Charlotte Mason Science/Nature Study For Dummies

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

At one time the Charlotte Mason how-to books dominated our bookshelves (during the 90's).  However, after adding many children to our brood as well as trying to keep my head above water, these books were sold & forgotten.

 

Fast forward to now.  3 children have left our nest and the younger ones are getting older.  A few of them are requiring a different educational approach, and Charlotte Mason entered the picture once again as a possible route.  

 

My brain is not nearly as absorbent as it once was, so reading the CM how-to books is not my preference for learning her science teaching methods.  

 

If anyone here is well-versed in CM science and would be willing to give a Cliff's Notes summary, I would be thankful.

 

BTW, this would be for the elementary/middle school years.

 

Thanks!!

[Soror]

I don't have time for a big post but wanted to recommend a program that makes it very easy to pull off nature study, it is very open and go and thorough. It gives you a different topic for each week along with a bit of info and a reference back to the Handbook of Nature Study if you want to read more. There are also extension activities and poems to go along with each topic.

 

https://raisinglittleshoots.com/buy-exploring-nature-with-children/

Edited August 13, 2016 by soror

[Loesje22000]

This is een other option:

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/

 

[Soror]

This is een other option:

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/

Yes, we used that before too. Depends on what works best for you and that can change too.

[Loesje22000]

CM never worked to DD :( but this site appealed to me often :)

[Hunter]

My preference is to hit topics with a 1, 2, 3 punch.

 

Handbook of Nature Study

Vintage home and elementary geographies

Literature that includes the topics

 

The vintage geographies I like best are the CC Long and CM geographies that are pretty popular. But I also really like Payne's Geographical Nature Studies and Florence Holbrook's Elementary Geography.

 

Geography had a much wider scope and sequence back then and played a much heavier role in the curriculum.

 

Then I add youtube videos, documentaries, and modern books.

 

So for rivers and amphibians, I'd cover that with ancient history and cover the Nile River and dinosaurs. I'd cover rivers and slope drainage and all that in the geography. Obviously use HONS. Also some science and nature readers from Yesterday's Classics and other places. Peeps at Ancient Egypt and other stories about Egypt. Documentaries on the Nile, Egypt, dinosaurs, reptiles. Water-Babies. King of the Golden River. Journey to the Center of the Earth. Cat of Bubastes. Maybe Exodus from the Bible if I didn't already cover that recently. Maybe some paintings of rivers, and maybe a watercolor lesson that focused on composition of scenes with rivers. A coloring book of reptiles.

 

HONS and vintage style geography methods are where I START, not what I add in.

 

Some of the strictest old order Amish still follow the older rural school models of the 3R's, singing, drawing, geography, health. Geography was the primary content subject.

Edited August 13, 2016 by Hunter

[Hunter]

There are no modern geographies that cover the same topics of the vintage geographies. I look for the geographies that focus on topics that are still relevant 100 years later. They are likely to stay relevant longer than many newer books.

 

When a topic is outdated, I use the vintage book as a scope and sequence and supplement the topic with something modern.

[shinyhappypeople]

Nature study:

 

Get a modern field guide for your area.  Go outside (your backyard, a park, wherever) and look at stuff.  Find something that particularly interests you and sketch it and/or write a few notes about it (how it looks, what it's doing, what YOU were doing when you found it, where it's located...) .  Look up it's stats in the field guide.  You're done. :)  One idea I read about that I like is to pick a tree and study it over the course of a year.  

 

I think formal science is postponed until middle grades, and for that I think the "CM-approach" would be to just use whatever program makes sense for your kids.

 

The more I research her approach the more I realize how simple most of her ideas are.  I think we tend to over-complicate things, at least I know I do.  Seriously, picture study: look at a picture carefully for a few minutes, put it away and narrate (aka "talk about it") with kid, put it back up to be enjoyed for a few weeks.  Rinse and repeat with other works or artists.

[BonnieLK]

Exploring Nature with Children (linked above) is a really terrific guide/plan for beginners. I believe she has a 20% or 30%o off sale the rest of August.

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

You guys are the best!!!  I really needed this info to help me get out of my brain fog.  Thank you!

[Sahamamama]

Perhaps some of these resources will work for your remaining three students:

 

https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/product-category/product-science/

 

Also, here is a link for Outdoor Hour Challenges at Handbook of Nature Study Blog:

 

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/

 

You might find Nature Study 101 a useful place to begin again:

 

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/2011/01/nature-study-helps-and-hints.html/

 

If you ever do want to go back and reread CM's original series, she discusses Science in Volume 1 (pages 218-223) and Volume 6 (page 264-271). There are Concise Summaries here, as well as a Modern English version here.

 

In our homeschool, it helped to begin with several modern field guides. While we like Handbook of Nature Study (we downloaded it as a PDF for free), the photos don't do the subjects justice, so modern field guides fill that need nicely. We have field guides (mostly Peterson) for Eastern Birds, Eastern Trees, Flowers, Horses, Rocks & Minerals, Snakes & Reptiles, Astronomy, and something else I am forgetting now.

 

We also purchased these lovely cards and wall charts from ABeka, even though we don't do their Science courses:

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=25542

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=113042

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=25569

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=108545

 

I really wish ABeka made a set of cards for trees, instead of just the wall charts (which are nice, but the wrong format for us). My girls have studied the flower, insect, and bird card sets, all on their own, for hours and hours.

 

We created a Nature Study space in our homeschool room. It's a space for the field guides, our nature study "kits" (more about those later), flower presses, card sets, collections of nature finds, several magnifying glasses, bug jars, critter keepers, and so on. We've had wasps nests, snake sheds, a muskrat skull, a random bone, an empty tortoise shell, deer moss, lichens, tree bark, sticks (and more sticks!), various pine cones, leaves, seeds, acorns, rocks, soil samples, magnets, shells, sand dollars, driftwood, pressed flowers, grass, a robins' nest (in a plastic bag) with eggs (fell out of a tree), insects, spiders (released after a while), a few tadpoles (later released), and more in our Nature Center. We've tried to grow plants there, too, but I can't grow anything for very long. :blushing:

 

We assembled simple, portable, and compact nature study "kits" for each person. Each kit is in a sturdy plastic box and includes a small (unlined) notebook, pencils, colored pencils, a small magnifying glass (actually a jeweler's loupe), and some other items that the girls want to include. We take these kits on most outings, along with nets, critter keepers, and a few buckets, just in case we come across something awesome. The summer before last, it was assassin bugs, in all their many instars (stages). So scary! Last summer, it was damselfly nymphs at the local creek. That sparked a whole investigation of the life cycle of insects that are aquatic in their lymph stage. Amazing stuff! This summer, to tell the truth, we wimped out and stayed inside, it was so hot and humid. But we'll get back out in September.

