School Subjects as Hobbies
A few weeks ago, as I was trying to fall asleep, school subjects crossed my mind.
You know - Math, Science, English, etc. And then I was like why don’t I write down a list of subjects and then either hobbies that correlate with each or ways to educate myself as an adult. As a way to discover new hobbies or to just continue learning. All to become a more well-rounded adult
What follows is a product of a few days of hyperfocus. Enjoy.
It’s split up by subject, followed by a brief description, and then related hobbies as bullet points. Finally, I’ll link some free online courses or resources to further educate yourself or nourish said hobbies.
I think it’s worth mentioning that regardless you can read books, listen to podcasts, take online courses, the usual, to educate yourself on the subject or hobby you’re interested in.
Math
(algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, etc.)
Hobbies
Brain puzzles
Board games
Origami
Coding
Programming
Education:
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
Coursera — free online courses
edX — free online courses
OpenStax — free online texbooks
OpenLearn — free online courses
CrashCourse - Statistics — educational YouTube video series
Additional Education — Join a local math club or meetup.
Economics
(economic principles, systems, and issues)
Hobbies:
Stock market trade simulation/Investing
Entrepreneurship
Budgeting/financial planning
Volunteer w/ economic development organization
Education:
OpenStax Economics — free online texbooks
Marginal Revolution University — online econ videos
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
edX — free online courses
OpenLearn — free online courses
CrashCourse - Entrepreneurship — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Economics — educational YouTube video series
Additional Education —Read economic literature and journals, and attend conferences and workshops, discussions, and groups.
Science
(biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, etc.)
Hobbies:
Astronomy
Gardening
Bird watching
DIY experiments
Bee Keeping
Education:
MIT OpenCourseWare — free online course material
Crashcourse - Biology — educational YouTube video series
Crashcourse - Environmental Science — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Organic Chemistry — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Botany — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - History of Science — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Physics — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Astronomy — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Anatomy & Physics — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Chemistry — educational YouTube video series
edX — free online courses
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
OpenStax — free online texbooks
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education —read scientific journals and literature, and attend workshops and conferences.
Environmental Sciences
(environment, ecology, sustainable practices)
Hobbies:
Gardening
Landscaping
Composting
Hiking
Camping
Wildlife photography
Environmental advocacy
Permaculture
Taxidermy
Education:
OpenLearn — free online courses
OpenStax — free online texbooks
CrashCourse - Climate & Energy — educational YouTube video series
Physical Education
(physical fitness, sports, and overall well-being)
Hobbies:
Walking
Hiking
Cycling
Team sports
Yoga
Pilates
Martial arts
Archery
Backpacking
Bowling
Bungee Jumping
Crossfit
Disc Golf
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Horseback Riding
Ice Skating
Juggling
Kayaking
Kite Surfing
Paintball
Powerlifting
Rock Climbing
Rollerblading
Skiing
Slacklining
Snowboarding
Surfing
Swimming
Water Skiing
Sailing
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Shuffleboard
Skydiving
Table Tennis
Education:
Fitness Blender — free online workouts
edX — free online courses
OpenStax — free online texbooks
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education — fitness apps, YouTube workouts, joining a local team or club, taking fitness classes, or hiring a personal trainer.
Home Economics
(practical life skills, such as cooking, sewing, financial literacy)
Hobbies:
Sewing
Cooking
Baking
Cake decorating
budgeting/financial planning
Home decorating/interior design
Bread making
Brewing
Cheese Making
Mixology
Winemaking
Wine tasting
Thrifting
Education:
Cooking and Baking Blogs & Books
Your library will have endless books on all of these
Sewing.org — free sewing & craft projects, learn to sew
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
OpenLearn - free online courses
Additional Education — Cooking or baking classes, DIY home projects, financial literacy courses, sewing/crafting workshops.
English/Language Arts
(study of literature, grammar, writing, language skills)
Hobbies:
Reading
Writing (creative, journaling, blogging, poetry)
Book club
Storytelling
Acting
Education:
Project Gutenberg — free eBooks
Open Culture — free cultural & educational media
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
edX — free online courses
CrashCourse - Linguistics — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Lit 1 — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Lit 2 — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Lit 3 — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Lit 4 — educational YouTube video series
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education — Join a book club, creative writing workshops, author talks or literary events.
Foreign languages
(languages such as Spanish, French, German, etc.)
Hobbies:
Speaking with native speakers
Watching foreign films/shows
Reading books written in other languages
Traveling + speaking the local language
Language learning games/apps
Education:
Additional Education —Language exchange meetups, courses, watching, reading, and speaking in a foreign language.
