rails to your vacation with a stop at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. See how many railroad pieces you can spot around the queue. Does that height sign look a little funny? You can also ride a train at Animal Kingdom from Africa to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and see an expansive miniature train set in Germany at Epcot.
4. Conservation at Epcot and Animal Kingdom
Conservation is incredibly important at Walt Disney World, and there are several attractions that drive the point home. In Epcot, Ellen’s Energy Adventure offers an engaging lesson about fossil fuels and alternative energy sources. The building is even partially powered by solar cells on the roof. Check out innovative farming techniques on Living with the Land. The Circle of Life film, featuring Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa, is the perfect follow-up. This short movie touches on important environmental themes like deforestation and pollution. The Behind the Seeds Tour is an excellent inclusion with this lesson.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom continues the theme beautifully with several actionable messages and hands-on activities that demonstrate how everyone in the family can promote conservation at home. This is a great place for children to ask questions and really interact with the staff of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
5. Zoology at Animal Kingdom
Study the wildlife of Africa before your visit and you won’t even need the tour guide on Kilimanjaro Safari for your family to fully appreciate the wildlife. See how many animals your kids can spot and name both here and on the walking trails. Pick up an animal guide at the entrance to the park and you can make sure you stop by all the live animal habitats in the park – there are more than you may think!
If you prefer to launch your lesson plan at Disney World and follow up at home, this is an excellent choice. Let your children collect photos of various animals around the park, then go home and build a scrapbook of all the new species they spotted. Do further research on each animal and include fun facts and a basic profile of each on its own individual page.
6. The science of theme park attractions
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Older children can really delve deep into the science behind theme park attractions. Check out the DVDs in The Science of Disney Imagineering series. These movies cover the laws of motion, gravity, levers and pulleys, energy, electricity, magnetism, trajectory, friction, fluids, and more. Take the time to watch these DVDs before your visit and enjoy the opportunity to see and experience all these scientific principles live on your vacation.
When you get back, each child can put together a project with their own photos or videos from the vacation, explaining how these scientific principles came to life in the parks and what it was like experiencing them. Don’t be surprised if your children begin applying these principles to the creative design of their own imaginative future attractions. You may just have a budding Imagineer on your hands!
