This chemistry project for kids was one of the highlights of the school year for my children! It also happened to be our last project of the school year, which means we just wrapped up a long and fruitful homeschool year. In our homeschool, we follow a four-year cycle for science. Besides the weekly (or…
Christmas spices nature study can be a fun addition to December funschooling in your homeschool this season! There are certain spices that stand out in traditional Christmas recipes and we’ll learn about them all. Do you have a favorite Christmas dish or treat that uses warm cinnamon, cloves, ginger, or nutmeg spices? In our family,…
In this root vegetable nature study, children will learn how to look at root veggies through the eyes of a scientist! Do you think every underground veggie happens to be a root veggie? If so, this lesson might surprise you. If you enjoy funschooling during the holidays, this topic fits in nicely during the Thanksgiving…
I loved it when my kids learned to bake. As they tried new recipes and grew in their kitchen skills, they also unwittingly grew in math, science, and character. Plus, I had plenty of new treats to eat. That’s a win-win-win! These baking gifts for kids are sure to both inspire and thrill! This post…
Rather than eat all that candy sitting around the house after trick-or-treating (or another holiday), why not put it to good use? These fun candy math and science lesson ideas will keep your kids busy, happy, and learning! What will we do with all this candy? Honestly, most of the candy that comes in this…
This hands-on, literature-based math activity will help your younger students concretely understand the concept of standard measurement. Target Age Range: K-2 Skills Covered: non-standard measurement, standard measurement, making comparisons, fine motor skills, reading Understanding measurement doesn’t have to be hard for little ones. In fact, teaching it early with concrete materials builds an in-depth understanding that…
Do you need to know how to teach high school dissection? I did! When my oldest daughter took biology, we were blessed with a wonderful co-op teacher who specialized in dissection and I gladly turned the job over to her. When my son took biology last year, dissection was all on me. I wasn’t at…
Have you ever considered the idea that special needs children may thrive through regular time spent in nature? Nature study has so many benefits beyond the obvious academics. It’s hands-on, active, and loud – as much as it’s detail-oriented, calm, and peaceful. It allows for fresh air, sunshine, and exercise to break into the school…
One thing that has really helped over the years with homeschooling multiple ages is unit studies. Yes, even in this Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool. A unit study can be as elaborate or simple as you need it to be. I have written plenty of posts about our unit studies over the years (complete with literature lists) and…
Enjoy firefly nature study in the late spring and early summer when bioluminescence abounds at dusk! It’s so exciting to be back with you for another season of the NSNS podcast. This summer, we’ll be learning about all sorts of fun and interesting bite-sized topics together! Just like last season, each episode will encourage you…
These days, it seems like hands-on homeschool is a buzzword of sorts. What’s all the fuss about? Let’s define hands-on first. It’s best to define hands-on first because I think its overall meaning might surprise you. You see, hands-on learning can actually mean several things. Most obvious, hands-on means “touching” things during lessons. For instance,…
Many mommas come upon the Charlotte Mason method at a pivotal time in their children’s growing-up – the time when “school” begins. “We’ll need textbooks. Maybe little chairs and desks.” They start to feel pulled in different directions trying to teach all the different subjects, while school and life quickly feel fragmented. It isn’t long…