 

I also put together a 3-ring binder with information on some of the nature study opportunities we have near us -- an arboretum, a botanical garden, a fish hatchery, an aquarium, a zoo, rock collecting sites, wildlife management areas, watersheds, nature classes, federal parks, state parks, county parks, and so on. We've been able to get out more, simply because we know what's available to us locally. It's very helpful to collect the brochures at state parks; they are a well of information. Also, if you have a nature center near you, use their layout to glean ideas for your own nature study.

 

If you have a fourth grader, you may be able to get a free year-long pass to federal parks, if they decide to renew the program for another year. At present, they haven't posted the registration for the new school year. We'll see if they do, since I have two fourth graders this year!

 

https://everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/

 

If you decide to study birds, Cornell Ornithology is a goldmine of ideas and resources. Winter is a lovely time to study birds, depending on where you live. We put out bird feeders all winter long, and have truly enjoyed our winter guests over the years. We feed the hummingbirds in summer, too, and are sad when they leave us.

 

If you find something and don't know what it is, you can snap a photo of it and research it later at home, using an online search. Look for "dichotomous key" and then whatever you want to identify. For example -- "dichotomous key" leaf -- if you can't identify a leaf.

 

The National Wildlife Foundation has some good articles on nature study. Here's one on phenology, a topic most people don't consider when thinking about nature study.

 

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Phenology.aspx

 

HTH.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Sahamamama

[Insertcreativenamehere]

I can't find that coupon code; does anyone have it handy?

Exploring Nature with Children (linked above) is a really terrific guide/plan for beginners. I believe she has a 20% or 30%o off sale the rest of August.

 

[Hunter]

I'm so glad Sahamamama mentioned phenology. I find it much easier to focus on phenology rather than identification when outdoors. We look at the CHANGES in COMMON species that we aleady know the names of, or even things we don't know the name of, rather than worrying about names.

 

Observation is another thing that I focus on more than identification.

 

Also I choose to compare things to well known shapes and objects and species, rather than learn a lot of scientific labels.Heart shaped, round, oval. Jagged edges. Size of a baseball.

[Soror]

Good compilation of resources sahamama! 

 

You could do nature study just focusing on phenology, go out and observe every week and see when things start to change and keep track in a notebook of firsts. (like first snowfall, first freeze, signs of migration, flowers blooming- first Queen Anne's Lace, etc)

 

There is a cool citizen science site on phenology: https://www.usanpn.org/

 

Here is a site for a compilation of citizen science nature study site:

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Citizen-Science.aspx

 

Another way to make nature study easy is identification apps- we have ones for astronomy, bird (Merlin),  and tree(Leaf snap).

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

Perhaps some of these resources will work for your remaining three students:

 

https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/product-category/product-science/

 

Also, here is a link for Outdoor Hour Challenges at Handbook of Nature Study Blog:

 

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/

 

You might find Nature Study 101 a useful place to begin again:

 

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/2011/01/nature-study-helps-and-hints.html/

 

If you ever do want to go back and reread CM's original series, she discusses Science in Volume 1 (pages 218-223) and Volume 6 (page 264-271). There are Concise Summaries here, as well as a Modern English version here.

 

In our homeschool, it helped to begin with several modern field guides. While we like Handbook of Nature Study (we downloaded it as a PDF for free), the photos don't do the subjects justice, so modern field guides fill that need nicely. We have field guides (mostly Peterson) for Eastern Birds, Eastern Trees, Flowers, Horses, Rocks & Minerals, Snakes & Reptiles, Astronomy, and something else I am forgetting now.

 

We also purchased these lovely cards and wall charts from ABeka, even though we don't do their Science courses:

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=25542

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=113042

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=25569

 

http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=108545

 

I really wish ABeka made a set of cards for trees, instead of just the wall charts (which are nice, but the wrong format for us). My girls have studied the flower, insect, and bird card sets, all on their own, for hours and hours.

 

We created a Nature Study space in our homeschool room. It's a space for the field guides, our nature study "kits" (more about those later), flower presses, card sets, collections of nature finds, several magnifying glasses, bug jars, critter keepers, and so on. We've had wasps nests, snake sheds, a muskrat skull, a random bone, an empty tortoise shell, deer moss, lichens, tree bark, sticks (and more sticks!), various pine cones, leaves, seeds, acorns, rocks, soil samples, magnets, shells, sand dollars, driftwood, pressed flowers, grass, a robins' nest (in a plastic bag) with eggs (fell out of a tree), insects, spiders (released after a while), a few tadpoles (later released), and more in our Nature Center. We've tried to grow plants there, too, but I can't grow anything for very long. :blushing:

 

We assembled simple, portable, and compact nature study "kits" for each person. Each kit is in a sturdy plastic box and includes a small (unlined) notebook, pencils, colored pencils, a small magnifying glass (actually a jeweler's loupe), and some other items that the girls want to include. We take these kits on most outings, along with nets, critter keepers, and a few buckets, just in case we come across something awesome. The summer before last, it was assassin bugs, in all their many instars (stages). So scary! Last summer, it was damselfly nymphs at the local creek. That sparked a whole investigation of the life cycle of insects that are aquatic in their lymph stage. Amazing stuff! This summer, to tell the truth, we wimped out and stayed inside, it was so hot and humid. But we'll get back out in September.

 

I also put together a 3-ring binder with information on some of the nature study opportunities we have near us -- an arboretum, a botanical garden, a fish hatchery, an aquarium, a zoo, rock collecting sites, wildlife management areas, watersheds, nature classes, federal parks, state parks, county parks, and so on. We've been able to get out more, simply because we know what's available to us locally. It's very helpful to collect the brochures at state parks; they are a well of information. Also, if you have a nature center near you, use their layout to glean ideas for your own nature study.

