Teaching Homeschool Science with Inspiring Resources
Charlotte Mason’s ideas on science include nature study, nature journaling and living science books as the core of a child’s science curriculum.
Her method encourages an enquiring mind using scientific observation and record keeping.
Australian National Curriculum Science and Homeschool Science
The Australian National Curriculum breaks science teaching into three areas of study:
1. Science Understanding
Within each school year a mixture of topics are chosen for study. The curriculum states that these topics are interrelated and that scheduling of topics can be taught at the teacher’s discretion. So for those who cover topics in a different order don’t be alarmed, I am sure if you demonstrate that you are teaching in all areas this will satisfy the assessors.
Suggested Schedule Following the ANC |
|
Foundation Year |
Living things, objects, seasons, weather, movement |
Year One |
Living things & change of things, light & sound, habitats, sorting/classification |
Year Two |
Living things change & grow, chemical mixing, Earth’s resources & water |
Year Three |
Heat, earth movement, living things |
Year Four |
Life cycles, materials have properties, change of earth over time, force. |
Year Five |
Solar System, solids, liquids, gas, features of living things & adaptations, light |
Year Six |
Chemical changes, Geological changes, electricity, survival of living things. |
All of these topics can be taught without textbooks.
is our recommended resource for teaching science understanding in the early primary years. It covers a range of science topics specialising in nature study. It was written for Australian children
For a list of more living books see our booklists for ideas.
2. Science Skills
For those of us who practice nature study, science skills are easily encouraged with observation, record keeping and documentation in nature journals and field trips.
Nature Study Notebooks are an excellent resource for teaching young children how to record their findings.
What about experiments?
Simple experiments can be devised when studying different topics. However observation is the skill that you are trying to develop in the early years. Labeling objects, recording the phases of the moon, noticing the direction of the winds, all help develop scientific skills.
Nature Journaling with Kids is a resource to help you incorporate scientific observation into your homeschool.
3. Human Endeavour.
Science biographies illustrate the influence great men have had on science through human endeavour. They also demonstrate the development of science inquiry skills as observation, questioning, planning, processing and evaluating are used in real life examples.
A Bush Calendar and Nature Talks with New Zealanders are excellent living books that will appeal to children.
For a list of science biographies see our booklists.
Making A Plan For Studying Science At Home Without Curriculum
When the time came to introduce science into our homeschool I didn't know where to start. I settled on a popular pre packaged science curriculum. We completed the work but lost the sparkle for the subject. It was DRY and it lacked Australian content.
After I read Charlotte Mason’s ideas on science and I decided to give them a go. One week later I knew we were on a winner.
Many scientific subjects are covered using her methods.
They include:
• invention and inventors
• biology
• geology
• astronomy
• conservation
• habitat
• endangered species
• land care and more.
Her ideas have been the core of my children’s science curriculum in their early school years.
In our scope and sequence we have suggested some ideas to help you plan your science curriculum for each grade.