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Pumpkin School: Math and Science Activities for Autumn

by Cindy 14 Comments

Pumpkin School: Hands-On Math and Science Activities for Fall

Math, science, geography, history, AND language arts all in one super-fun day of pumpkin school? YES! Skip the textbooks for a few days and enjoy some fall-themed learning with your elementary and middle school students. We have enjoyed one version or another of pumpkin school for years. While you can certainly have fun with without friends, these activities are so much fun to do with a small group. Living Math and Science with Pumpkins Several of these ideas come from my how-to book for parents called Loving Living Math.  It's a book that teaches you how to include "living" (real life, hands-on, meaningful, conceptual) math into your homeschool. Pumpkin Math and ... Read More

Last Updated: October 11, 2019 Filed Under: Creative Homeschooling, Elementary, Holidays, Living Math, Middle School, Nature Study, Science & Nature Tagged With: autumn activity, fall activity, halloween, hands-on learning, homeschool, project-based learning, pumpkin math, pumpkin science, Thanksgiving

The Mission: To Broaden the Vision of Nature Study

by Cindy Leave a Comment

Is your vision of nature study simply that of nature walks? It can be so much more! #homeschool #naturestudy

Nature study is certainly a big deal in the homeschool community at large - even outside of Charlotte Mason circles. For that, I am very excited! But, I still get the impression that many view nature study as a fun extra to their regular homeschooling. "Yes, it might bring a little more goodness into the week, but it isn't a make-or-break subject." I'm on a mission to broaden the vision for nature study. This post contains affiliate links. I've written before about how much real science is at the heart of nature study. It's so true. Whether nature study is used as the full science curriculum, or it serves as extension lessons to the "regular" science curriculum, or even if it stands ... Read More

Last Updated: February 4, 2019 Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Creative Homeschooling, Elementary, Middle School, Nature Study, Science & Nature Tagged With: hands-on learning, multi-age learning

A Day in the Life: Hands-On Nature Study at the Creek

by Cindy 6 Comments

Hands-On Nature Study: Five Weeks at the Creek

Boy, am I excited to introduce you to Kristina Garner in this post! She and her girls enjoyed some exciting, hands-on nature study in their backyard creek recently and Kristina is sharing the experiences with all of us. I think you'll especially love to see how much they learned about creeks (and how much fun they had) in just one day of exploration per week over a 5-week period. If you'll remember, that's the nature study plan my own family has followed over the years - just once per week. But, oh, how those weeks add up in knowledge over time! Please welcome Kristina and her sweet girls - and be inspired in your own creek walks! Hands-On Nature Study is Fun I first discovered ... Read More

Last Updated: April 9, 2018 Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Creative Homeschooling, Elementary, Middle School, Nature Study, Science & Nature Tagged With: creeks, hands-on learning, outdoor learning

Our Journey Westward Unit Studies

by Cindy 4 Comments

Links to all Cindy West's unit studies over the years - history, science, geography, government. Includes living literature and project-based learning ideas.

We're a Charlotte Mason homeschooling family, yet we enjoy learning history and science through unit studies.  Can those two things go together? If you're a Charlotte Mason purist, the answer is no.  Remember, though, I've said for years that we are "eclectic Charlotte Mason homeschoolers with a dash of Classical education and unit studies thrown in for good measure." Because our unit studies are based on wonderful works of living literature - historical fiction, biographies and nonfiction - they definitely have a Charlotte Mason flair.  With living books as the backbone, we can add in whatever additional activities that float our fancy - from hands-on activities and project-based ... Read More

Last Updated: January 4, 2019 Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: hands-on learning, interest-based learning, project-based learning, unit studies with living literature, unit study plans

Realistic Cave Paintings: An Ancient History Art Project

by Cindy 5 Comments

Realistic Cave Paintings: An Ancient History Art Project

Eli and I have just begun our ancient history studies for the year - and I'm very glad to report that I might have another history lover on my hands! This post contains affiliate links. Oh, how I have missed Story of the World.  It's just such a well-rounded program.  The living text, narration questions, maps, timeline cards and great book suggestions make this eclectic Charlotte Mason homeschooler happy. I mentioned in this post that we would be going through the curriculum at our own pace and may or may not linger over the hands-on activities.  My little guy isn't about time fillers, so any hands-on activity we do has to have real purpose.  I found a hands-on activity last week ... Read More

Last Updated: August 13, 2017 Filed Under: Elementary, Fine Arts, History & Geography, Science & Nature, Unit Studies Tagged With: ancient history, DK books, hands-on learning, nature art, story of the world

Elementary Middle Ages Unit Study

by Cindy 10 Comments

Our elementary medieval unit study was packed full of fun and learning. Book, resources and great project ideas included.

