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When you go out on the road, traveling is a great time to instill a bit of the nation’s history into your child’s education. There are numerous opportunities along the way to make this experience a fun one.
One of the best sources for this kind of experience can found in national and state parks. Many of the historical sites are located in beautiful locations that also feature camping, hiking, water access and other types of outdoor fun. For example, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is loaded with experiences that will create lasting memories and teach your children about the country’s early history. This includes settlers, homesteading and the native people that lived in the area. George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri has many activities dealing with African-American history and related events.
When you visit a park, ask if they have a program for children to do while they are visiting. A popular thing with the National Park System is the Junior Ranger Program allows the children to earn a badge if they complete various activities. These help them learn about the different facts, events and people who once existed in the park and how they are important in history. These types of activities really make learning fun for kids and their parents.
You can also find people along the way who actually experienced history and can relate stories about certain events. This can instill a different view of things from a traditional textbook and help your child to learn history in a whole new way.