 

If you have a fourth grader, you may be able to get a free year-long pass to federal parks, if they decide to renew the program for another year. At present, they haven't posted the registration for the new school year. We'll see if they do, since I have two fourth graders this year!

 

https://everykidinapark.gov/get-your-pass/

 

If you decide to study birds, Cornell Ornithology is a goldmine of ideas and resources. Winter is a lovely time to study birds, depending on where you live. We put out bird feeders all winter long, and have truly enjoyed our winter guests over the years. We feed the hummingbirds in summer, too, and are sad when they leave us.

 

If you find something and don't know what it is, you can snap a photo of it and research it later at home, using an online search. Look for "dichotomous key" and then whatever you want to identify. For example -- "dichotomous key" leaf -- if you can't identify a leaf.

 

The National Wildlife Foundation has some good articles on nature study. Here's one on phenology, a topic most people don't consider when thinking about nature study.

 

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Phenology.aspx

 

HTH.

I really like the idea of the "nature study kits."  That would save us a lot of fumbling around for pencils, notebooks, etc. I am considering making small nature totebags or boxes that could be carried along on our hikes.  Thanks for all of the info!

[Kat w]

What Hunter said and I am going to get some of the simply Charlotte stuff for that.

 

It's all done for us.

 

But mostly how Hunter explained to employ it. Amphibians and such with the ancients..

We did a salt dough Mao of that region. That was a ton of fun and mine were in middle school then. Fun for all ages. Including mom :)

[BonnieLK]

I can't find that coupon code; does anyone have it handy?

 

 

The coupon is EXPLORE and I was wrong, it expires August 20.

 

https://raisinglittleshoots.com/2016/08/08/20-discount-on-exploring-nature-with-children-2/

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

What Hunter said and I am going to get some of the simply Charlotte stuff for that.

 

It's all done for us.

 

But mostly how Hunter explained to employ it. Amphibians and such with the ancients..

We did a salt dough Mao of that region. That was a ton of fun and mine were in middle school then. Fun for all ages. Including mom :)

I see that you have older and younger children.  It's crazy how the dynamics have changed in our home (and our homeschooling) as a result of olders leaving the nest.   

 

Then there's the issue of my middle-age distracted brain...but I digress!  LOL!

[Kat w]

I see that you have older and younger children. It's crazy how the dynamics have changed in our home (and our homeschooling) as a result of olders leaving the nest.

 

Then there's the issue of my middle-age distracted brain...but I digress! LOL!

Ha-ha...I know. Ya know what I've noticed most thst I seem to say alot on here?

 

I forgot...I forgot ...I forgot haha!

You're right. My middle aged brain sometimes goes...eh?? Ha-ha

 

Oh man, it sure does change the dynamics of everything. And ...books and curriculums are all new too.

We didn't have thst many choices when our bigs were Young.

Ya got what ya got! :)

Saxon math, abeka language ....on down the line.

 

All these choices nowadays? Plus my middle aged brain?? Oiy... ;)

 

I notice sometimes in here...I don't finish my thought. Baha!

Sigh. It is what it is huh?

 

And not to mention, the bigs interrupt the lils schooling.

Like my daughter will call smack dab in the middle of the day and wants to talk.

I'm like...um..honey...tryin to teach your brother to read! Lol.

She'll b like...OK..one more thing ;/

Then my DS 20 is home on leave...hell come in the door and go...hey, not to interrupt but....

 

Ha-ha. Ok. No..you didn't 'interrupt ' ...yesterday my DS 12 said, after DS 20 left the room, ...yea...but he DID interrupt haha :)

Fun times to be had by all :)

 

I so love my big family. I can tell you do too.

I almost told you last nite on here ( I fell asleep instead) Baha.

But. I always wanted 7 kids. Thsts how many you have right?

I may have counted wrong. That wouldn't be unusual these days lol ;)

[Hunter]

It is hard when we just try and paste a vintage thing onto a modern curriculum.

 

Like cursive-first. Cursive-first only works with vintage methods of language arts and even math and content subjects, unless a kid is gifted.

 

Nature study was interwoven into the curriculum, even the language arts.

 

Sellers plop out an old thing and add some pretty graphics and wham it sounds like an awesome idea, until we try and put it into practice. When we struggle, we often buy even more stuff by them and others. We keep buying more NEW stuff, when really the solution is often among the old free stuff that was most widely used at the time.

[Kat w]

It is hard when we just try and paste a vintage thing onto a modern curriculum.

 

Like cursive-first. Cursive-first only works with vintage methods of language arts and even math and content subjects, unless a kid is gifted.

 

Nature study was interwoven into the curriculum, even the language arts.

 

Sellers plop out an old thing and add some pretty graphics and wham it sounds like an awesome idea, until we try and put it into practice. When we struggle, we often buy even more stuff by them and others. We keep buying more NEW stuff, when really the solution is often among the old free stuff that was most widely used at the time.

That's a really good point Hunter.

Boom. That's the missing link I couldn't put my finger on! :)

 

You're right. Like when I read the rays arithmetic sample from the link you put uo the other day...I noticed the lettering was at a minimum, early cursive by today's standards . wow. I have so ,fir at least a couple years, been trying to hone in and pinpoint where exactly the disconnect happens.

 

THAT'S it. Ha-ha. Well what do ya know :)

 

I have noticed...I keep going g backwards. Like it starts with reading, then I am trying to find the rear of kinballs grammar (1911 ish copywriter) . why?BC it fits in line with McGuffey and elson.

 

Then I read your curriculum guide to rays and views the samples and I'm like...well...I mneed that.

Duh. It's all cross curriculum and works in sync with each other.

 

Your right. The geography was woven in. Modern books don't do thst.

 

You know why...the publishers keep it all segragted to sell more books. Thsts why they keep having..'new editions' to resell to their current market base..the new stuff. We would just use it for kid after kid after kid.

 

I never buy the new edition except for possibly science. That changes cuz we discovered more...and Pluto's a planet...it's not a planet...oh wait it's a planet again haha :)

 

Math? Old as time itself.

But, I will say. We have in thst realm developed better methods in America . like Singapore math. That country kills us every single year. Heck, EVERY country kills us lol. We are ridiculously low on the global test scores.

