Teaching home school science can be intimidating for parents,, especially if this was a subject that was difficult for them to master when they were in school. By developing a comprehensive understanding of science, children learn important facts about the world in which we live, the environment, and the human body. The best approach to teaching home school science is to pair terminology and concept learning with a variety of hands-on activities that will engage children in science lessons.
It is very important that home school science lessons be structured so as to actively involve children in the learning process. As a home schooling parent, it is important for you to be aware that while science does require memorization of certain facts and terms, effective science education really occurs through doing.
There are many different projects and experiments that students of all ages will find very interesting. Of course, home school science lessons and projects will vary greatly based on the age of the students and the type of subject matter being studied.
There are a great many different types of content to cover in home school science. Some of the many topics included throughout a K-12 home school science education include:
·
Anatomy
·Biology
·Chemistry
·Earth Science
·Environmental Science
·Geology
·Health
·Plants
·Physics
·Space
·Weather
·… and many others
The widely varied subject matter that must be taught in home school science virtually dictates the use of outside resources and materials. There are a number of companies that provide science project, experiment, and lab materials that are excellent resources for providing a well-rounded home school science education.
One such company is The Teaching Tank, which has the Home School Seal of approval and provides affordable and versatile home school science resources.
Additionally, there are a number of books designed to help home schoolers incorporate safe and age-appropriate science learning activities into their educational activities.
Some of the best available printed resources for science activities, by grade level, include:
Grades K-2
Science Experiments You Can Eat by Vicki Cobb (ISBN: 0064460029)
Bubbleology: A Hands-On Science Kit by Jim Moskowitz and Casey Carle,
(ISBN: 1584761652)
My Big Science Book: Simple, Fun Experiments for All Young Scientists by Roger Priddy (ISBN: 031249176X)
Grades 3 - 7
101 Great Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide by Neil Ardley (ISBN: 0756619181)
365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials by E. Richard Churchill, Muriel Mandell, and Louis Loeschnig (ISBN: 1884822673)
365 More Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials by Judy Breckenridge, Muriel Mandell, Louis Loeschnig, and Anthony D. Fredericks (ISBN: 1579120350)
Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity -- Challenge the World around You! by Tom Mark Robinson (ISBN: 1580625576)
Exploratopia: More than 400 Kid-Friendly Explorations and Experiments for Curious Minds by The Exploratorium Staff (ISBN: 0316612812)
Human Anatomy Coloring Book by Margaret Matt, Merry Cassino and Joe Ziemian (ISBN: 0486241386)
Janice VanCleave's Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects by Janice VanCleave (ISBN: 0471148024)
Prize-Winning Science Fair Projects for Curious Kids by Joe Rhatigan and Rain Newcomb (ISBN: 1579907504)
Grades 8 - 12
The Complete Handbook of Science Fair Projects (Young Adult/Science Series) by Julianne Blair Bochinski (ISBN: 0471460435)
Science Experiments with Simple Machines by Sally Nankivell-Aston and Dorothy Jackson (ISBN: 0531154459)
Of course, these are only a few of the wonderful books that can help home school science lessons come to life for your children. Check your local public library or book store for many other excellent resources for home school science activities and experiments.
By structuring your home school science lessons to actively involve your children in scientific observations, projects, and experiments you will be taking important steps toward cultivating a love of science and nature that will endure for their lifetimes. Not only is a mastery of science important for future success in many career fields, it is also a vital component of raising a generation of healthy and environmentally responsible children.
