How to Use Nearpod for Lazy Days and Learning Gaps: A Homeschool Mom’s Secret Weapon

Let’s be honest—some homeschool days feel like a win, others feel like a wash. Between travel, appointments, unexpected errands, and those “I-don’t-want-to” days, maintaining momentum in your homeschool can feel prettttty tough. That’s where Nearpod (a free online tool) becomes my homeschool secret weapon—especially during the summer.

Whether you’re road-tripping across the state or just juggling a chaotic week, Nearpod keeps learning meaningful, interactive, and independent. It fills the gaps when life interrupts your perfect plan and transforms “lazy days” into low-effort, high-engagement learning time.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how we use Nearpod in our homeschool, my favorite lessons to keep on hand, and how to pair it with Curio’s writing and speaking classes for a complete (and fun!) learning strategy.

What Is Nearpod—and Why Is It Perfect for Homeschool?

Nearpod is an interactive digital learning platform that blends video, quizzes, virtual field trips, and open-ended questions into one seamless experience. It’s designed for classrooms, but as a homeschool mom, I use it as a plug-and-play tool for independent learning—especially when I don’t have the bandwidth to lead a lesson myself.

We actually use quite a few free and paid online tools in our homeschool. In this video, I go into 8 of them! 

With both live and student-paced options, kids can explore lessons at their own speed (perfect for asynchronous days or multiple learners) while staying engaged with interactive tools. That said, we ONLY use the student-paced mode. It's awesome to pop a list of topics and links into a little Google Sheet, share it with my kiddo, and have them check off what they've done.

It looks like this! 

When We Use Nearpod: Real-Life Homeschool Scenarios

Here are just a few ways we rely on Nearpod during homeschool "off days":

✈️ Travel Days

Heading out of town? I search & edit a few Nearpod lessons ahead of time so my kids can do them on the plane, in the car, or while we’re waiting in lobbies. We’ve done everything from virtual tours of Machu Pichu to interactive lessons on animal adaptations—without carrying around all the extra weight of books!

🧠 Sick Days or Busy Weeks

When I need to rest, catch up on work, or we’re adjusting to new routines, I pull up a few student-paced Nearpod lessons that align with our current topics—or just let them explore something new. They feel productive, I get a breather, and no one is frustrated.

😒 “I Don’t Wanna” Days

Even my most motivated kid has days when nothing sounds fun. With Nearpod and other tech tools like these, I give choices: “Do you want to learn about volcanoes, Mars, or endangered animals today?” Having control over the topic—and knowing they can click and drag, answer polls, and watch videos—helps turn reluctant learners into curious ones again.

Our Favorite Nearpod Lessons & Features

Here are a few Nearpod lessons & features we return to again and again:

• Growth Mindset – A great way to start a new school year or reset attitudes mid-season

• Historical Figures – We’ve loved the WWII and Civil Rights Movement topics

• Descriptive Writing Practice – When grammar in a book is just a bridge too far

• Virtual Field Trips – Our favorites: science labs, multi-masted ships, and Mars!

• Civics & Digital Citizenship – Important, timely, and easy to discuss together afterward

👉 Want to see how I organize our digital learning week with Nearpod?
Watch my YouTube video here that walks you through how to create a Nearpod lesson from scratch or use one of the over 22,000 premade lessons in the Nearpod library!

Complete the Picture with Curio Writing & Speaking Classes

While Nearpod offers great plug-and-play academic content, your homeschooler also needs opportunities to develop original thoughts, write clearly, and speak with confidence. That’s where Curio’s writing and public speaking classes come in.

At Curio, kids get personalized support as they:

• Craft strong writing with creative prompts and real-world topics

• Practice speaking in small, supportive groups

• Build confidence through student-led discussions and warm-ups

Pairing Nearpod for independent learning with Curio for live writing, book study, and speaking instruction has given so many kids the structure they need and the freedom they crave—especially during summer!

Final Thoughts: Lazy Days Don’t Have to Mean Lost Learning

Some days will be messy. Some will be magical. With tools like Nearpod and Curio, you don’t have to choose between rest and rigor. You can give your kids meaningful learning experiences—even on the days when no one wants to pull out a textbook.

Start your flexible, fun summer strategy now by exploring:

🔗 thinkcurio.com – Find your next writing, book club, or public speaking class
🎥 Everything You Need to Know About Nearpod – See how to get started with Nearpod
🧠 Nearpod.com – Create a free account and explore the lesson library