 

I ordered Mary's grammar...as in. Queen Mary? Lol

It's a reading book starting whole to parts.

My guys need that and its just a very effective method.

 

Learning about grammar through a reading book, then talking about the book. How...effective.

Can't wait to get it. :)

 

Good pii t hunter. Glad you made it. That's why we have trouble finding where to place it and make It all work.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Kat w

[Kat w]

I for the life of me have never known ...WHY modern grammar takes it parts to whole.

 

Grammar, I've always showed all my kids, the whole...then break it down into parts. It's more logical thst way.

 

Parts to whole in grammar makes the child wonder....when is it gonna stop?

Understanding...there are only 8/9 parts of speech...puts that in our minds as..OK this is what makes up a sentence, now we learn how to use this parts to make the WHOLE sentence .

 

It's like what we did with phonics in America . WHOLE language and it's title sounded good, and certainly there are sight words that have no phonetic cues, but, teaching the phonograms teaches them about a word. What makes up that word and why.

 

America got too big for ita britches educationally and ...pride goes before a fall.

 

Well, we've fallen lol.

Back to the basics I think.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Kat w

[Kat w]

I heard someone say on here a couple months ago...

Yea...education is getting 'back to the basics'...ready?....like it did in the late 80's and 90's!!! Bahahahahah.

Ohhh OK. That's 'back' to the basics. Ok. :)

 

Oh I had to chuckle . like...back to the basics of...the 80's and 90's???

 

Wow. We are at a higher deficit in America than I thought lol.

 

80's and 90's. Smh ...chuckling

 

ETA:I didn't touch thst one with a 10' pole. I let others jump in. :)

Edited August 14, 2016 by Kat w

[Hunter]

I think we are headed to a back to basics. Everything goes in cycles. It isn't even about right and wrong or good and bad, it just is. Humans react and sometimes overreact in cycles.

 

I just found these 2 junior high science textbooks from the 1920's. They are meant to supplement the heavy nature study and geography curricula. They overlap and strengthen what we now call the CM type books. Little is outdated as the topics are the type that don't get outdated. But when they do, they can be supplemented with library books or encyclopedias.

 

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 1

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience01hessrich

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 2

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience02hessrich

[Hunter]

I like the Murche Science Readers too

 

Murche Reader 1 

https://books.google.com/books?id=I6ABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Reader 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=JKABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Reader 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=0rQXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Readers 4

https://books.google.com/books?id=RLQXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Readers 5

https://books.google.com/books?id=SaABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Teacher Manuals for murche. Please do NOT follow the instructions for tasting, especially the Mercury!

 

Object Lessons Vol. 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=J7YXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:dgAjnb-PedUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Object Lessons Vol 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=16ZJAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Object+Lessons+in+Elementary+Science%22+Volume+3&source=gbs_navlinks_s

[Hunter]

Nature Study integrated Language Arts

 

How to Teach Reading 1899 by Emma J. Todd and W. B. Powell  Nature Study pg. 7-30, 36-45, 121-128

https://books.google.com/books?id=8x8BAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Normal Course in Reading First Reader 1890 Emma J. Todd pg. 39-74, 85-104

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr07powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Second Reader 1895 By Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U5AAAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_book_similarbooks

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Second Reader 1892 Emma J. Todd

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr10powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Third Reader 1892 by Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U6UXAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Third Reader 1891 How to Read with Open Eyes

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr12powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Fourth Reader pg. 73-140, 141-208

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr08powegoog

 

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=rzxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=XDxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1899 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=SrEXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Edited August 14, 2016 by Hunter

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

Ha-ha...I know. Ya know what I've noticed most thst I seem to say alot on here?

 

I forgot...I forgot ...I forgot haha!

You're right. My middle aged brain sometimes goes...eh?? Ha-ha

 

Oh man, it sure does change the dynamics of everything. And ...books and curriculums are all new too.

We didn't have thst many choices when our bigs were Young.

Ya got what ya got! :)

Saxon math, abeka language ....on down the line.

 

All these choices nowadays? Plus my middle aged brain?? Oiy... ;)

 

I notice sometimes in here...I don't finish my thought. Baha!

Sigh. It is what it is huh?

 

And not to mention, the bigs interrupt the lils schooling.

Like my daughter will call smack dab in the middle of the day and wants to talk.

I'm like...um..honey...tryin to teach your brother to read! Lol.

She'll b like...OK..one more thing ;/

Then my DS 20 is home on leave...hell come in the door and go...hey, not to interrupt but....

 

Ha-ha. Ok. No..you didn't 'interrupt ' ...yesterday my DS 12 said, after DS 20 left the room, ...yea...but he DID interrupt haha :)

Fun times to be had by all :)

 

I so love my big family. I can tell you do too.

I almost told you last nite on here ( I fell asleep instead) Baha.

But. I always wanted 7 kids. Thsts how many you have right?

I may have counted wrong. That wouldn't be unusual these days lol ;)

You are preaching to the choir!!!  I tell my older kids that they are big pains in the neck now (of course they are loved...they just take up too much space and eat our food..*and* interrupt our homeschooling..grin)

 

We are blessed beyond measure.  I think I would really be stupid if I didn't have so much to do or figure out.  Thankful.

 

Keep on going, one mountain at a time!  grin.

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

Nature Study integrated Language Arts

 

How to Teach Reading 1899 by Emma J. Todd and W. B. Powell  Nature Study pg. 7-30, 36-45, 121-128

https://books.google.com/books?id=8x8BAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Normal Course in Reading First Reader 1890 Emma J. Todd pg. 39-74, 85-104

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr07powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Second Reader 1895 By Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U5AAAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_book_similarbooks

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Second Reader 1892 Emma J. Todd

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr10powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Third Reader 1892 by Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U6UXAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Third Reader 1891 How to Read with Open Eyes

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr12powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Fourth Reader pg. 73-140, 141-208

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr08powegoog

 

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=rzxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=XDxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1899 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=SrEXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Whoa...nice links!  Thanks!

[Hunter]

Kat, some of the grammar stuff confusion is that for a very long time, grammar was taught in Latin and then applied to English. Then those same methods and scope and sequences were used in Harvey's and similar grammars without ever doing the Latin. Then we got more of the sloppy child centered and literature based stuff.