(This post contains affiliate links.) The Lesson Ideas Studying the Middle Ages is so much fun!  And, it really keeps the attention of my children with all the excitement of knights and castles and such.  To keep our unit to six weeks, I pulled the best-of-the best hands-on ideas from the two reference books below.  After adding in some living literature and a great end-of-unit project, we ended up with a very in-depth tour of medieval life. Are you wondering how I organize a unit study using so many materials?  This post should help explain my method. The Living Books If you know me at all, you know living literature was a huge part of our middle ages unit. I use informational ... Read More

Last Updated: August 13, 2017 Filed Under: Elementary, History & Geography, Unit Studies Tagged With: hands-on learning, literature-based unit, living literature, Medieval, middle ages, multi-age learning, project-based learning

How do little boys study nature?

by Cindy 7 Comments

(This post contains links to my products.) Oh my goodness, I love boys.  Learning is such an active adventure with them!  I remember taking early elementary nature walks with my teen daughter and they were, oh, so very different.  She and I would quietly admire the intricacies of a flower or sit peacefully in a bird blind to catch a glimpse of various birds to sketch. Then I had boys. My boys are quite different (to say the least.)  Ever since they joined in on our nature walks, the birds haven't often graced us with their presence, if you know what I mean.  Our walks now are much louder, faster-paced, and full of everything the five senses have to offer.  Touching being the biggie of ... Read More

Last Updated: April 22, 2017 Filed Under: Elementary, Nature Study, Science & Nature Tagged With: active learning, hands-on learning, nature walk, outdoor education

Spring Nature Study for Preschool and Kindergarten is Here!

by Cindy Leave a Comment

It's finally here!  You've been asking for this resource for quite some time, but you don't have to wait any more!  Nature by the Season: Spring for Preschool and Kindergarten is ready!  47 pages, ebook $5.95 Why Early Nature Study? Preschoolers and kindergarteners are naturally inclined to love nature because of their inquisitiveness, active bodies and keen eyes for finding things unique and often hidden.  I have watched my own little ones become some of my best nature buddies because they are always ready for the adventure and excitement.  That’s why I’ve created this series of nature studies for you.  I know your preschooler or kindergartener is up for the adventure, too, and is ... Read More

Last Updated: March 9, 2014 Filed Under: Preschool Tagged With: hands-on learning, homeschool, kindergarten nature study, kindergarten science, Nature Study, outdoor learning, preschool nature study, preschool science

Charlotte Mason Phonics and Spelling

by Cindy Leave a Comment

(This post contains affiliate links and links to my business, Shining Dawn Books.) In Charlotte Mason Homeschooling in 18 EASY Step-by-Step Lessons, I obviously discuss things like copywork, dictation and transcription.  In the early years of homeschooling, these methods (along with reading living literature) are fabulous for teaching the language arts of handwriting, spelling/phonics, grammar, writing and more. This question always comes up, though..."If I only utilize the Charlotte Mason methods of language arts, is that enough for my young children who need to have a strong understanding of phonics to become good readers and spelling to become good writers?" Great question. While I ... Read More

Last Updated: December 12, 2017 Filed Under: Charlotte Mason, Elementary, Language Arts Tagged With: gentle learning, hands-on learning, phonics, Reading, Spelling

NaturExplorers Science Curriculum

NaturExplorers guides are perfect for the 1st-8th grade homeschool, co-op or classroom. This highly adaptable curriculum series uses nature study as the starting point for science lessons that reach into every other subject and meet all learning styles.

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