Science Programs and Resources

I'm finishing up my 17th year of home educating.  I love to research curriculum materials and I have developed some definite ideas about what I like and what I don't like.

Science was not my favorite subject when I was growing up.  But then neither was history.  As an adult I developed an interest in science through the enthusiasm of a good friend who is a Montessori teacher.  Her curiosity about the natural world knew no bounds - and it was contagious.  It was my first taste of science, not as a dry textbook subject, but as an ongoing state of curiosity and excitement about the world around us.  I wanted that for my children.  I wanted to encourage them to be curious and search for answers rather than being fed the answers before they were interested.  Isn't curiosity one of the hallmarks of all great scientists throughout history?

I've read numerous articles by homeschooling parents who are scientists and unanimously they eschewed elementary science textbooks.  And my children agreed.  Boring, repetitious and dry as dust.  What they did enjoy and learn from was spending time in nature, caring for animals, trips to zoos and science museums, cooking, reading real books about science and nature, and doing experiments with science kits.  But still I didn't feel comfortable.  I wanted an order and structure to science to help them connect it all together in their minds.

Well, the resource I wished for and searched for is finally available! 

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
by Bernard J. Nebel, PhD

Dr. Nebel is a professor emeritus of environmental science education, has authored a widely used college textbook and has a strong interest in teaching science to younger children which has become his second career.  His philosophy of teaching science is logical and systematic, child-centered, includes hands-on activities and engaging activities and encourages true understanding and thinking skills. 

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding includes step-by-step, incremental steps that build one upon another.  They build skills of inquiry, first-hand observation, organizing and thinking toward rational conclusions.

But is it teacher-friendly, specifically busy-homeschool-mom friendly? YES!  The book is a guide to the teacher, written very clearly and well organized with a helpful flow chart to follow as you proceed through the lessons.

There are 41 lessons included under four main categories:

• Nature of Matter

• Life Science

• Physical Science

• Earth and Space Science

Each lesson includes:

• Brief Overview

• Time Required

• Objectives

• Required Background (lessons that should be done first)

• Materials Needed (I hate collecting materials, but there truly are easy to find around the house, even for me)

• Teachable Moments (ideas for informally expanding the lessons during the course of normal daily life)

• Methods and Procedures (ideas for helping the child gain real understanding, including detailed questions and answers)

• Questions/Discussion Starters/Activities to Review, Reinforce, Expand and Assess Learning (fun activities and ideas for mini, paper-fold books to make with the child, as well as writing ideas)

• Connections to Other Topics and Subjects (how to connect ideas across the curriculum)

• Correspondence to National Science Education Standards

• Books for Correlated Reading

Can you get more complete and organized than that?  Not anywhere I've looked.

This book is written specifically for Kindergarten through Grade 2, but can easily be used through 3rd or 4th grade.  Dr. Nebel is writing a second volume for upper elementary grades, but until then this truly will build a foundation of scientific understanding for your family!

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
by Bernard J. Nebel, PhD

$26.95