 

I don't have a lot of strong opinions about general grammar instruction for mainstream American kids. My grammar thoughts tend to be radical and only shared on private forums that are international and welcoming to communists and reformists and other radicals. :lol:

 

I learned Latin grammar before English. So did my boys. I have had to explore grammar instruction as an English only topic with tutoring students and pretty much just wing it the best I can, catering to the student. Or I pick things that are most familiar and the closest to Latin first instruction, just because it is more familiar.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Hunter

[Kat w]

You are preaching to the choir!!! I tell my older kids that they are big pains in the neck now (of course they are loved...they just take up too much space and eat our food..*and* interrupt our homeschooling..grin)

 

We are blessed beyond measure. I think I would really be stupid if I didn't have so much to do or figure out. Thankful.

 

Keep on going, one mountain at a time! grin.

I so agree 100% :)

 

I remember when my big kids were young...didn't have the lil ones yet..I had a very sweet dear friend with 6 kids.

 

Hers were older...the big kids anyway. My older kids that were young...were her lil kids ages.

 

I'll never forget ...she used to fuss bout the big kids coming in at night , late of course , with a friend or 3 lol....be in the kitchen.. Microwaving stuff...talking laughing etc. And she would be like...wow! I lose so much sleep cuz of them. I chuckled at the time and it struck me...that seemed out of character a lil bit for her...she loved her big family .

 

Oh boy...do I see what she's tslkin about. When all 5 were at home...they'd come in late, microwave food lol, talk, laugh Baha...and ID be like...to myself of course...IMG! I have to sleep cuz the lils will be up early and have to do school! Haha

 

They didn't get it at all ( the big kids) when I would ask....for them to maybe take it down a notch ir 2. Smh.

 

I knew you'd know what I meant. Only a mama with lots of kids , and...ppl say..woe. You have such a spread in ages..( fir me we did have a 7 and half year break)

But I tell ppl...if you do the math...5 or 7 kids , having them every 2 ir 3 years...yea...that could easily be a 21 year spread. Hello! You don't have em all at once lol.

 

Oh the joy. I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

 

I always wanted 10. Dh agreed til w had our first and hED get up at 6:30 every morning and read tobher haha. ;)

 

Hey, I told him, I nurse thru the nite. Tag! Youre it!!

:)

 

Now we've started the grandbaby cycle. She's 4 and my daughter and sil are a paramedic and cop. They work goofy hours and she has to sleep at the fire station.

 

So I have the grandbaby over night 4 ish days a week. So...adding another one in half the time...yup. Fun! Lol

 

Talk about a homeschool distraction :)

Gosh...wouldn't have that any other way either.

 

I have DS20 coming in at midnite with a friend, or...stuck in the mud in his truck til 4 am..mim awake worried. Then grandbaby wakes up at 7:30 ...wants milk and cuddles. Then lil boys up at 8:30 ..then school...while I keep grandbaby with blocks playdoh and videos.

Schiolbthe boys til ds20 wakes up to interrupt and DD 24 calling about what ...can you believe this girl did THIS? ha-ha...then grandbabies mama callin to talk to and check on her baby...back to school with my LC lil boys...dinner..more interruptions...bed then DS 20 wants to 'chat' cuz I've nlbeen busy all day...then he goes out...comes in late with a friend for food...and

....it starts all over again haha !)

 

I love my crazy fun happy kids and life! :)

[Kat w]

Kat, some of the grammar stuff confusion is that for a very long time, grammar was taught in Latin and then applied to English. Then those same methods and scope and sequences were used in Harvey's and similar grammars without ever doing the Latin. Then we got more of the sloppy child centered and literature based stuff.

 

I don't have a lot of strong opinions about general grammar instruction for mainstream American kids. My grammar thoughts tend to be radical and only shared on private forums that are international and welcoming to communists and reformists and other radicals. :lol:

 

I learned Latin grammar before English. So did my boys. I have had to explore grammar instruction as an English only topic with tutoring students and pretty much just wing it the best I can, catering to the student. Or I pick things that are most familiar and the closest to Latin first instruction, just because it is more familiar.

Hunter, very good point. You're right.

 

I taught Latin to all my big kids from about 3 Rd or 4th on. Idk how you can try to effectively teach grammar without Latin.

 

It's where all the languages stem from. Latin ir Greek. We did Greek too. Only a lil tho.

Just now this year starting Latin roots with my lil guys. They have some significant learning challenges. So I haven't done Latin. As I said on another thread, I find the systematic approach (which winds up rigorous) I havent don with them. BC of the challenges.

 

I think tho...as I've added in systematic curriculums... That's when there learned the most and soared.

That's why it dawned on me.....Latin!

 

So I'm going to start with the roots. Unless you have something better here thst they're able to do...

I had a duh moment. If it's worked in math and reading and writing (systematiband rigorous, but gentle) then why of course not grammar too!

 

They cant spell worth a tinkers darn haha :)

 

Again ...Latin.

 

I'm going to look at the links you have here and read.

 

I'll be back then :)

Edited August 14, 2016 by Kat w

[Hunter]

Grammar is so controversial it would need its own thread. It really is a controversial subject for some people.

[Kat w]

Grammar is so controversial it would need its own thread. It really is a controversial subject for some people.

Sounds like a good and interesting thread to me :)

 

I know and I so have never gotten it WHY Latin is so controversial.

 

I say that, not in a way most might think, the well...Im just goin to say it outloud.

 

It is not usually , in fact I have never first hand witnessed it and I've paid attention to take note, it has not ever been my observations thst the controversy comes from those seeking to do and teach Latin.

 

It is from the people who come at those quietly teaching Latin, minding their own business, that the gen pop is like....offended.

 

Um. ....*shakes head vigorously*...really????

Are you kidding me???

 

Why...pre tell,...do YOU ...care if I teach Latin to my kids?

Why?? It is beyond me.

And????

.....um....so far....with me personally or any if my friends that have been posed with this very rude thing from the gen pop?

 

...they cannot tell me what their problem is with MY teaching it to my kids. They cannot say one reason why they care? Ir why they feel the need to almost at times...attack the parent teaching Latin.

