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: 106 Days of Creation, Outdoor Secrets, science, Year 1

This topic has 11 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by sheraz.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

Author
Posts
May 4, 2011 at 7:14 pm
ourjourney
Participant
I’m trying to decide what to do for my daughter next year regarding Science. On the CM curriculum guide, it has “Outdoor Secrets” and “The Outdoor Secrets Companion” and a list of books on one side. On the other, it lists things like 106 days of creation, etc.
So if I get Outdoor Secrets, the companion, and then get the books from my library will that cover Science for year 1 or do you recommend more? I keep seeing people post about Apolgia, 106 days, etc. I am trying to work my budget for the fall and am not sure what all I need!
Thanks in advance 🙂
Nikki
May 4, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Joytoread
Participant
Nikki,
If your children are grade 2 and below this would probably be fine. There is 50 lessons and with also incorporating Nature study, it would also be part of your science year. If after the 50 lessons are done if you have more time in your year you could just supplement by reading some good living science books such as the Thronton Burgess. My children have really liked these. They teach about the different animals while having a lively story to interact with. You can also find these books free online. Anyway that is my thoughts regarding Outdoor Secrets.
Take care,
KIm.
May 4, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Ladyofthehouse
Member
I’m wondering the same thing….:o) I was planning to just do Outdoor Secrets, not even sure yet about the companion.
Is that enough for my two school age (K&1)? Do you all feel that the companion is needed at this age?
(sorry not to help Nikki, but thanks for asking!)
May 4, 2011 at 7:52 pm
ourjourney
Participant
Thank you 🙂
I keep flip flopping between the CM method and WTM for Science. I do like how the WTM breaks down science (20 weeks animal kingdom, 10 weeks human body, 6 weeks plants).
Maybe we will start with Outdoor Secrets, see how far into the school year it takes us, and then, like you said, add more at the end. I have such a hard time when I do not have the book *in hand* to look at when planning.
May 4, 2011 at 7:58 pm
ourjourney
Participant
Just wanted to add, I was also thinking of “Hours in the out-of-doors” for Nature.
May 4, 2011 at 8:18 pm
houseofchaos
Participant
Outdoor Secrets with the companion is lovely, I used it this year with my 5 turned 6 year old. It was just right for her. It will depend on the age of your child, but since you said year 1, I assume she is around the same age.
Outdoor Secrets on its own is nice, but with the Companion Sonya gives additional reading and ideas. For example, there is a story about an earthworm in Outdoor Secrets. In the companion, this covers three lessons. In the first you read the story (fun and entertaining), second lesson go dig up an earthworm, study it and draw it, third lesson read an additional story about an earthworm that covers more about how they live/what they do. There is also a note in the margin about additional information to be found in Comstock’s Book of Nature Study.
You could easily put this together yourself from Outdoor Secrets, but with the companion it’s already done for you.
I would say it is enough for a 5 or 6 year old for one year, if they are not too science hungry. Keep in mind there are 50 lessons and spread them out accordingly.
May 4, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Ladyofthehouse
Member
Thanks so much, houseofchaos, that info and example from the Companion was really helpful. At this point, with lots of little ones in the house I’m all about enjoying the fruit of others labors in putting ideas together! Less thinking for me :o)
May 4, 2011 at 8:29 pm
my3boys
Participant
We have the Outdoor Secrets book with Companion guide and love it. My two youngest boys have enjoyed it very much (8 and 5 yo). I don’t think you’d have to add anything in if you follow the guide unless you just want to read extra living books, which is always a great idea and extra Nature Study.
I have used 106 Days with my 12 and 8 yo (when they were a bit younger), but my 5yo just tagged along, they were a bit younger at the time, and we spent alot of time getting through it. My 12yo did not receive the benefit of an Outdoor Secret-type intro to Science and I wish he had. He is a bright kid so I didn’t mess him up, but I would have liked to have gently intoduced him to great living books at 3, 4, 5, and 6 yo like I have been able to do with my 2 younger boys.
Each “science” recommedation is just that….a recommendation…..some like to start out with Apologia/Nature Study, some have done the 106 Days, some only Nature Study/living books (the list goes on and on) until the kids get older or just cont. with that.   And, if I am correct, the Hours in the Out-of-doors does not have lesson plans, it’s more like a “how-to” we have the Outdoor Secrets for the guide/lesson plans/book list, etc.
I hope this helps, I am kind of new to this as well and science is my least favorite subject, unless we can read about:)
May 4, 2011 at 8:30 pm
ourjourney
Participant
That is what I needed to know 🙂 I wasn’t 100% sure what the companion was, if it was more like lesson plans, or what. So that is good to know! I think it will take a lot of the stress out of my planning as well. My previous plan I was thinking “oh gosh, how am I going to gather all of this??” There were about 6 books I needed to buy, and a ton more for the library.
Thank you for your help!
(And yes, my daughter is 5 and will be 6 in July! She is in public kindergarten this year, and we will be homeschooling in the fall!)
May 4, 2011 at 8:52 pm
sheraz
Participant
I think, after getting all three of the things that SCM recommends this year and looking at them, that I would start with the Outdoor Secrets and Companion (50 fun, easy lessons), then do 106 Days of Creation, and then do the Apologia series, which is more “intense” than either of the other two. It makes sense to me to do it this way, and I would have started it that way if I had HS sooner with CM. =) HTH
We are doing the 106 Days of Creation this year, and having my girls read all the Thorton Burgess books I can get them through.  They are older than yours.
May 4, 2011 at 8:59 pm
ourjourney
Participant
That does help! How often do you think science needs to be done with the Outdoor Secrets? Should I try to spread it out all year and do 106 days next year (second grade)? I was planning on Science 2 days a week, with an additional Nature day. (It kind of seems like Outdoor Secrets almost is Nature study?)
May 4, 2011 at 9:49 pm
sheraz
Participant
It would depend on how you are going to split up your year. If you were interspersing your “formal” lessons with books on the subjects, you would be able to make it work for a K-1 child for a school year, which is typically about 36 weeks. The next year (106 Days) is planned for 3 days a week, plus Nature Study. None of this is overly intensive, and has lots of experiments with everyday things. Great lead into the more formal Apologia, which all have a notebook type journal to accompany the text – with copywork, nature study, journalling, etc in them.
I thought Outdoor Secrets was a great way to “train” your child to be aware of Nature and the things around you…You could almost do one science day and one Nature Study day, with both focusing on what you were doing that week, but that probably depends on the subject/time of year. I loaned my copy to a friend, so can’t get more detail specific.
Your school year is whatever is required by your state or determined by your needs/wants. Most people do about 36 weeks of school just so that they can keep records easier. The planning is made easier by setting yourself some time frames. (The “Planning Your CM Education” is helpful, and I would think, especially now when you are essentially starting her fresh.)
Also, you don’t have to buy every book right now either, you can spread it out over the next little while, to make it easier on the budget. You can also just look up the topic you are reading about at the library and use what they have if money is an issue.   (We actually do school April to March so I can use our tax return – I admit I like getting all my books up front. It makes me feel more prepared.) =)