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Science, 106 Days, Living Books
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I was wondering if reading living science books (i.e. Arthur Scott Bailey’s The Tale of … books, Butterfly House, Salamander Room, books on stars, fish, etc.) and having regular nature studies is enough for young children. I bought 106 Days last year, and we worked through it as best as we could, but only made it to lesson 27 or so. I love it as a resource, but found that I lacked many of the resources, such as experiment supplies and books the library couldn’t get for me. It was discouraging to get to a lesson and have to skip it or stop altogether because of the lack of resources.
I put it away and determined to try again this year. Well, I’m having the same problems again. It’s not that I don’t want to use 106 Days because I think it is a great science curriculum, especially for younger kiddos. Right now, I just don’t enjoy “teaching” science and much prefer to read the living books, take field trips, and go on nature walks.
Is that enough for young children (mine are 5 and 6.5)?
I’m not a science person, which I realize is something I’ll need to get over in the next few years. But for now, am I doing enough?
Blessings,
Lindsey
Yes, what you’re doing is plenty for your ages. Having owned 106 Days… myself, I think it works best from age 7 and up anyway.
Check out the wondeful living science from Yeserdays Classics, the Backyard Science experiment books for their age group or other children’s books, the Christian Liberty Readers for the 6.5 yr. old (#1), teaching them to use field guides and creation science books from MAsterbooks and Answers in Genesis. Also, if you have a local Nature Center that has science classes for homeschoolers that is affordable I recommend those, too. The past two years, I’ve put mine in a once a month science class and it covered areas I had not yet and they did things I know I probably wouldn’t get around to.
Yours are at the age where you instill in them the wonder and awe of G-d’s Creation and that curious desire to learn about it on their own. My son started reading the Apologia books at age 7 (the Astronomy one) for his own personal reading. This is the first year we’ve used an organized science “program”, mine are 9 and 10 now, and I’m using Voskamp’s Geography and AIG’s G-d’s Design for Science one day a week with the other day being a “living” nature study day.
HTH, Rachel
I’m having the same problems. We just moved, and so couldn’t find our box of sidewalk chalk for Lesson 5. We kept trying to find it, and when we did find some (that we actually finally borrowed from the neighbor because our huge box has literally disappeared), there is no sunshine on our driveway for half the day and nowhere in the backyard to do it. So finally got the idea to tape down some freezer paper on the deck, and it snowed! 8-/ So we have been stuck at Lesson 5 for about 1 1/2 months now. I don’t want to give up, because like you, I think it’s awesome. I already skipped reading one book (because I hadn’t gotten a library card yet – still don’t have it – and so just talked about evolution instead). Are there more that I’ll run into like this? My girls are 7 and 6.
Thanks for the help,
Sara
I just wanted to echo Rachel and say most assuredly YES, you will be fine with living books and nature study at this age. Your children are yet so young; The greatest thing you can do, is help direct them into observing the world around them naturally and joyfully. You have lots of time to grow into more formal science studies and experiments. Though every family is different, we didn’t start them until around age 9. God Bless!
Sara, feel free to stop where you’re at and start over next year, or the year after that.
Get settled, enjoy Winter Nature study, setting up bird feeders, a creation notebook with the Winter birds and any other critters. Watch nature videos; read great nature books, like the Burgess books (I forgot to mention those) and any from the aforementioned list of mine above, many that can be found at the library if you have a good one with interlibrary loan or used online or at a used sale.
It’s ok, relax and enjoy reading and getting settled in your new place knowing that your children can still learn science. It’s not giving up; your in a “season” (pun intended) of life where it may not be something you can use yet, and that’s ok. Just try again later after you have the supplies.
Rachel
Thanks, Rachel. It’s true, they are getting a lot of science, even without that, and they are constantly finding something to discover all on their own (they love science). We do have a lot of Burgess books and Bailey books, so far we love them. Plus we have the Apologia books and other living books we’ll be reading, too. (Did I mention my kids LOVE science? LOL) I’ll just wait till spring, or perhaps even summer to do the rest.
Sara 🙂
My oldest two are now 13 (8th grade) and 14 (9th grade). We did two years of “formal” science during all their elementary years. One was Considering God’s Creation and the other was 2 Fulbright books (swimming creatures and flying creatures). I only did the CGC with them. The Fulbright books were done independently in 5/6 grade. They have no trouble following their science studies at this time and have actually maintained a keen interest in science.
Living books and nature study are plenty and in many ways better than science “curriculums” as it is interest driven and observable and therefore easily remembered. Hang the bird feeders, get an ant farm, get a butterfly “farm”, go to the zoo or a nature museum, dig up insects and read those really good living science books. They will learn plenty!
-Rebecca
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