How to Plan a Homeschool Field Trip to Ikea

Homeschooling, especially unschooling, means that teaching and learning can go on all the time, and that anything can be a teachable moment. Sure, you can take field trips to museums and art galleries, but how about exploring different cultures through more everyday activities such as shopping and eating? A trip to Ikea will give you a great opportunity to explore and discuss the Swedish culture, and you might be able to sneak in a few math and economics lessons as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 or more children
• An Ikea store within reasonable driving distance
• Money to cover lunch and any shopping you plan to do

1. Drive to your nearest Ikea outlet. As you approach the store, point out the blue and yellow flag and explain that these are the same colors as the flag of Sweden.
2. See if you can spot some of the Swedish words on the signs as you walk into the store and try to guess what the words mean. As you pass the child care center, the "Magic Forest of Smaland", you may tell your child that Smaland is not only a real place in Sweden, but that the world "sma" means little or small so the word also means "land of the small."
3. Point out all of the light-colored wood furniture. Explain that a lot of this furniture is made from birch wood, and that birch trees grow all over Sweden. They are a very fast-growing sort of tree, so birch is used to make a lot of Swedish furniture much in the same way that pine is used to make furniture in this country.
4. Approach the children's area where you will start to see more animal motifs. Discuss which of these animals live in Sweden and which ones live in this country. There, what with talking about birch trees and animals, you've had your biology lesson for the day.
5. Stop by the cafeteria for a lunchtime treat as Ikea is known for its tasty, yet inexpensive, food. Order the meatballs and a lingonberry drink so you can tell your child that you've now had a taste of typical Swedish fare.
6. Buy a small souvenir of your Swedish field trip. Ikea has a number of inexpensive stuffed animals and other items for children's rooms. If you like, you may also purchase food items to take home with you so you can cook up your own Swedish feast.

Tips & Warnings

• If you really want to shop, keep to the children's areas and have your child help to pick out items for his or her room-you may incorporate math and economics lessons here as you compare the prices and features of different items.
• Do not plan to get a lot of shopping done on this trip. You can come back later (or shop by mail) to get all of your Christmas shopping done.