Stuck for new learning ideas? Craving something different for your child’s classroom? Tight on funds but feeling like trying something new? Looking for something to keep hands and minds active on weekends and vacations?
Try my list of Fifty places to learn in your own home town! And if you think these places aren’t educational, think again! Every one of these locations had to meet at least one these very strict (and unofficial) criteria to make it onto my list…
- free or inexpensive admission, free tour or free to just walk around
- within easy commuting distance of most people
- must offer some kind of “stuff” to take home (map, brochure, nutritional information, etc) for students to read or study later on
- have some element of fun or curiosity
- available in most cities and towns
and
- offer something to learn about
Let’s go!
List of 50 Places of Learning in Your Own Home Town
- Museum
- Library
- Hospital
- Thrift store
- Real estate office
- Book store
- Home improvement center
- Department of Education
- Department of Motor Vehicles / Tag office
- Chamber of Commerce
- Rest area
- School
- Church
- Friend’s attic
- Grandparent’s basement
- Court house
- Bank
- Restaurant
- Post office
- Community club
- Veterinarian
- Doctor’s office
- Movie theatre
- Community Center
- Agricultural station
- Department of Forestry, Fish & Game, Wildlife etc.
- 4-H Office
- Bakery
- Firehouse
- Police sub-station
- Grocery store
- Building or Zoning Department
- Department of Public Works
- Water treatment plant
- Waste or recycling center
- Scrap yard or salvage center
- Vineyard or Winery (with parental supervision, of course)
- Factory or manufacturing plant of any kind
- Farm
- Bee keeper
- Historical site
- Lifeguard station
- Law office
- College or university
- Airport
- Office supply store
- Pharmacy
- Auditorium
- Visitor’s Center
- Auto dealer
Remember when visiting these locations to look all around, take photos, ask questions, view any exhibits, accept offers for information or demonstrations, and then grab any business cards, brochures, names of web sites or other information that is offered before going home. Follow up by learning more at home, even creating scrapbooks or journals if you like. Or, just chat about them again at dinner, at bed time or the next day to see if there may be any extra little bit of learning that can still be squeezed out of the experience.
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