Charter a Voyage of Learning

Activities That Families Can Do at Home While Participating in Distance Learning or Homeschooling

For parents and caregivers who want their children to get a great education, these are challenging times. Some places are closed, and many of us feel safer staying close to home, but we still want our children to keep learning and growing. That’s why we keep updating our Charter a Voyage of Learning guide with new activities that families can do at home.

Continue the Learning Voyage

The San Antonio Charter Moms has experience helping you find the right schools for your children, and now we also have a guide to educational experiences that you can do at home, as a family, to keep the learning going. We started this project in June 2020 with our Charter a Summer of Learning guide, and we are keeping it going through the school year with new activities.

Whether your family is doing distance learning or going to school on campus, or if you are doing homeschooling, microschooling, virtual school, etc., these activities can supplement your child’s academic work, spark joy, and create lasting memories.

Explore different topics, from reading and math to life skills and wellness, and get advice from experts at local schools and nonprofit organizations. The cost is low, the fun factor is high, and each activity is designed to be practiced safely while social distancing. Whether your child is in preschool, grade school or upper school, each activity has tips to modify it for different age groups.

We hope the fun activities in our Charter a Voyage of Learning guide will keep the learning going while you and your family are staying safe at home. This is not the school year that any parent was hoping for. By filling our days and weekends with activities and learning, we can make memories together and prepare our kids for the year of challenges and opportunities ahead.

Reading and Writing Activities

Audiobooks Bring the Joy of Reading to Your Busy Life by Carly Friedman
Early Learning Activities with Mrs. Gupta by Anindita Gupta
Host a Book Swap by Carly Friedman
Learning a New Language by Mary Field
Kids Teaching a Lesson to Adults by Mary Luehring
Storytelling: A Special Father’s Day Gift by Gary Boyd

Math, Science, and Technology Activities

Bird BINGO With the Witte Museum by Colleen Ferguson and Helen Holdsworth
Discover Math All Around Us by Ambika Dani
Early Learning Activities with Mrs. Gupta by Anandita Gupta
Exploring Magnetism by Kelly Alston
Kitchen Chemistry: Elephant Toothpaste by Audrey Hagopian
Kitchen Chemistry: Snowstorm in a Bottle by Audrey Hagopian
Kitchen Chemistry: Weather Science by Audrey Hagopian
LEGO Simple Machines for Kids With STEMtastic by Janie Sellers
Oh Snap! Math Games by Vicki Leach
Play Excel Chess Online by Steve Chase
Solar Oven S’mores by Inga Cotton
Water Purification at Confluence Park With the San Antonio River Foundation’s Nature of Art Education Series by Sara Ramirez

Activities for Social and Emotional Wellness

Family Self-Care Plan by Erica Martinez, MSW
Fostering Dogs as a Family Community Service Activity by Ramona Gutierrez
Friend Tree: Draw Strength From Your Community by Jeff Flores and Khalid Zacharia
Grumpy Pants: Art and Emotional Wellness by Jessica G. Rivera
Learning That Matters: Using an Inquiry-Based Learning Approach at Home by Justin Johnston
Making Faces and Building Social and Emotional Skills by Jennifer St. Pierre and Elizabeth Scott
Making Memes and Building Character by Amanda Maloney
Mindfulness Moments with Yoga for Classrooms by Paula Turner
The New Digital Parenting: Connections Over Conflict by Emily Daniels and Lindsay Durham
What Happened to Sleep Schedules? by Emily Daniels and Lindsay Durham

Physical Activities

Coin Flip Fitness for Staying Healthy at Home by Steven Ramirez
Dance Away Summer Blues by Vanessa Bessler
Explore San Antonio’s Greenway Trails System by Brandon Ross
“Spell Your Name” At Home Fitness Activity—with a Plank Challenge! by Aicha Mosha

Outdoor Activities

Bird BINGO With the Witte Museum by Colleen Ferguson and Helen Holdsworth
Explore San Antonio’s Greenway Trails System by Brandon Ross
Fairy Gardening by Iris Gonzalez
Family Basketball Day by Lora Idol
Nature Box by Walden Pond by Bekah McNeel (aka Hall Monitor)
Stay Green at Home by Greg Behl and Wendy Bradley
Water Purification at Confluence Park With the San Antonio River Foundation’s Nature of Art Education Series by Sara Ramirez

Activities to Learn Life Skills

Clean a Bathroom by Lora Idol
Cookin’ Smart in the Foodie Classroom with Dave Terrazas
Cutie Charcuterie with Dave Terrazas
Discussing College and Career by Lisa Cunningham
Financial Responsibility by Nancy Sheridan
Kids and Organization by Lora Idol
Kids Learn to Cook With the Whis-Kid Guidebook by Lora Idol
Kids Learning Typing by Inga Cotton
Spooky Snack Board in the Foodie Classroom with Dave Terrazas

Arts, History, and Culture Activities

Basquiat Art Project: Make a Portrait in the Style of Jean-Michel Basquiat by Katie Mallette
Black History in San Antonio with SAAACAM by Deborah Omowale Jarmon
Civics: Teach Your Kids About the Right to Vote by Inga Cotton
Commemorating Native American Heritage Month at the Briscoe Western Art Museum by Ryan Badger
Classical Music by Troy Peters
Dance Away Summer Blues by Vanessa Bessler
Film Studies by Nathan Cone
Jazz by Barry Brake
Nature Box by Walden Pond by Bekah McNeel (aka Hall Monitor)
Use Your Imagination With the Magik Theatre by Laura Aplin
The West Starts Here With the Briscoe Western Art Museum by Ryan Badger

Share the Learning on Social

Post about your activity on social media and tag @sachartermoms to show us the ways you have found to Charter a Voyage of Learning! Use the hashtag #chartervoyagelearning.