Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: 1st grade science, first grade, science

This topic has 20 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 3 months ago by caycecronk.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 21 total)

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February 22, 2013 at 8:58 pm
ALEC05
Participant
When I look at the Sceince suggestion page ( http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/science/ ) I’m confused on what I should start with. I’d like to do the CSC but I don’t know what to start with if I am to stretch those books listed over the next 6 years.
Should I do them in order, as they are listed?
This is my first year HSing, so be gentle, please. 🙂
February 22, 2013 at 9:27 pm
junkybird
Participant
For first grade we did 106 Days and it went really well. Second grade was Astronomy and third grade is Flying Creatures. Next year, hopefully, we will do Swimming Creatures. Then, Land Animals for fifth and Human Anatomy for 6th.
That has been my scope and sequence for quite some time. We’ll see how it goes 🙂
Jenn
February 22, 2013 at 9:40 pm
missceegee
Participant
We used the Outdoor Secrets book and the Companion Guide (and books) for first and it was Fantastic! We did not care for the Apologia books. Living books alone are more than sufficient for elementary school. Add in nature study and a few fun experiments (if you like them), perhaps a natural history book like Burgess and you are well covered!
February 22, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Laura.bora
Participant
We did only Nature Study and living books for 1st grade.
I stretched 106 days of creation over 2nd and 3rd grade by adding stuff to it. (This was a HUGE hit with my kids, and I’m looking forward to doing it again when my younger set hit the school age!)
I looked into the APologia Courses, but we honestly couldn’t stand them. They were not a good fit with our family at all. So instead we did some of AnnVoskamp’s A Child’s Geography in 4th, and I was planning on continuing it, but then I got sick with pregnancy and was put on bed rest. We switched over at that point to only living books for science, and I have to say, they are learning SO MUCH, with just the living books! I’m debating to stick with living books only at this point, or go back to Ann Voskamp’s book once I’m feeling better.

