Charlotte Mason homeschooling encompasses everything that is wonderful about homeschooling. Gentle lessons in a literature-rich environment, short lessons that focus on real-life with plenty of opportunity to explore the world indoors and out. And, these are just a few of the reasons I love this style of homeschooling! In these articles, my goal is to share the wonder, joy and creativity of the Charlotte Mason style, while giving you plenty of ideas and practical advice for implementing it in your own home. Enjoy!
Stories about talking animals have been loved for generations, but have you ever wondered why authors use them so often? In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, we look at the connection between storytelling, observation, and Beatrix Potter nature study. You’ll hear how careful attention to real animals helped inspire some of…
The night sky is full of incredible sights for curious nature explorers. In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, children learn about three amazing things you might see after dark: shooting stars, comets, and the Northern Lights. A northern lights nature study is a wonderful way to spark curiosity about the sky…
Waterfalls are powerful, beautiful, and impossible to ignore, but have you ever stopped to wonder why they are so loud? In this episode’s waterfall nature study, we explore the science of that deep, steady roar. From smoothly flowing streams to crashing plunges, you will discover how turbulence, trapped air, impact, and echo work together to…
I hated geography as a child. It was tedious and repetitive, and it involved a lot of looking up things like the population of a given country, which I have never cared to look up since. It wasn’t until I learned to teach geography with living books and learned right alongside my children that I…
Now that I’m a “boy-only mom” (because my daughter is in college) choosing read-aloud books requires a new consideration. Will the potential book appeal to my boys? I can’t get away any longer with reading books that have any sort of girly-girl flavor. Lucky for me, there are TONS of wonderful living books to fill…
No matter what has changed in our homeschool over the years or how old my children have grown, one thing has remained constant… read-aloud time. My children still remember so many of the books we’ve enjoyed as a family – and so do I! Whether snuggled under blankets on the couch or lounging on a…
A cube-shaped tomato is used as a simple way to introduce a GMO nature study topic in the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast. Mrs. Cindy talks about how tomatoes grow, why they are usually round, and how fruit shapes form as plants develop. The episode explains why tomatoes do not naturally grow into cube shapes…
Get ready for an animal superpower nature study exploring some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, Mrs. Cindy shares the shocking strength of the mantis shrimp, a small sea creature with an unbelievable punch, as well as facts about other animals with seemingly…
Animals appear in stories all the time, often talking, thinking, and teaching lessons. In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, children will explore animal intelligence through an Aesop’s Fables nature study. From clever crows to dolphins that understand hand signals, listeners will learn how to distinguish between instinct and learned behavior. The…
Any time is a good time to read a fantastic picture book, but when that book serves double duty as an educational tool, it’s truly a “keeper.” The character building picture books listed below are definitely keepers. We know that good character is best taught through example, right? The saying goes that way more is…
Enjoy cold-weather science with this free winter nature study printable packet! The six activities are perfect for children of all ages and will help with observational skills. When homeschool families think of nature study, winter might not be the first season that comes to mind. As with any season, winter is a great time to…
Winter is the perfect time for snuggling up with books – lots of them! Over the years, we’ve returned to certain books time after time during the winter. I thought I’d share our list of winter books for kids and give you an idea of some of the extension activities we’ve used to turn the…