Slache Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 What resources would you pull from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 7, 2017 Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) I would: Take my kids to the library and let them find books on these topics. Visit state parks, nature centers, a planetarium; maybe attend a presentation or program geared for the age group. Collect rocks and study the local geology. Visit geological wonders in the state (caves, sink holes, bluffs, rock formations...) Hang big maps on the walls, use map place mats, maps to color Learn to read a map while hiking. Start with a simple map that has the trail marked and main features; topo maps fro older kids. Learn how to use a compass. Find an opportunity to look through a telescope This would be SO much fun! Edited February 7, 2017 by regentrude 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 That's how we did it too. We also used the Usborne First Encyclopedia of series (Earth, Space, Earth) as our intro to new topics and made notebook pages. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sk8ermaiden Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 We did a first grade astronomy unit. We used the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Space, National Geographic Kids My First book of space, Space: For Kids who Really Love Space, and some DK/Nat Geo readers about space. We watched Brainpop and some other assorted stuff I found on Youtube. She got really into black holes, so we did a lot of extra learning on those. We downloaded sky map or something like that (an app on the phone) and used it on all our camping trips to help us locate and learn some constellations. We used and enjoyed this little unit from TPT https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Astronomy-Facts-and-Activities-24-Pack-1918656 We saw several shows at the planetarium. We went camping at the local state park that has an observatory and on Saturday nights they open all the big telescopes and let you look. And all the astronomy buffs bring their $$$$$ telescopes too and they all train them on different things and let everyone look. We read Once Upon a Starry Night, and Child's Introduction to the Night sky. And after we learned some of the stories of constellations, I had her make her own constellation. We printed out a picture of what she wanted it to be, then poked holes through the major points where the stars would be, and then used it as a stencil for plotting the constellation on black paper with a silver paint pen. Then we used it as a writing exercise and she had to write the story of how that constellation had come to be in the sky. We haven't done earth science yet, but astronomy was really fun! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted February 8, 2017 Author Share Posted February 8, 2017 I would: Take my kids to the library and let them find books on these topics. They're not good at this! :laugh: Visit state parks, nature centers, a planetarium; maybe attend a presentation or program geared for the age group. We already do these. :) Collect rocks and study the local geology. Good call! Visit geological wonders in the state (caves, sink holes, bluffs, rock formations...) I was thinking Mount Saint Helens, The Ape Caves and Crater Lake. Hang big maps on the walls, use map place mats, maps to color. He has a map above his bed. Learn to read a map while hiking. Start with a simple map that has the trail marked and main features; topo maps fro older kids. We do this too! Learn how to use a compass. Another good call! Find an opportunity to look through a telescope. We're buying these. This would be SO much fun! He's my oldest and in first next year so I want to take advantage of the ample fun time while we can! That's how we did it too. We also used the Usborne First Encyclopedia of series (Earth, Space, Earth) as our intro to new topics and made notebook pages. Thanks! We did a first grade astronomy unit. We used the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Space, National Geographic Kids My First book of space, Space: For Kids who Really Love Space, and some DK/Nat Geo readers about space. We watched Brainpop and some other assorted stuff I found on Youtube. She got really into black holes, so we did a lot of extra learning on those. I just requested all of these from the library. :D We downloaded sky map or something like that (an app on the phone) and used it on all our camping trips to help us locate and learn some constellations. My phone doesn't support those. :( We used and enjoyed this little unit from TPT https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Astronomy-Facts-and-Activities-24-Pack-1918656 Thanks! We saw several shows at the planetarium. We went camping at the local state park that has an observatory and on Saturday nights they open all the big telescopes and let you look. And all the astronomy buffs bring their $$$$$ telescopes too and they all train them on different things and let everyone look. KEWL! We read Once Upon a Starry Night, and Child's Introduction to the Night sky. And after we learned some of the stories of constellations, I had her make her own constellation. We printed