Living books & nature study only?

In answering some of your questions, #1- works for me except for the choice of abecka or Bob Jones,#2 would drive me crazy trying to figure it out (!), re#3-I think Hirsch is too dry for a read aloud, not to mention secular; use as a reference for yourself as needed, and re#4, I think sometimes they’ll be separate and sometimes they may flow together.

I think your book selections are wonderful. I really like the Yesterday’s classics selections. Don’t forget Parables of Nature, any Jim Arnosky books and The Living Forest series by Sam Campbell.

Also, Nature’s Friend Mag. is beautiful and full of info.

Nature’s workshop Plus is a great resource catalog for G-d honoring supplies.

http://www.workshopplus.com/

A book basket is a great a idea. however, it could be a basket of books about everything. Where they can go to find things that their own minds are exploring and interested in. I find I cannot deter my two from desiring books about whatever they are intersted in this week or month! If you’re going to use a base curriculum with assigned reading, then having a basket with the same kind of subject is somewhat redundant. Let it be an “explorer” box. My children love it when I say we’re going to explore! Everytime I order books from the library (online), I ask each child to pick 2 books about a topic they would like to know about.

Lastly, don’t worry, relax and enjoy! If you provide the base curriculum and provide great, literature rich science books, both directly (assigned reading) and indirectly (self-directed basket and encyclopedia’s), drawing and sketching supplies, the outdoors on a regular basis and experiment books and supplies they will catch a love of learning about G-d’s Creation and you’ll get it all covered and then some! Not to mention the wonder and joy in your voice and eyes as they watch and listen to you describe it.

As a mom who has a very strong science background, let me assure you that you will not ruin your child’s academic future in science if you do not use a textbook, follow anyone’s scope and sequence, or try to model your study of science after state or national standards. If anything, using textbooks and following state/national standards may kill the love of learning you are working so hard to instill in your children. So often as moms we lose sight of nurturing the love of learning and focus instead on finishing the textbook we spent many dollars on or making sure our kids are learning at the same level as their traditionally schooled peers.

Through reading many good living books, doing many experiments, and studying nature as Charlotte Mason prescribed your children will have an excellent base to continue studying science more formally at an older age. BTW, not to plug our own book, but Hours in the Out-of-Doors explains all about nature study and Charlotte’s thoughts on teaching science.

My children (ages 12-17) were allowed to enjoy nature and science through books, experiments, and nature through the elementary years. We did not use any textbooks. Even before I discovered the Charlotte Mason method, I felt very strongly about my children discovering nature and science through exploration in the early years.

I realize that I have an advantage over many moms because of my background in science. However, any mom can go to the library and see the abundance of science related books at the elementary age level. You can easily plan a study in plants, then a study in insects, etc. just by looking at the shelves. Also, reading all you can about whatever interests your children today is an excellent way for them to learn. This week they may be interested in grasshoppers, next week it may be rocks.

A word of warning though. Be careful when choosing books to make sure that the information given in them is accurate. Besides the obvious problems with dinosaur and fossil books being very evolutionary, there are other science subjects that may not have accurate information. Science is by definition always changing as new discoveries are made. Sometimes these new discoveries show that what we thought we knew about something is no longer accurate. For example, we have an old book that explains baldness being caused by wearing a hat too much so that the sunlight can’t reach the hair roots. 🙂

Here are some book/author recommendations for various ages:

• Field guides—these are great for identifying your nature finds and finding accurate information. They are also great for browsing which can peak a child’s interest in an area they may not have thought of before.
• Jim Arnosky
• Millicent Selsam
• Seymour Simon
• Holling C. Holling
• David Macaulay
• Jean Craighead George (caution: tends to lean toward environmentalism)
• R. D. Lawrence for older teens
• James Herriot
• Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
• In Search of a Sandhill Crane by Keith Robertson
• Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat—his book Never Cry Wolf is also good, though for older teens.

I hope that helps.

