By A. T. German
As a home educator, you have the option to teach your children through unique experiences. Why not utilize a yearbook as a way to introduce new subjects into your curriculum? Creating a yearbook will give your children or homeschool group a chance to learn about photography, computer skills, graphic design, journalism, time management, sales, business, advertising, budgeting, and teamwork.
First, you need to select a yearbook company. You can count on Memory Book Company (www.memorybook.com/homeschool), a homeschool yearbook specialist with more than 20 years of experience, for quality, value, and performance. Plus, they offer an easy online design program that allows you to create yearbooks from your home computer. And they’ll provide help and tips to guide you every step of the way.
Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate new subjects your children can use while creating a yearbook.
- Photography
Pictures are an essential element of a yearbook. Your yearbook pages should be filled with individual pictures and group activity pictures. Have children practice their photography skills by taking the pictures. They should learn how to take a quality picture with either a traditional or digital camera by considering the subject matter, lighting, shadows, background and composition to ensure they all work together.
- Computer Skills
Creating a yearbook also requires computer skills. After the pictures have been taken, children can learn how to transfer the images to the computer or how to scan images. Then, teach children how to upload pictures, re-name files, locate files on the hard drive, and more.
- Graphic Design
Designing a yearbook gives children the opportunity to express their creativity. And they’ll learn important design elements such as page layout techniques, bleed requirements, background and image placement, and the organization of pages with the yearbook ladder. And don’t forget the yearbook cover – have your children create a cover design and hold a contest to pick the winner!
- Journalism
Aspiring writers can showcase their talent by creating stories and captions for activity pages. You can also have your children write an introduction or dedication for the beginning of the yearbook.
- Time Management
Meeting deadlines to get the yearbook produced on time is important. This can also spark a conversation about time management with your children. To ensure that yearbooks are delivered by the date you set, forms and materials need to be turned in by predetermined deadlines.
- Sales
Once you decide to produce a yearbook, your children will need to sell all the copies you’ve ordered. They can practice sales techniques by selling yearbook copies to other homeschool children in the group, family members, or clubs that will be featured in the yearbook.
- Business
The yearbook can be treated as a business project, and children can manage the operation from start to finish.
- Marketing/Advertising
A great way to offset costs is to sell advertising space in your yearbook. Children can visit local businesses to sell ads, or approach homeschool families and ask them to purchase space to publish words of encouragement for their children. Overall, it is a great way to learn how to sell, create, and produce advertising materials.
- Budgeting/Economics
Teach children how to manage a budget. Start by analyzing all yearbook costs, and determine how to create revenue while remaining profitable. Have them monitor expenditures and report periodically on their progress.
- Teamwork
The yearbook is a team effort, and your children will learn to work with others to accomplish a goal. They can also learn effective management techniques to engage and motivate their teammates.
What can a yearbook mean to your family?
For some it can serve as a way to look back on childhood memories and friends. For others, it is a chance to show relatives achievements and accomplishments. Regardless of whether you pull out a yearbook twenty years from now or if you proudly present it this year so grandparents can see what their grandchildren have done, a yearbook is a tradition that brings people together. Your children should have a yearbook to remember their homeschool experience.