 

And Hunter and others thst teach Latin know exactly what I'm going to say next...the ONLY.....I mean ....ONLY thing they can or have to say about it is??

 

Baha!...that it's a dead language. Um. Ok. We have now opened up a basket of worms. Not a can,...but a basket.

 

K. ..my next question to them is....

Hey? Do you...speak?

Could you SPEAK to express your almost distin for MY choice to teach MY KIDS latin?

 

Why yes, you sure could so...hey! (Inset to myself explanative ;))

Hey!....you just answered your own question!

 

Hey!.....(explanative again ;)) ...the English language as well as other languages across the world are derived in...what???

 

Listening for it...what???

LATIN!

 

:)

 

PS. ...most of the time..like 99% of the time...know how they even KNOW we teach Latin to our kids ?

 

Cuz they ask!!! They ask..the child mind you ( nosey, I mean curious) ...what subjects are you doing in school?

 

When the children list Latin....it's as if these adults won't let it go with the parents...

Hey...dude. I teach it cuz I want them to have a grasp on the English language as well as many other languages they may decide they want to learn.

 

I teach it so as intelects that are usually older and well versed...as they speak..my KIDS can figure out just about any word the other person is saying.

 

I teach it so when they get to college there won't be probably a singly 'bi word'

[Kat w]

...a single 'big word' baha ;)

They will be able to figure out the meaning and move right along and do well.

 

Ir how bout when they want to learn another language they have an incredible head start???

 

Yea. Don't get me started either on the Latin thing. Although..I would love for you to start a thread..

 

It is never ( yes I know that's a strong word...never) never us the ones teaching Latin that are expousing the virtues of our wonderfully well rounded grammatically correct children.

 

No...it's the ones who are....intimidated by those who chose to do better...that start the Latin hatin verbage and almost attacks.

 

Dead language? Really?

 

I've never known a language to be dead that at leat 5 languages would be based off of ...that I can pull off the tip of my head right now.

 

So...Latin haters abound...feel the need to attack that which they do not or refuse to understand.

 

You are intimidated? Well gee, maybe just maybe...you could explore the world of Latin derivatives before...you go spoutin off to our children how their parents are doin hem a disservice by teaching ...

...LATIN :)

:) that is all lol

Edited August 14, 2016 by Kat w

[Kat w]

Please forgive me camy-7 :)

 

My big kids have been so upset before by ppl giving them a hard time for learning even the Latin derivatives :)

 

Sowwy. :) it a couple of times made my oldest cry when she was little :(

 

:) I jus wanna have fun in my homeschool :)

[Hunter]

I'm talking about English grammar, not Latin grammar or the choice to teach Latin or not.

 

But you have to start a new thread if you want me to respond to either the topic of Latin instruction or English grammar.

[Kat w]

Oh..no no. I want asking you to respond. I am always interested in your viewpoints. I think youre highly intelligent and I will glean from you what I can. :)

 

But you don't need to respond. I didn't think you would.

 

And camy and I...we got da...big family mama bond lol.

 

I wouldn't think she has issue with what I said...but if she dies...shell telle...we get good at saying what we need to when ya got alot of kids! :-0

Ha-ha :)

 

All in good naturedness.

It is a debate that will probably go on as long as time.

 

I know she hasnt homeschooled 7 kids and not encountered similar situations, be it with Latin or whatever.

 

Ya don't sweat the small stuff when you have a big family.

 

We're more concerned with...a good night's sleep! Ha-ha :)

[Kat w]

I suppose when you said ....Latin grammar...it sounded to me like you were talking about...Latin grammar.

 

Maybe I wasn't following what you were sayin but...it's ok.

 

We teach what we teach and we learn what we learn :)

 

I like camy very much. We know how it is to be almost attacked for our choices St times in homeschooling or even the decision to homeschool :)

[AimeeM]

Nature study:

 

Get a modern field guide for your area.  Go outside (your backyard, a park, wherever) and look at stuff.  Find something that particularly interests you and sketch it and/or write a few notes about it (how it looks, what it's doing, what YOU were doing when you found it, where it's located...) .  Look up it's stats in the field guide.  You're done. :)  One idea I read about that I like is to pick a tree and study it over the course of a year.  

 

I think formal science is postponed until middle grades, and for that I think the "CM-approach" would be to just use whatever program makes sense for your kids.

 

The more I research her approach the more I realize how simple most of her ideas are.  I think we tend to over-complicate things, at least I know I do.  Seriously, picture study: look at a picture carefully for a few minutes, put it away and narrate (aka "talk about it") with kid, put it back up to be enjoyed for a few weeks.  Rinse and repeat with other works or artists.

As much as I love the idea of nature study, I'm not sure how it works for us subdivision-folk :P 

Our backyard is a small fenced in area. Outside the front of our house is the same small (one) tree that is in all the yards - and a sidewalk and road. Going to the park makes it seem so unlikely that it would get done regularly. 

<pity party happening here>

The SCM "Exploring Nature" books look SO nice.

[Hunter]

Kat, I just don't want to derail the science thread with a controversial topic. I didn't mean to be short with YOU, I'm just trying not to clog this THREAD.

 

If I say anything, anything at all, people will respond and it doesn't belong HERE. No matter what, I'm going to keep being short about GRAMMAR in THIS thread. Even if it means being rude. Sorry. :grouphug:

 

 

[Hunter]

I think we are headed to a back to basics. Everything goes in cycles. It isn't even about right and wrong or good and bad, it just is. Humans react and sometimes overreact in cycles.

 

I just found these 2 junior high science textbooks from the 1920's. They are meant to supplement the heavy nature study and geography curricula. They overlap and strengthen what we now call the CM type books. Little is outdated as the topics are the type that don't get outdated. But when they do, they can be supplemented with library books or encyclopedias.

 

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 1

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience01hessrich

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 2

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience02hessrich

 

I've been reading these 2 books off and on all day and trying to get them onto the devices I want them on and researching hardcopy options.

 

I really really really like these books to supplement a CM nature study and geography reading list.