Social Studies
(history, geography, civics, economics, cultural studies)
Hobbies:
Historical reenactment
traveling/exploring other cultures
Genealogy
Political activism
Community service
National Park Travelers Club
Education:
MIT OpenCourseWare — free online course material
Nat Geo Society Education — free online learning resources
Khan Academy - free online courses
edX — free online courses
OpenStax — free online texbooks
CrashCourse - Geography — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Black American History — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Big History — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Big History 2 — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - European History — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - World Mythology — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - World History — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - World History 2 — educational YouTube video series
OpenLearn - free online courses
Additional Education —Watching historical documentaries and films, visiting museums, and historical sites, and attending cultural events.
Sociology
(Human society, social relationships, institutions)
Hobbies:
Community service
Volunteer for local social causes
Cultural exchange program
Urban planning
Education:
CrashCourse - Sociology — educational YouTube video series
OpenStax — free online texbooks
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education — Watching lectures and seminars, community service projects, and joining social community groups.
Law & Government
(legal system, political structures, civic responsibilities)
Hobbies:
Model UN
Mock trial
Volunteer in a legal aid organization
Involvement in local government
Election Forecasting
Education:
CrashCourse - U.S. Government and Politics — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Media Literacy — educational YouTube video series
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
edX — free online courses
OpenStax — free online texbooks
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education —Watch legal seminars and workshops, volunteer in community legal aid organizations, and stay informed about current news.
Philosophy/Ethics
(fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and morality)
Hobbies:
Debating
Ethical discussions
Writing philosophical essays
Attending discussion groups
Education:
Coursera — free online courses
edX — free online courses
CrashCourse — Philosophy — educational YouTube video series
MIT OpenCourseWare - Philosophy — free online course materials
Additional Education — Read philosophical work and essays, attend discussion groups or book clubs, and listen to podcasts or lectures.
Psychology
(human behavior and mental processes)
Hobbies:
Mindfulness
counseling/mentoring
Studying body language/non-verbal cues
Volunteer in mental health organization
Education:
edX — free online courses
OpenLearn — free online courses
CrashCourse — Psychology — educational YouTube video series
Additional Education — Online webinars, read books and journals, attend workshops on mental health and well-being.
Religious Studies
(examines beliefs, practices, and histories of different religions)
Hobbies:
Comparative religion studies
Meditation/prayer
Visiting places of worship
Interfaith dialogue
Education:
Religion for Breakfast — YouTube channel
Let’s Talk Religion — YouTube channel
OpenLearn — free online courses
Additional Education — Read religious texts and literature, attend services and events, partake in interfaith dialogue.
Arts
(includes visual arts - drawing, painting, sculpture - music, drama and dance)
Hobbies:
Crafting
drawing/sketching
Painting
Playing musical instruments
Community theater
Art Collecting
DJ
Calligraphy
crocheting/knitting
Dancing
Clothing design
Glassblowing
Graphic design
Jewelry making
Metalwork/Welding
Needlepoint
Origami
Photography
Pottery
Quilting
Scrapbooking
Weaving
Wood burning
Woodworking
Furniture Restoration
Karaoke/Singing
Makeup
Stand up comedy
Soapmaking
Candle Making
Education:
YouTube and TikTok are great for searching for a quick (or long) how-to video
edX — free online courses
OpenLearn — free online courses
CrashCourse - Film History — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Film Criticism — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Film Production — educational YouTube video series
CrashCourse - Theater and Drama — educational YouTube video series
Additional Education — Take art classes, music lessons, go to art galleries, concerts, productions, and community art projects.
Computer Science
(study of programming, computer systems, and technology)
Hobbies:
Video game design
Web development
Virtual reality
software/app development
Robot Combat/Building robots
Flying (pilot license)
Education:
Codecademy — learn to code online for free
Udacity — has free online classes (as well as paid)
freeCodeCamp — learn to code online for free
W3Schools — coding courses and exercises
Khan Academy — free courses, lessons & practice
edX — free online courses
OpenLearn — free online courses
Media Studies
(analyzes media content, communication, journalism)
Hobbies:
Blogging
Vlogging
Podcasting
Photography
Videography
Content creation
Investigative journalism
Amateur radio host
Education:
MediaSmarts — digital media literacy programs and resources
YouTube Creators — get started creating on YouTube
CrashCourse - Media Literacy — educational YouTube video series
Additional Education — Courses, events, or conferences, follow trends and news on various platforms.
Fun and Games Hobbies
(not necessarily part of a particular subject — although I’m sure they are)
Billiards/Pool
Board Games
Card Games
Chess
Crossword puzzles
Escape Rooms
Fantasy Sports
Jigsaw Puzzles
Lego Sets
Model Trains/Planes
Remote airplanes, boats, cars
Trivia
Video Games
Wow, I’m crossed-eyed from making this so I sure hope you enjoy this.