out a picture of what she wanted it to be, then poked holes through the major points where the stars would be, and then used it as a stencil for plotting the constellation on black paper with a silver paint pen. Then we used it as a writing exercise and she had to write the story of how that constellation had come to be in the sky. This is awesome! We haven't done earth science yet, but astronomy was really fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holly Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography Long's Home Geography Geopuzzles Telescope and star guide One Small Square Night Sky Magic Tree House Secrets of Space kit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Looking at my shelf: Child's Introduction to the Night Sky A Walk in the ____ biome series Here's one of them: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Tundra-Biomes-North-America/dp/1575055260/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486598708&sr=8-1&keywords=a+walk+in+the+tundra whatever One Small Square books my library had Magic School Bus: long stack of them some Usborne bindups a rock kit---samples, streak plate, etc.--you had to identify the rocks Janice Van Cleaves: Earth Science for every kid (selected experiments) We also did some tree and bird identification when we visited places. Binoculars, journal, and magnifying glass have all been big hits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) Thinking Out Loud: Geography Book Basket Children Just Like Me, Our Favorite Stories, and Celebrations It's A Big Big World Atlas Earth From Above For Young Readers Latin American Folktales, The Elephant's Friend, and The Adventures of a Spider Usborne Flip The Flap Atlas Biomes of North America One Small Square series Usborne First Encyclopedia of Our World and First Atlas Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary Curriculum & Activities: Beginning Geography A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth Color Me Activities: Our World Extreme Dot to Dot: Around The World Draw Write Now A Trip Around The World, Another Trip Around The World, and A New Trip Around The World Edited February 9, 2017 by Slache Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) Geography was a separate subject every year of the elementary grades, rather than as a Science unit. Things we used: - maps (paper maps and dry-erase maps, plastic place mats with maps and flags, a lap-sized whiteboard that had map outlines on the reverse side for white board markers) - globe - sticker books of country flags, and states & flags - print outs of outline country maps for us to mark/color - geography/mapping workbooks (Complete Book of Geography & Maps; Maps Charts & Graphs series; etc.) - books on geography topics (cultural geography - homes/foods/traditions/life in other countries) (continents, oceans) (physical landforms) (maps and mapping) We did Earth Science & Astronomy when DSs were 1st & 2nd grades. We used: - books - kits - field trips - activities/experiments - some library videos For designing our own science, I would look at the table of contents of several Science encyclopedias and for several science programs, pull together a "master list" of sub-topics to cover for that Science subject, and then look for resources available locally, at our library, or through homeschool mail-order to have enough materials, and then we'd work our way through the various areas of Earth Science and Astronomy. Examples of topics that broadly fall under "Earth Science": Earth Science - geology (rocks/erosion/soil, rock types/testing rocks, formations, earth layers, tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers/icebergs...)- geography (physical aspects of Earth, landforms, measuring & mapping, latitude/longitude...)- biomes ("climate zones": desert, arctic, jungle, prairie, forest, mountain, pond, seashore...)- meteorology (weather; sun/water/wind; the water cycle; storms/hurricanes/rain/snow; fog, rainbows; weather forecasting)- astronomy (sun, moon, the planets, solar system, stars, constellations, galaxies, telescopes, space probes/exploration/astronauts...)- oceanography (tides, currents, waves, geology of sea floor, reefs, shore, tide pools...) Enjoy your home-grown studies and explorations together! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. Edited February 9, 2017 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 (edited) Thinking Out Loud: For the car Field guides Star map Binoculars List of local hikes Box for crap we find that I won't want to keep but will anyway Magnifying glasses Snacks for emergency field trips Sketchbooks and colored pencils Critter keeper Edited February 9, 2017 by Slache Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanalouwho Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Oooh, my brother found some 'bug watches' at the Dollar Tree. They're little bug jars on wristbands and we've been wearing them on our hikes to catch bugs. They are fun. Sent from my HTCD160LVW using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 https://www.nature-watch.com/?osCsid=nv2b38ipefit6t4rl5enh0bir5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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