[Kat w]

Nature Study integrated Language Arts

 

How to Teach Reading 1899 by Emma J. Todd and W. B. Powell Nature Study pg. 7-30, 36-45, 121-128

https://books.google.com/books?id=8x8BAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Normal Course in Reading First Reader 1890 Emma J. Todd pg. 39-74, 85-104

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr07powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Second Reader 1895 By Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U5AAAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_book_similarbooks

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Second Reader 1892 Emma J. Todd

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr10powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Third Reader 1892 by Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U6UXAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Third Reader 1891 How to Read with Open Eyes

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr12powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Fourth Reader pg. 73-140, 141-208

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr08powegoog

 

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=rzxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=XDxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1899 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=SrEXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Hunter ,

Where could I find those books do you know?

[vaquitita]

My preference is to hit topics with a 1, 2, 3 punch.

 

Handbook of Nature Study

Vintage home and elementary geographies

Literature that includes the topics

 

The vintage geographies I like best are the CC Long and CM geographies that are pretty popular. But I also really like Payne's Geographical Nature Studies and Florence Holbrook's Elementary Geography.

 

Geography had a much wider scope and sequence back then and played a much heavier role in the curriculum.

 

Then I add youtube videos, documentaries, and modern books.

 

So for rivers and amphibians, I'd cover that with ancient history and cover the Nile River and dinosaurs. I'd cover rivers and slope drainage and all that in the geography. Obviously use HONS. Also some science and nature readers from Yesterday's Classics and other places. Peeps at Ancient Egypt and other stories about Egypt. Documentaries on the Nile, Egypt, dinosaurs, reptiles. Water-Babies. King of the Golden River. Journey to the Center of the Earth. Cat of Bubastes. Maybe Exodus from the Bible if I didn't already cover that recently. Maybe some paintings of rivers, and maybe a watercolor lesson that focused on composition of scenes with rivers. A coloring book of reptiles.

 

HONS and vintage style geography methods are where I START, not what I add in..

  

 

It is hard when we just try and paste a vintage thing onto a modern curriculum.

 

Like cursive-first. Cursive-first only works with vintage methods of language arts and even math and content subjects, unless a kid is gifted.

 

Nature study was interwoven into the curriculum, even the language arts.

I have both of these books... Longs and CM geography. While I love your way of teaching it with history, it seems completely overwhelming to me. :) I'd have to throw out what we're doing now and rewrite everything. That's just not going to happen. Are you saying that reading/discussing these books with my children once a week is just not going to work? Can you tell me what goes wrong? I understand what goes wrong with cursive first and modern curriculum, but I'm having trouble seeing what goes wrong with this vintage geography and what I'm doing?

 

I've been doing nature study with my kids weekly for years. We live in suburbia. But a lot can be done with even a tiny back yard. Bird feeders. Feed peanuts to the squirrels. Plant bushes that attract butterflies and birds. Let stuff go to seed, when I let our one kale plant go to seed the birds loved it. :) Let stuff grow a bit wild rather than be super landscaped. Wild life likes that. Our overgrown lavender bushes harbor lizards and katydids. When we first started I never thought we'd see as much variety as we do. Take a walk around your neighborhood and see how many different kinds of trees there are, watch them through the seasons (a bit of a let down for us in California. Lol. The seasons blend together and so do the trees. We can have the same variety of tree.. And in winter One will be green, one turned red, and another bare.). To me a lot of nature study is learning to really observe, once you try to draw that flower you have to look much more carefully at it! And once their curiously is peaked, find out more my reading books about the things you see. We aren't going to find birds nests or be able to follow an animal, but we can read about their homes.

[vaquitita]

I think we are headed to a back to basics. Everything goes in cycles. It isn't even about right and wrong or good and bad, it just is. Humans react and sometimes overreact in cycles.

 

I just found these 2 junior high science textbooks from the 1920's. They are meant to supplement the heavy nature study and geography curricula. They overlap and strengthen what we now call the CM type books. Little is outdated as the topics are the type that don't get outdated. But when they do, they can be supplemented with library books or encyclopedias.

 

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 1

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience01hessrich

 

John C. Hessler Junior Science Vol. 2

https://archive.org/details/juniorscience02hessrich

  

I like the Murche Science Readers too

 

Murche Reader 1 

https://books.google.com/books?id=I6ABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Reader 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=JKABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Reader 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=0rQXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Readers 4

https://books.google.com/books?id=RLQXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Murche Readers 5

https://books.google.com/books?id=SaABAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:J9LLLslw7lwC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Teacher Manuals for murche. Please do NOT follow the instructions for tasting, especially the Mercury!

 

Object Lessons Vol. 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=J7YXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:dgAjnb-PedUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Object Lessons Vol 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=16ZJAAAAIAAJ&dq="Object+Lessons+in+Elementary+Science"+Volume+3&source=gbs_navlinks_s

  

Nature Study integrated Language Arts

 

How to Teach Reading 1899 by Emma J. Todd and W. B. Powell  Nature Study pg. 7-30, 36-45, 121-128

https://books.google.com/books?id=8x8BAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The Normal Course in Reading First Reader 1890 Emma J. Todd pg. 39-74, 85-104

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr07powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Second Reader 1895 By Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U5AAAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_book_similarbooks

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Second Reader 1892 Emma J. Todd

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr10powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Third Reader 1892 by Emma J. Todd

https://books.google.com/books?id=U6UXAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

A Normal Course in Reading Alternate Third Reader 1891 How to Read with Open Eyes

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr12powegoog

A Normal Course in Reading Fourth Reader pg. 73-140, 141-208

https://archive.org/details/normalcourseinr08powegoog

 

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol 1

https://books.google.com/books?id=rzxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1898 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 2

https://books.google.com/books?id=XDxEAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Nature Study Readers 1899 by John Winthrop Troeger Vol. 3

https://books.google.com/books?id=SrEXAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:oSWM9tak7eUC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

These look SO good. Now I'm going to have to read through them and make the hard choice of one series and get it printed somehow. I think my kids would like these.

 

We don't currently do much geography. I can't say I've seen the usefulness of drawing the world by heart or memorizing the names of every single country in Africa. Wherever we are reading about in history we look at it on maps and discuss the difference in landscape/weather from where we live and why it's different, but not in any great depth usually. We may notice there are a lot of countries in Africa, and read off all the names, we may talk about ones we've read about in books and compare different ones and notice what physical features cause the differences. I do try to point out small things we see when we're out and discuss how they're similar to big things we don't get to see. The only purpose I can see to geography is learning about, And appreciating, the world around us, and the different kinds of habitats and how they effect the people who live there.

