School is back in session — at least for Orange County students — and many are continuing to learn from home amid the presence of COVID-19 in the Sunshine State.
While some Central Florida students will return to campus, many parents have opted to keep their children at home for virtual learning. Just 29 percent of students are signed up for face-to-face lessons for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year in Orange County.
Amid continued homeschooling for some families, Orlando-area moms and dads are likely wondering how to keep the kids engaged while distance learning continues.
On a day where virtual homework and lessons are done, one option is an educational field trip. Central Florida offers a number of ways to get out of the house while still learning. Here are a few suggestions.
Gardens
Orlando’s 50-acre Leu Gardens is chock full of biodiverse plant, insect and animal life. Teach the kids about what an azalea looks like or read about dwarf powder puff plants while strolling the grounds. Use the vegetable garden as an opportunity to talk about where food comes from or watch butterflies flutter while discussing how the insect was once a caterpillar and chrysalis.
Leu Gardens also offers homeschool classes on Zoom ($20 per household, $15 per member household) with hands-on activities for kids to learn from home in an interactive way. Explore topics ranging from pollinators to botany, birds and dinosaurs. Each class includes two free admission passes to the gardens.
Alternatively, take a day trip to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales for similar botanical offerings, plus a chance to see the 205-foot Singing Tower and learn about more Central Florida history. Or pursue a free, local option by taking a walk around Mead Botanical Garden or stopping to paint flowers and wildlife.
For more information, visit leugardens.org, boktowergardens.org or meadgarden.org.
Orlando Science Center
Orlando Science Center has reopened with facial coverings, temperature checks and social distancing required. Inside, kids of all ages can learn about animals, STEM topics, aviation, dinosaurs, planet Earth and more.
Some spaces at the center are currently closed to observe social distancing guidelines. Homeschool programs are offered through OSC’s STEM Discovery Center for grades K-8. Those interested can call 407-514-2112 or email classes@osc.org to learn more.
To find more information about the science center, visit osc.org.
Florida public lands
The outdoors can present a number of nature-based learning opportunities for families who enjoy time in the sun.
Head to Blue Spring State Park to cool off in the spring run, but also discuss the manatees, turtles, fish and alligators that can be found in those waters. Visit De Leon Springs for a history lesson about Florida’s early explorers and the Mayaca Indians.
Alternatively, explore other public lands, such as Orlando Wetlands Park, or one of Seminole County’s hiking options, such as Black Bear Wilderness Area or Little Big Econ State Forest.
Wildlife exploration
The Wild Florida Drive-thru Safari, about an hour south of Orlando, offers visitors the chance to see emus, giraffes, camels, antelopes, water buffalo and other exotic wildlife. Visitors remain in their vehicles throughout the experience, unless they opt to feed giraffes.
This could be turned into a lesson about zebras or cattle, or perhaps a chance to explain how some of those animals aren’t native to Florida, but they can survive here anyway.
Alternatively, visit the classic Central Florida attraction, Gatorland. Find similar educational opportunities with alligators there, and consider the off-road swamp buggy adventure.
For more information, visit wildfloridairboats.com or gatorland.com.
Local museums
The City Beautiful has no shortage of museums featuring art and history. Make a trip to Orlando Museum of Art to catch the final days of the Highwaymen exhibit or head to nearby Mennello Museum of American Art to explore work from Miami artist Mira Lehr. Visit any of Winter Park’s offerings, including the Morse Museum of American Art and Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.
For a history-oriented field trip, go to the Orange County Regional History Center, which showcases 12,000 years of Central Florida heritage. The center also offers homeschool days fit for K-5 standards.
For more information, go to omart.org, mennellomuseum.org, morsemuseum.org, polasek.org or thehistorycenter.org.
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
On a Friday or weekend day, take the kids for a ride on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The lake’s north shore has abundant birds and Floridian animals to discover and discuss. What does a swallow-tailed kite eat? How do phosphorous and pesticides affect water quality and algae blooms?
A self-guided audio tour available online can help provide information about the lake, its history and the ongoing restoration efforts to turn the drive into an educational adventure.
For more information, visit sjrwmd.com.
Cat Cafe
While a visit to one of Orlando’s cat cafes may prove more fun than educational, it can break up the monotony of being inside the house all day. Visit downtown Orlando’s The Kitty Beautiful to play with adoptable cats while enjoying drinks and light bites.
Or take a trip to Clermont to experience the Orlando Cat Café, which has similar offerings. Such a trip could be turned into a lesson on pet ownership or feline behavior.
For more information, go to thekittybeautiful.com or orlandocatcafe.com.
At-home learning adventures
For homeschooling families who are especially coronavirus conscious and prefer to stay inside, there are a number of activities that can help keep distance learning interesting.
Let the kids lead the way and come up with their own ideas. Or make suggestions that involve backyard science lessons, making homemade slime to teach chemistry or cooking in the kitchen together. Plan a daily craft to provide relief from algebra or language arts.
The possibilities are only limited by one’s imagination.
What are some other ways to keep homeschool engaging and interesting? Find me on Twitter @PConnPie, Instagram @PConnPie or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
