When you think about your family’s visits to Silverwood, “educational” may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, as a homeschooling mom to 6 kids, I’ve come to recognize that the best learning experiences are usually those where you don’t even realize you’re learning!
Visiting Silverwood Theme Park can be a perfect learning opportunity for kids and teens. Here are a few fun ideas for incorporating Silverwood and Boulder Beach into your homeschool curriculum as a field trip.
Map Reading
Map reading is becoming a lost skill, and GPS is readily available everywhere. A trip to Silverwood provides an excellent way for kids to practice their map reading skills.
Give your kids a park map and ask them to find the shortest way to the next ride or waterslide. You can also ask them to locate all the restrooms on the map or the nearest concession stand. Younger kids will probably need lots of help at first, but with practice, they’ll learn how to read a map key, estimate distance, and find the most direct route.
Physics and mechanics
Silverwood and Boulder Beach are packed with practical examples of engineering, physics, and simple machines at work. Show your little ones examples of pulleys and gears on big coasters like Stunt Pilot or Timber Terror. You can experience Newton’s Laws of Motion in action as you feel the forces pulling and pushing your body on the rides.
For older kids, watch a few YouTube videos on the physics of roller coasters before your visit. Then, when you’re at Silverwood, ask them to explain how the machinery works or discuss G-forces’ effects on your body. As you explore the park, you’ll see the practical applications for many concepts of speed, velocity, gravity, hydraulics, and more.
You can even follow up at home with a challenge to design a mini coaster at home (there are some great science kits for this).
Math & Budgeting
A day at Silverwood is a great opportunity for your older kids to practice budgeting and mental math skills. Preload a cash band or cash card for your child or teen, then let them decide how to spend it.
Our boys saved their allowances for several weeks leading up to our trip. Then we took them to the gift shops and let them figure out how to spend their money. Can you find a more exciting way to practice comparison shopping and estimation skills than buying a park souvenir?
Chess practice
Our family’s official meeting place was the lawn chess set, so our kids often played a short game while waiting for other family members to arrive. The giant chess pieces made it easier for our younger ones to follow the game play. Our older kids enjoyed the opportunity to practice their strategy and thinking skills.
Historical Elements
Silverwood is a park full of history! We love to borrow books from the library about things we will be seeing on a trip a couple weeks in advance to build interest. Some topics to research ahead of time for a Silverwood trip could include steam locomotives, the American West, animals of the Pacific Northwest, and silver mining.
When you’re at the park, take some time to explore the train station and other historically themed buildings. The architectural features and decor around Silverwood evoke a particular time and place. Teaching your kids to actively notice these features is a great way to pass the time waiting for your next ride.
Our oldest daughter is fascinated by historical dress and fashion. She loved how Silverwood’s characters and uniforms offer fun, real-life examples of design. Park shows offer even more opportunities for costume study.
Of course, riding the steam train and seeing one of the Train Shows is a must-do for a homeschool family that loves history. Younger kids will love the action, while older kids and teens can practice critical thinking skills while discussing the shows for historical accuracy.
These are just a few examples of ways to incorporate a Silverwood visit into your homeschool curriculum. Please share your ideas for how your family learns at Silverwood and Boulder Beach in the comments!
Meet Your Conductor
Hiya! I’m Jenn Warren, business owner and content creator. Along with my husband Brian and our six children, I love to explore new places and have fun adventures at places like Silverwood! I’m passionate about supporting parents of neurodivergent kids (ADHD, autism, cPTSD, gifted and more) and helping families build strong relationships. I share our family’s travels and stories at the DinkumTribe blog as well as on TikTok and YouTube (@dinkumtribe ).
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