Science!

We are trying something new this year for science. When Kaley was in HS we did a typical package curriculum that she did not get much out of, did not enjoy and I had no hands on or experience with whats so ever. I really wanted to do it differently for the other children coming up.

While they are elementary age, we enjoy reading natural history books, nature journaling, playing in and experiencing nature, recording the changes in our world in a book of firsts and much more, but with a focus on the natural world. We use good literature to learn, just like we do any other subject. So why did I give that up for high school? I could never figure that out. I guess I just thought I had to, for the older student to acquire the knowledge they would need for life or upper level education.

Two things changed my mind. The first was this post at sageparnassus by Nancy. We started using narration journals for science! Instead of narrating our science books out loud, we began drawing our narrations. Oh what a difference in what we learned!

The next was hearing Jennifer Gagnon speak at the Living Education Retreat on science. She said a great many wonderful things that I don't have time to narrate here, but really she made me realize, I DO like science and I AM scientific. When did I lose my love for science? And think of myself as a person who is not good at it? Hmmm, probably about the same age my daughter stopped enjoying it. Say, middle school?

A couple things that were impressed upon me there were:

*You can't know everything.
*Why would we stop using living books for science just because our children are older??
*We are a scientific family.
*I need to build deep roots in the love of subjects for my students to hang knowledge on.

I know there were more. But here was another that happened in chatting after the conference. It was pointed out that at Charlotte Masons schools, they did not focus on one science topic per year, ie: biology one year, chemistry the next etc. The studied multiple branches of science at one time. That really got me thinking. And I decided I was going to try that!

So this year we are reading multiple science books: 

The Way We Work  for the study of the human body.
The New Way Things Work for physical science
An Edwin Teale book for natural history
The Wonder Book of Chemistry , my 14yo loves this book
Along Came Galileo for astronomy and a biography

Some color on the blueridge

These are our first term selections and I have some more I'm investigating for second and third terms. I'm really excited about a book I found on the periodic table. I can't believe that I am! I am learning SO much with my students.

The starlings are beginning to murmerate

The first chestnut tree I've seen in the mountains