[vaquitita]

Now I'm feel like I want to add cm geography and nature study reading to our week :)

 

One of these nature study or science readers might be a better read for my 8yo then the among the meadow people books.

[Kat w]

Now I'm feel like I want to add cm geography and nature study reading to our week :)

 

One of these nature study or science readers might be a better read for my 8yo then the among the meadow people books.

Vaquitita I love doing the nature studies and reading. It's a good Friday thing to do...take your journals and draw...write a little bit about it.

 

I want these too. Did you say you have hard copy books on them?

 

I would print some of them out if I had too. But I like books. Idk why.

We've done like a Christian libery nature reader so far...but I like these books too.

I want them . do you know where to maybe get them in hard copy book form?

[Kat w]

 

 

I have both of these books... Longs and CM geography. While I love your way of teaching it with history, it seems completely overwhelming to me. :) I'd have to throw out what we're doing now and rewrite everything. That's just not going to happen. Are you saying that reading/discussing these books with my children once a week is just not going to work? Can you tell me what goes wrong? I understand what goes wrong with cursive first and modern curriculum, but I'm having trouble seeing what goes wrong with this vintage geography and what I'm doing?

 

I've been doing nature study with my kids weekly for years. We live in suburbia. But a lot can be done with even a tiny back yard. Bird feeders. Feed peanuts to the squirrels. Plant bushes that attract butterflies and birds. Let stuff go to seed, when I let our one kale plant go to seed the birds loved it. :) Let stuff grow a bit wild rather than be super landscaped. Wild life likes that. Our overgrown lavender bushes harbor lizards and katydids. When we first started I never thought we'd see as much variety as we do. Take a walk around your neighborhood and see how many different kinds of trees there are, watch them through the seasons (a bit of a let down for us in California. Lol. The seasons blend together and so do the trees. We can have the same variety of tree.. And in winter One will be green, one turned red, and another bare.). To me a lot of nature study is learning to really observe, once you try to draw that flower you have to look much more carefully at it! And once their curiously is peaked, find out more my reading books about the things you see. We aren't going to find birds nests or be able to follow an animal, but we can read about their homes.

I don't think you'd have to throw it out and start fresh . you could add it in.

 

I do sorta like this with mine....

Though I don't have the vintage books ( want lol) but we do the cat of bubastes...Nile river study , watercolor ..we also did a salt dough map. I know you said the crafts you didn't care much for and that's fine too. You don't have too. You might find you like it though.

 

It seems like it would be overwhelming ...but I think once you folded at least some of it in...you could assess from there .

If you feel overwhelmed...take it out or push it to Friday afternoons just for that.

Fun Friday lol.

 

I promise . try just a couple and fold them in and it won't be as much as you think. You dictate how much or how little you do.

 

I really want these books. My old slow phone won't pull up all the links...so I'm going to try to Google them.

 

This is a good thread too camy! :)

Edited August 15, 2016 by Kat w

[Bluegoat]

It is hard when we just try and paste a vintage thing onto a modern curriculum.

 

Like cursive-first. Cursive-first only works with vintage methods of language arts and even math and content subjects, unless a kid is gifted.

 

Nature study was interwoven into the curriculum, even the language arts.

 

Sellers plop out an old thing and add some pretty graphics and wham it sounds like an awesome idea, until we try and put it into practice. When we struggle, we often buy even more stuff by them and others. We keep buying more NEW stuff, when really the solution is often among the old free stuff that was most widely used at the time.

 

Mmmm.  I taught cursive first and I know lots of other people here have as well, without any problems, or gifted kids.  It really isn't that hard, you just teach cursive formation, and the kids use it when they write.

[Bluegoat]

I think that to teach science in a CM way, you have to understand how she was thinking of it, and once you do, you can fairly easily fit it into your own schooling situation.

 

Pretty much always with CM, she wants teachers to remember that children should see what the object of study is in a holistic way, before trying to divide it up, analyze it, and so on.  So the study of grammar is really a systematic taking apart, labling, and putting back together, of language.  But before they ever try and do that, children should have exposure to language in a more fundamental way - as something we use to communicate.  You can't take it apart with value until you see how it works together.  Learning what a noun is makes sense because you see how that fits in to the larger picture, intuitivly, as sson as you hear it you also realize that there are not-nouns as well.

 

And more than that, the child is not really going to be well served by someone telling them about language - they need to experience it directly, it should be alive for them, hearing good stories and telling their own.

 

So what is science?  In as way, you might say that it is like the grammar of nature - the object of study is nature, natural laws, describing and explaining what moves the material universe.  But before that, the child should have a direct experience of nature, as it exists in itself, not as something which has been taken apart and analyzed by some other person.  When the student gets to that stage of taking apart, they should be drawing on their own experience first, and other holistic experiences, not starting with the elements already divided.

 

So - to me, the goal of nature study is firstly to get out in nature and experience it.  If the best someone can do is go out every week to the same places and make them part of their experience over time, that is a place to start and better than sitting home with a science curriculum.  But also what nature study can do, if it is more deliberate, is help the student look at and experience nature more consciously.  Part of that is being able to identify things.  If you know a chickadee, or a particular plant, it helps to "see" what is going on around you, knowing names is the first step in seeing.  Nature drawing is also a way to see, carefully and deliberately.  All the exercises that we find in nature study books are simply ways of bringing things to our attention, so we notice them. 

 

The second thing that happens in nature study is that we may find people like mentors who share their holistic experience with us.  This can happen in person, but also through a living book, where you have a kind of interaction with a person, where they can give concrete information (this is a caddisfly, this is how you collect a plant to preserve it) and also pass on love of the object. 

 

Maybe that is what it is really all about - learning to love nature, before you dissect it into parts with analysis, or submit it to processes.

 

I think if these goals are kept in mind, any resources that are handy can be used to very good effect.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Bluegoat

[Rosie_0801]

I really like the idea of the "nature study kits."  That would save us a lot of fumbling around for pencils, notebooks, etc. I am considering making small nature totebags or boxes that could be carried along on our hikes.  Thanks for all of the info!

 

Put a hand held mirror in for looking under fungi.