Jessica, I’m not Karen. But a loose plan with flexibility can be good. That will help you to feel you are introducing your children to a variety of topics, but still capitalize on what is around you and what their interests are. You just want to be sure that you are ready if, while you are officially studying “birds”, your child finds a frog and wants to know all about them instead. 🙂 And plan around the seasons so you can use real observation whenever possible. One of the first official science books I bought my first year homeschooling, instructed us to study flower parts . . . in January. Hmm. LOL Flowers should be studied . . . WHEN THERE ARE FLOWERS TO LOOK AT. It took me a year or so to get this. Also, although I love the idea of doing nature study year-round as Charlotte recommended, it’s just not going to happen here. In the howling winter blizzards, we will be found snug inside, watching a nature video or taking the opportunity to mess around with kitchen chemistry, and occasionally watching our bird feeders.

I know what you mean about needing to tell your HEAD that it is OK to lose those crutches of scopes and sequences and national standards. But I really feel that as you begin to LIVE the CM way, your head will see all the benefits and come along for the ride. Now, we almost all have periodic “panic attacks” when we find that some other family’s child is doing X, Y, or Z, and we haven’t even covered that–but remind yourself of the benefits you see. One thing I’ve found helpful is keeping a very simple journal–all the moments that really mean something in our days–when a child really “gets” something, a good observation or question they came up with, how it felt to all experience something together. A “good moments” treasury, if you will. That is great insurance against those periodic panic attacks. You’ll be able to reassure yourself of what is really happening in your home.

I hope that you are reading Charlotte Mason’s actual volumes. I really think this will help you. CM is as definite an approach and method as WTM, although it’s not so spelled out about “use this book when” sort of thing. But as you familiarize yourself with her methods, you’ll find that you aren’t in murky waters. The sun is shining and the shadows have gone, there is tremendous wisdom and experience backing you, and you’ll find your way.

Best wishes in your journey from a former WTM’er!

Michelle D

I agree with Michelle. Have a plan but be flexible. Along with your plan, your child can study whatever interests her. Also, remember that there may be times when your child has no special interest. That is okay, too. But when she shows an interest capitalize on it as she will learn best when the study is fueled by her interest.

And planning what you study based on the seasons is excellent advice! It is difficult to study say, insects, when it’s below freezing outside. 🙂

You have a background in science, how much knowledge do I have to bring to the table? Do I need to be reading ahead of them at all? Can we just figure it out together?

I confess that I don’t like prep work. So, no matter what the subject, if I don’t already know the material, I learn along with my kids. Science is one of those wonderful subjects in which it is easy to learn along with your kids. Find something that interests you or your kids, snuggle on that couch, and read about it together!

Karen,

Can living books be used for high school science and still give a foundation for a possible science major? My son loves nature, found marine biology interesting, but I’m not sure if a textbook with the academia of memorizing definitions (Apologia???) is him. I almost hate to ask this, but how would you make this somewhat academic. (I live in a state where we are required to show learning.) Building a notebook?

Thank you for your thoughts.

Diane

Diane,

Yes, living books can be used for high school science and still give a foundation for a possible science major. This is especially true if the high school science you want to cover is biology related. There are many, many living books in the biological fields. Just go to your local library and look at the shelves containing books on animals and plants! Your hardest task will be choosing the best ones from the not-so-good ones.

I’m not sure what your state requires as proof of learning, but if your son is pursuing a science major, you will want to make sure that science studies include labs, as these are important to colleges. Labs include experiments, observations, and in the case of biology, dissection. A notebook describing what was done in the lab, including drawings, is highly recommended. I would also have him do written narrations on what he is reading. Make sure he covers the basics of biology (cell structure and function, classification of organisms, etc.) but feel free to branch out to specific topics, such as marine life.

If your son is interested in a science major he will need more science than just where his interests lie. Colleges will be looking for a well-rounded science education. Your son will need to study biology, chemistry, and physics at the high school level so he will be prepared to tackle those courses at the college level. Chemistry and physics are harder to cover with living books so you may have to use textbooks for those courses.

I hope this helps.