Little Bears Family Homeschool Study Notes

Science

Contents

* Introduction * Themes * Textbooks & Literature * Internet Resources * Suppliers *

Introduction

In much the same way as maths, Science is one of the areas I feel most anxious about teaching (probably because my own scientific education was so poor, and yet my scanty scientific knowledge, as defined by a B in O Level Biology, is deemed sufficient to enter Teacher Training... unlike my Maths, but that's another story...!)

In Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, observation of nature (creation) was the basis of all further study of science, and she encouraged regular "nature-walks", involving observation, note-taking and drawing in each studen'ts own personal "nature note-book". We have already started doing this in a small way, although Tommy isn't yet interested in note-taking or drawing, we have made time on our timetable for a leisurely nature observation walk at least once a week.

Beyond that, I thought a good way of approaching the subject might be to look at themes, but our current plan is for Daddy (who is fairly confident in the subject) to supplement our mid-week science lessons with a Saturday "Science Club".

Themes

Life Science: Biology * Characteristics of Living Things * Taxonomy (species groupings) * Individual species * The Human Body * Processes & Systems * Earth Science: Meteorology * Astronomy * Geology * Processes & Systems * Physical Science: Physics * Engineering * Chemistry * Heat, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, gravity, energy, works systems, atoms & molecules, states of matter, chemical reactions

Recommendations for Literature & Textbooks

In the same way as for Maths, I thought that a good introduction to Science, to encourage an interest in all things scientific, might be to look at the history of scientific discovery and the people of science (men & women scientists). I'm currently looking for children's books along these lines, but I'd appreciate recommendations.

• Usborne Cut-out Models: "Make This life-size Model Skeleton" £8.99
• "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Elizabeth Holden
• Usborne Nature Trail series: "Wild Flowers", "Birdwatching", "Trees and leaves", "Insect Watching", "Rocks and fossils", "Garden Wildlife"
• The Usborne Complete: "First Book of Nature", "First Book of the Microscope", "First Book of Astronomy and Space"
• An Usborne Introduction: "Biology"
• "Living World Encyclopedia" Usborne
• Usborne Science Experiments: "Weather and Climate", "Energy and Power", "Planet Earth" and "Ecology"
• "The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia"
• "Illustrated Dictionary of Science" and "Illustrated Dictionary of Science and Technology" Usborne
• The Usborne Young Scientist: "Archeology", "Stars and Planets"
• Usborne Understanding Science: "Atoms and Molecules", "Machines", "Astronomy", "Electricity and Magnetism"
• Usborne Starting Point Science: "Volume 1" and "Volume 2", "You and Your Body", "Life on Earth"
• Usborne Introduction to "Biology", "Physics", "Chemistry"
• "Electricity and Magnetism" Usborne
• "Introduction to Electronics" Usborne
• "Atoms and Molecules" Usborne
• Usborne World Wildlife series: "Rainforest Wildlife", "Grassland Wildlife", "Mountain Wildlife", "Polar Wildlife" and a combined volume: "World Wildlife" £9.99
• Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books: "Chemistry", "Energy", "Force and Motion", "Matter", "Electricity", "Light"

Internet Resources

• The National Curriculum for Science at Key Stage 1.
• The Awesome Library has some science resources:- http://www.awesomelibrary.org/
• The UK Schools Science Resources index:- http://www.liv.ac.uk/~evansjon/science/menu.html
• Blue Web'n:- http://www.kn.packbell.com/wired/bluewebn
• Creation Science links:- http://emporium.turnpike.net/C/cs/links.htm

Suppliers

If your firm is able to offer special reduced rates for home educating families and would like to be mentioned here, please e-mail us at littlebears@tesco.net

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© Sharon Mortemore
12 August, 1999