How To Use Field Trip Notebooks for Homeschool Writing

Field trip notebooks are a fantastic way to sneak in some writing practice while creating a memorable keepsake for your kids. Here’s how you can turn your family trips into learning experiences that your children will cherish for years.

Field Trip Memories (And Learning, Too!)

After a family trip to Michigan, we came home with over 100 pictures, several brochures, and tons of memories. I wanted a practical, creative way for my children to preserve these moments while incorporating some learning. That’s when I thought of blending scrapbooking and notebooking. This fun approach helped us record and count our vacation memories as school time. The result? A perfect combination of education and keepsakes!

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Choose A Sturdy Notebook

Starting with a high-quality, hardcover sketchbook is key. Look for one with thick, acid-free pages—ideal for gluing photos and memorabilia. Since our field trip notebooks are designed to last for years, a hardcover helps keep them in great shape despite all the use. The sturdier the notebook, the better it will preserve these special memories.

Jump Right In!

Keeping a field trip or vacation journal is easier than you might think. I ask my children to fill in one or two pages in their journals for most field trips. When it comes to vacations, they often have more memorabilia, so they get several pages to work with.

The best part? They have total creative freedom with what they add—pictures, brochures, postcards, and other souvenirs. The only non-negotiable element is writing. Whether it’s a summary, a favorite memory, or a reflection on what they learned, they must write about the trip.

Surprisingly, they don’t mind the writing. The writing comes naturally since they’re having so much fun putting the journal together!

To make room for plenty of photos (without breaking the bank on printing), I print multiple pictures in wallet size using our color printer. Though they aren’t as high-quality as professional prints, the kids never seem to mind.

Field Trip Notebooks Make Great Keepsakes

My children genuinely look forward to completing their field trip notebooks. They love flipping through the pages and reliving those moments whenever we pull them out. And let’s be honest—it’s also a sneaky way to get them to practice their writing skills while they feel like they’re getting out of regular schoolwork!

So, how do you sneak in writing assignments for your kids? Let me know in the comments below!

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