Gameschooling by Subject!

November 11, 2019
Written by:
Courtney Newman

Gameschooling by Subject!

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Gameschooling is a popular choice for many homeschoolers for the simple reason that it encourages learning through play.  Many of us recognize the benefit of learning games and educational fun, such as improved memory, increased engagement, and a more positive experience overall.  It’s been shown that kids learn more efficiently when lessons are more enjoyable. Board games for kids offer a medium free of pressure and criticism, which automatically gives children the freedom to fail or succeed without fear.  When grades and percentages are involved, most students automatically equate the meaning of those results with their personal competence and abilities, even if subconsciously. As a result, they can feel more stressed and apprehensive and perform poorly, thus fueling the cycle.  Games eliminate stress or anxiety, whether as online board games, card games, or even certain video games like Minecraft!

While many homeschoolers incorporate games into their homeschool as a supplement or practical application of learned concepts, there are a few homeschoolers who rely predominantly on games to teach new concepts when possible.  Welcome to the world of game schooling! Incredibly, learning games for kids have been created for each subject and are easily at our disposal with sites like Amazon. There are even learning games websites that offer free games for fun!

If you are looking to stock your game closet with the top board games or you just want to round out your collection, we have several great choices to choose from here!  Additionally, if you know a homeschooling family—or even just a game-loving family—these games could be a fantastic Christmas present! As homeschoolers, sometimes the absolute best gifts are the educational ones!  Gameschooling is especially perfect as a holiday homeschooling curriculum choice when relatives start visiting and the days speed by in a flurry of Christmas activities.

Here are several of our favorite learning games for kids, broken down by the four main subjects: Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies.

Language Arts Gameschooling 

Language Arts is a great subject because it spans several branches.  Also known generally as English, Language Arts covers writing, reading, spelling, and grammar.  There are plenty of learning games for kids in each of those topics, which makes English nerds like me all sorts of giddy.  Some of the best family board games are all about words and stories!

Science Gameschooling

Originally with games like Cranium, science became a massive topic for learning games.  When game creators discovered how to include all sorts of experiments, weird facts, and optical illusions, these science games became wildly popular.  The best part? They’re not just cool — they are educational!

 

Math Gameschooling

For some people, mathematical statistics, analytics, and equations can send their hearts fluttering with excitement.  For others, like myself, it sends my heart fluttering, but rather with apprehension. If your homeschooled students are like me and tend to dread math, you may feel skeptical that learning games for kids could make a difference.  Actually, that’s exactly where math games come in handy! These games are perfect for cutting through the confusion and apprehension and showing students that it truly can be fun!

 

Social Studies Gameschooling

Social Studies is a broad term referring to the subjects of history, geography, economics, law, philosophy, and more.  As a result, there are plenty of games available to accompany a social studies course, or even lead the course! Here are both our personal recommendations and several of the most popular board games for homeschoolers.

Learning games for kids are some of the best ways to marry fun with education.  We all remember better when we learn in a positive and enjoyable environment. There’s a reason we can remember song lyrics so easily or facts we learn on our own out of curiosity rather than structured teaching.  When we are having fun in a pressure-free situation, our brains are more receptive to the information and are more likely to store it in a longer-term manner. Educational games hold incredible potential for our students.  Gameschooling is a great way to harness this learning opportunity while taking advantage of the flexibility offered by homeschooling!

Courtney Newman

Courtney Newman is a homeschooled graduate with a love for writing. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Health Science at University of the People. Other than writing, her hobbies include reading, yoga, visiting the beach, and meditating. She lives with her husband and pets in coastal Virginia.