Unexpected Learning

We went on our first "official" field trip yesterday, to the Museum of Science.  Since I'm incredibly uncomfortable with the very thought of driving in the city, I figured that we could take the train into Boston.  This was my boys' first ever experience on both the commuter rail and subway.

Seamus was beside himself.  He was bouncing with anticipation on the train platform, and spent the entire trip on his knees peering out the window as the train hurried into the city.  The subway was an added bonus, as far as he was concerned.  

This was my first time back to this museum since I was in school myself, and it was surreal to see the some of the same exhibits that I remembered from my childhood, along with just how much has been changed in the years since.  

Watching video footage of the first moon landing
from inside a model of the Apollo command module.

We headed to the small moon exhibit first, since we've been focusing on our solar system.  From there, we set off exploring the rest of the museum.  Computer science and models of dinosaur fossils, specimens of all the birds of New England and hands-on exhibits inviting children (and adults!) to explore mathematical concepts.  

We spent the morning wandering from exhibit to exhibit, and saw less than half of what the museum has to offer before we took a break for lunch.  While sitting in the cafeteria finishing up our meal, Seamus turned to me and requested to go home.  I was stunned, and asked if he was sure, because there was still so much more to see.  "Yes," he responded. "My brain is full, and my brain wants me to go home now."  I couldn't argue with that logic, and nor did I want to disregard that level of self-awareness.  So we packed up, headed back to the train station, and left for home.  

What surprised me once we got home is seeing what Seamus took from this experience.  He set to work in the playroom, constructing a model of the city with his blocks.  Wooden train tracks snaked between the buildings (the subway and commuter rail, I was told).  He added trains and matchbox vehicles, and a blue playsilk to represent the harbor.  He asked for a map of the subway system (so glad that I brought one home!).  And then he sat down with a clipboard and markers and carefully drew a map of his model of the city.

I'm quickly discovering that this, in a nutshell, is the true beauty of homeschooling.  The ability to follow a child's interests, and the learning that emerges from that freedom of exploration.