Continuing with our recent theme of targeting big kids and grownups, let’s take a look at some resources that will really get you prepared for deep dives on your next family trip.
FREE Lectures
If video games and podcasts aren’t satisfying your thirst for knowledge about a future destination then perhaps it’s time for some open course lectures. And, for our immediate purposes, let’s stick to the FREE kind that you can experience as a family.
Using Ancient Greece as an example, a quick search on YouTube or at Open Culture or iTunes will reveal so much great information for you or the bigger kids in your family.
For example:
Introduction to Ancient Greek History with historian Donald Kagan
- video lectures
- audio from iTunes
- syllabus, transcripts and materials from fancy Yale course here
There are also several other FREE and open Ancient History and Philosophy courses (we need much help with the latter) you could consider.
Great Courses
Another fantastic resource are the Great Courses. Check your local library first(!) because these can be quite expensive. They’re great for informal (i.e., non classroom) learning and they have courses on literature, food, art, history, and even travel.
Imagine how much more interesting and enjoyable a trip to Greece would be after completing the following sequence as a family:
- Ancient Greek Civilization
- Classical Archaeology of Ancient Greece and Rome
- Great Tours: Greece and Turkey, from Athens to Istanbul
- Greek 101: Learning an Ancient Language
- Our personal favorite: Understanding Greek and Roman Technology: From Catapult to the Pantheon
Pick and choose according to topics of interest. If the kids were only interested in Socrates then just listen/watch those segments. Make it your own and align it to your interests.
This approach applies just as well to any destination, whether it’s french food, Gothic architecture, or nature walks in Switzerland, or Spanish bullfighting.
As always, find ways to a) include the kids in the discovery process (take them to the library with you!) as well as I the discussion about the materials. What did they like/dislike? What questions do they still have? Has any of this come up in their school work before?
Wonderful opportunity to share in the work and pleasure of learning together for family travel.
talk soon,
Dan & Betsy