This fun activity using Christmas glyphs will spice up December homeschooling. You’ll be glad to know it also counts as a living math lesson! What is a glyph? A glyph, as it relates to math, is a pictorial representation of data. That sounds like a pictograph because it is. Rather than putting pictures in the…
During the elementary and middle school years, our history studies – for the most part – take place as unit studies. In a relatively short amount of time, we can cover SO much material in fun and interesting lessons. And this unit was no exception! Colonial History Unit Study Over the course of about six…
Why would you want to identify rocks and minerals during nature study? Heck, why would you even care to observe rocks when there are so many other things to see in nature? Rocks are boring. They’re dull and colorless. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Be honest. You’ve thought some of…
Are your children overjoyed to learn about soil? Probably not. But, oh, I bet they will be when you introduce these unique activities! Eli and I have had so much fun playing in the dirt AND doing some pretty cool chemistry experiments. I received free products and compensation from Home Science Tools in exchange for…
I love living math—so much that I even wrote a book about it: Loving Living Math. It’s special for many reasons, but I’ll focus on one today. Living math offers opportunities for real-life, meaningful, hands-on learning. One of my favorite methods is using math manipulatives to help children understand concepts and think mathematically. In this post,…
Art and living math make a fantastic duo. Anytime you combine the creativity of art with the logical side of nature, you’ve got a powerful activity connecting both sides of the brain for meaningful learning. This particular lesson combines art and math through a fun project inspired by the famous abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This…
I am so excited to share this unique nature study freebie with you! You’ll love using autumn play dough mats in your elementary homeschool for all sorts of meaningful fun and learning. Play dough mats provide various benefits. At the most basic level, molding and sculpting dough helps to exercise fine motor skills. This is…
I recently received a question from a longtime member asking if you can use No Sweat Nature Study in high school for science credit. That’s a great question, and I have good news! Take a peek at the original question. My daughters do not want to stop studying with you! We have decided that one…
Have you ever been to the same nature study destination so often that you almost forget there are always new things to discover? My friend Tracy and her children had visited the same ponds many times over. They never really got tired of exploring, but she found a simple way to refocus their attention, which…
Teaching simple machines through hands-on, experimental lessons is a hit for children. While gathering materials takes just a bit of time, the engagement factor makes this quick and simple unit study worthwhile. This post includes affiliate links. Simple Machines Unit Study Before reading the first book about simple machines, set up some little centers for self-discovery….
Is there a child in your life who loves to garden? If so, keep reading. I’m sharing some super-fun gifts for the junior gardener that are sure to please! Gardening has so many wonderful benefits for children. First and foremost, it’s a great way for children to burn energy. Oddly, for kiddos that need to…
Spring is on the way and nature is coming back to life. It’s such a wonderful time of the year for exuberant nature walks. Enjoy this free spring nature study printable packet designed to help children make detailed observations of flowers, life cycles, and the sometimes wild weather. The six activities in this free packet…