Did you read that we’re going on a family road trip? Yep, and we’re excited about all kinds of great family moments. (And probably a few squabbles that we’ll live through just fine as well.) My normal operating mode would be to make each of the kiddos their own travel journal to fill out along the way and fact sheets and worksheets for them to do while we go along. There are tons of great free travel journal printable ones on Pinterest like this one, this one, and this one. And there are bunches of state unit studies with printable fact sheets and reports and activities for them to learn about our route. (Check out our Teaching Geography Pinterest board for links)

Buuuut….at 10, 11, and 13 now, my crew doesn’t think that sort of thing is very fun. They think that sounds like school. School while on a road trip vacation? Y-U-C-K. And our whole goal here is F-U-N. So rather than focused educational materials, I’m trying to take a narrative approach. I’d like to show them how to collect information and spit it out as part of our family’s road trip story.

We’re doing a Family Road Trip Journal. One journal for the whole family–and I’ll do most of the writing. {smile} That way everyone gets to put something in, but no one feels like it’s a bunch of not-fun work. And we still get all the memories.

I decided to use a SMASH book since that’s my favorite journaling tool. (You can see some of my other Smash books here, and here.)

I made up our own printable travel journal sheet, printed it out at 70% and glued a couple in. (Like it? Grab it for yourself!)

I only did the first page or two because we’re not over-planning the trip, so I don’t want to over-plan our trip journal. Who knows what will happen? {smile} But I threw plenty of extras in a binder folder for while we’re traveling.

I made the journal page focused on shared experiences, not “I'” experiences since we’re journaling as a family. I was also a little up in the air about the weather thing on most of them. But Mr. Fix-It pointed out that we plan on camping for several days on the trip, so weather is kinda a big deal. {smile}

Then I printed some state fact sheets and coloring pages to insert as we go along. They can take turns coloring them and gluing them in. You’ll see a pack of colored pencils in my supply pile for them. This will let them be hands-on in the project without it becoming a burden.

Coloring Printables

• Vintage state-by-state postcards to color
• Vintage state-by-state stamps to color

 

Other Fun, Pre-Colored Printables

• How States Got Their Names
• State bird/flower/flag images (This was the best site I found for clear, well-organized images)
• State logo stickers
• State bird/flower stamp images

 

I also just did some random Pinterest searches by state name for where we would be going and found some cool images to print. Vintages maps and such. I printed some on cardstock, some on regular paper, and some as stickers. (Please be conscious of copyright when using other people’s work!) I stuck them in that folder to be used as we feel like.

And I threw some markers/journaling pens, a few washi tapes (love these travel-themed ones!), some post-it notes, a glue stick, and some scissors in a pencil pouch to take long. The pen/glue stick combo that comes with a Smash book works for most things all by itself! I threw some Smash pockets and a couple plain mail and banking envelopes in the folder. They are easy to glue in for holding receipts, photos printed later, and fun memorabilia you collect along the way. (PS…You definitely need a Smash Band–these books get thick as you go along!)

Just like the kiddos being confined in the backseat, I won’t have much room in the front seat for project stuff. Most accessorizing will probably happen when we get home. But I’d like for there to be a few pieces for the crew to SMASH in as we go to keep their minds engaged.

Other things we’ll collect?

• Campsite brochures and maps
• Museum or park maps
• Receipts
• Menus
• Napkins
• Labels and tags
• Real postcards
• Tickets
• Lots of pictures! Including the kiddos being able to collect their own pictures in our selfie-scavenger hunt with their Amazon Fire tablets!

 

Do you have any favorite journaling supplies?