Thought I’d throw in some ideas in case APologia doesn’t work out!!
February 22, 2013 at 10:07 pm
ALEC05
Participant
Thanks for the ideas, ladies.
I’ve looked over 106 days of Creation some more and I think I’m going to go with that one. I’ll just have to make sure I get the items needed in time!
I’ll check out Ann Voskamp’s A Child’s Geography. I didn’t realize she had anything else available, other than the Thousand Gifts books
February 22, 2013 at 11:13 pm
luxiii
Member
We are homeschooling for the first year teaching our second grade son & we use 106 Days of Creation as well. The only frustrating part is that if you are in an area that has the full 4 seasons, some of the lessons do not fit with the season. For example, we are studying insects right now and it is so cold that none can be found. But otherwise, it has worked out wonderfully for us.
February 23, 2013 at 7:17 am
ALEC05
Participant
I’m starting to get overwhelmed. Everytime I think I have it figured out, something else comes up that makes me question what I’m doing! I know this first year is going to be a lot of trial and error; I wish I had more confidence.
February 23, 2013 at 7:18 am
ALEC05
Participant
I should also add, that I’m on a very tight budget.
February 23, 2013 at 2:10 pm
missceegee
Participant
You do not need curriculum for elementary science. Living books and nature study are enough. The two options SCM offers are very gentle and well suited to the young ages. The benefit is the organization. Nature IS science! We’ve completed two of the apologia books with our CM co-op, but greatly prefer living books and we prefer a variety of topics in the early years, too.
February 23, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Laura.bora
Participant
When you start to get overwhelmed and you start to wonder “Is this the right choice!?” just think back to what you remember learning in 1st grade science. Chances are, not much. 🙂 So no worries! No matter what you choose, they will learn something!
February 23, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Laura.bora
Participant
Oh, and if you go with 106 days, I am sure that your local library will have a majority of the books. Mine did. And the videos they suggest, the cheapest place to get them that I’ve found is here: http://www.libraryanded.com/
February 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm
sheraz
Participant
CM taught that using Nature Study and living books when children were elementary ages was enough. If you are consistant in your outdoor time and nature study, your child is learning science – he may not know all the formal names, but he will learn the processes nature uses. Then as your child studies more formal science, he will already know the material – he will just be learning a name for that process. It is his connections coming into play, and he will delight in the more formal setting because he already KNOWS the material.
This is so true. I have seen this over and over with my girls in the last two years. Living books and nature study are enough! In fact, they are vital to our science studies – my daughter w/APD is thriving in science because she is not chained to the endless textbooks! I love hearing her tell me about something she learned through her living books when we are on our nature walks. She is LIVING that information and retaining far more than I anticipated.
You just have to get over the myth and pressure of “normal school” – (which is easier said than done). We enjoyed 106 Days and are going to be starting Outdoor Secrets soon with my younger kids. Like Christie said, it is the organization that is the best benefit. I have learned how to find the living science books after using the 106 Days books, and I have been thankful for the topics laid out. But I have added to the suggested activities because I can and have found additional places or people for us to see and visit on the various topics.
Also, things like planting a garden, eating it and preserving it, going to the geological museums, mines, creek bed, caves, state parks, and allowing the kids to experience those things regularly taught them far more on a variety of related topics than the textbooks ever could.
It doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. That’s another one of those “myths” we tend to believe – unless we shell out big bucks, our kids will have inferior educations. Let it go…save your money for the important things when they are older and you need the big bucks. 😉
February 24, 2013 at 1:34 am
TailorMade
Participant
I hope this article might help. My 6yod has days filled with lovely books and nature study and already enjoys science topics much more than any of her same aged friends whether they learn at school or at home. She loves field guides and refers to the insect and flower guides most often. All this has happened without a curriculum.
http://harmonyfinearts.org/2011/08/homeschool-science-things-i-would-do-differently/
Blessings,
Becca<>>
February 24, 2013 at 2:22 am
sheraz
Participant
@potpourri – I’m sorry that you felt like we were picking on you personally, that was not anyone’s intent. Each family and each person within that family are different and have different needs/challenges – and we all acknowledge that. Please understand none of us is looking down at anyone! We have older chilidren (teenagers) that we have already run the gamut with curriculums, and have the homeschooling life experience behind us to know that not all people need to have a guide that tells us what to do. That does not mean that we all plan every subject out all by ourselves. Most of us have plenty of guides that we use daily.
However, we simply were reassuring the OP that one really can teach using living books, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t plan and schedule those books (which basically is a guide).
In fact, the History Modules and 106 Days came about because Sonya scheduled her living books in an organized way. I suspect that Outdoor Secrets Companion also came about in the same way. Karen Smith (SCM’s writer of Jack’s Insects Notebook and experienced CM homeschool mom of several teenagers) posted in another thread about her experience with living books. They found a living book and planned activities and other books to delve more deeply into the subject – like your new Scholastic book sets do. (BTW, you are creating a guide for your personal use of those! Cool, huh??)
@Alec05 -I too think that 106 Days or Outdoor Secrets is a great way for you to go at the beginning, and then with that experience, you’ll fill more confident about either living books or a more scripted choice! Also, you need to remember that you are teaching the child, not the curriculum – and IT IS OKAY to substitute books you can’t borrow, find, or afford. We all do it!
February 24, 2013 at 2:23 am
missceegee
Participant
Potpourri – You are relatively new to the SCM forum. After being here for many years, I’ve learned that this forum is always a place for gentle encouragement. I’ve nothing but respect for the ladies (and fellows) who post here. It’s extremely rare that there are any issues that may occur on other forums.
Homeschooling is full of wondrous variety and there are options to fit all sorts of homeschool families. One person’s choices should not offend another. We should be able to share what works for us without worrying that someone should take offense because they’ve chosen differently.
If a purchased curriculum works well for your family, that’s great and it’s fine for you to share how it works and why you prefer it. However, please understand that when others share what works best for them and it differs from what you’ve chosen, that’s simply the beauty of homeschooling and that there is nothing at which to take offense. Choosing purchased curriculum for any subject is not shameful or harmful and I don’t believe anyone here thinks that. All that has been said is that it isn’t necessary to a good education.
Blessings to you on your continued journey.
Christie