• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Quiet Simple Life with Sallie Borrink

Simple Living, Homeschooling, Faith, Homemaking, & Books

  • New? Start Here
  • Blog
  • Free: The Simple Life Library
  • A Full Year Shopping Pass
  • The Shop
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
    • View Your Orders
    • Go To Your Downloads
    • Lost Password Help
  • Forums
    • Log In or Sign Up
  • Search
  • New? Start Here
  • Blog
  • Free: The Simple Life Library
  • A Full Year Shopping Pass
  • The Shop
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
    • View Your Orders
    • Go To Your Downloads
    • Lost Password Help
  • Forums
    • Log In or Sign Up
  • Search
  • Simple Living
    • My Favorite Simple Living Books
  • Homeschooling
    • Editable Homeschool Planners (2021-2022)
    • 10 Days of Homeschool Encouragement {Free Printables}
    • 100 Resources for Getting Started with Home Education
    • The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right Brained Child
  • Christian Faith
  • Homemaking
    • The Prudent & Prepared Homemaker
    • Sallie’s Favorite Comfort Food Recipes
  • Gracious Christian Parenting
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your Only Child
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your Highly Sensitive & Spirited Child
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your High Need Baby or Child
  • Gifted & 2e
    • Raising Gifted Children in the Christian Faith
    • 100 Gifted/2e Children Resources
    • 100 Resources for Parenting a 2e Child
  • Learning With Themes
  • Free Printables
    • Free Learning Printables & Worksheets
    • Free Homemaking Printables
    • Free Holiday Printables
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
  • Holidays
  • Books
    • My Reading Tickler List
  • Christian Devotionals
    • Morning Hope
    • Eventide Blessing
    • Streams in the Desert
  • Home-Based Business
  • Gen X
  • Newsletter Archive
  • Support This Site
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimers & Affiliates
  • Simple Living
    • My Favorite Simple Living Books
  • Homeschooling
    • Editable Homeschool Planners (2021-2022)
    • 10 Days of Homeschool Encouragement {Free Printables}
    • 100 Resources for Getting Started with Home Education
    • The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right Brained Child
  • Christian Faith
  • Homemaking
    • The Prudent & Prepared Homemaker
    • Sallie’s Favorite Comfort Food Recipes
  • Gracious Christian Parenting
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your Only Child
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your Highly Sensitive & Spirited Child
    • Parenting & Enjoying Your High Need Baby or Child
  • Gifted & 2e
    • Raising Gifted Children in the Christian Faith
    • 100 Gifted/2e Children Resources
    • 100 Resources for Parenting a 2e Child
  • Learning With Themes
  • Free Printables
    • Free Learning Printables & Worksheets
    • Free Homemaking Printables
    • Free Holiday Printables
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
  • Holidays
  • Books
    • My Reading Tickler List
  • Christian Devotionals
    • Morning Hope
    • Eventide Blessing
    • Streams in the Desert
  • Home-Based Business
  • Gen X
  • Newsletter Archive
  • Support This Site

Relaxed Homeschooling Science in Early Elementary

You are here: Home /Homeschooling /Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices / Relaxed Homeschooling Science in Early Elementary

January 15, 2014//  by Sallie//  3 Comments

Post may contain affiliate links to materials I recommend. Read my full disclosure statement.

Support A Quiet Simple Life By Sharing
  •  
  • 39
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
    39
    Shares

My approach to science in our relaxed homeschooling family has been very relaxed. My philosophy is that all children really need in early elementary is exposure to science topics and to develop a healthy curiosity about the world around them. If a child is curious, she will learn plenty even in an unstructured way.

Relaxed Homeschooling Science Materials

I don’t use a textbook to teach science. Most of the early elementary textbooks are either so simplistic or are so poorly designed that they would not appeal to Caroline at all.

We don’t write about science. Unless it is something she dictates to me for her journal, we just don’t write about it. Since she’s not an enthusiastic writer, I’m not going to ruin her science experiences that she enjoys by adding a challenging aspect. She can write about science as she gets older. It’s not important right now.

We do a lot of reading of library books, books we buy at library sales, etc. Caroline explores topics that interest her.

I look for teachable moments during conversations. There are so many of these that never get recorded, but science thinking and discussion happens daily in our home.

How I Teach Science – Relaxed Homeschooling in the Early Elementary Years Series

I look for interesting science materials that I think Caroline would enjoy. For example, she’s been doing Snap Circuits with David this fall and has learned quite a bit.

Since we fall into the category of nature study for indoor people, we do a little bit outside, but not a lot.

We have done a little bit of both vegetable and flower gardening so Caroline has learned about growing things in real life.

We feed the birds and do quite a bit of birdwatching. She can name many birds both by sight and by their call.

Caroline thoroughly enjoys a number of PBS Kids shows on the Kindle as well as other learning apps. We have a Kindle FreeTime Unlimited subscription that allows her to watch many learning shows at any time. At $2.99 a month, it is a GREAT deal. Wild Kratts is one of her favorite shows!

For our second semester this year, we are going to start doing some science-themed lapbooks. I’m designing them myself so they will be high on content, but low on writing requirements. I’m hoping other right-brained children can benefit from them as well.

So there it is! A little peak into our low-key but lots of learning science approach.

This is part of my Relaxed Homeschooling in the Early Elementary Years series.
Read the Introduction to the series here.

This is also part of the iHN January Hopscotch. Check out all the fun series here!


Support A Quiet Simple Life By Sharing
  •  
  • 39
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
    39
    Shares
  •  
    39
    Shares
  •  
  • 39
  •  
  •  
  •  

Category: Our Homeschool Curriculum Choices, Relaxed Homeschooling, Right Brained LearnersTag: Nature Study, Science Learning Activities

About Sallie

Sallie Schaaf Borrink is a wife, mother, homebody, and autodidact. She's a published author, former teacher, and former campus ministry staff member. Sallie owns a home-based graphic design and web design business with her husband (DavidandSallie.com). She hasn't achieved her dream of being a professor at a small conservative college in a small town, but hope springs eternal.

Please Support This Advertising-Free Site

A Quiet Simple Life is an advertising-free website that is funded by sales from my shop, affiliate sales, and reader financial support. If you value the content I produce and would like to see it reach more people, please consider actively supporting my work today.

The Simple Life Library - Free!

Receive this free PDF collection today and encouraging emails in the days ahead.

Check your inbox (or spam folder) to confirm your subscription and receive The Simple Life Library.

More Posts You May Enjoy:

Wholesome Reading for Visual Learners 2

Wholesome Reading for Visual Learners

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right-Brained Child 2

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right-Brained Child

Geography Made Simple with Maps and Globes 2

Homeschooling Geography Made Simple with Maps and a Globe

Homeschool Curriculum for a Right-brained, Spirited Child 2

Homeschool Curriculum for a Right Brained, Spirited Child

Why I Don’t Plan Crafts For My Child

Should I send my child to preschool Thoughts on education, family and community from a Christian perspective 2

Should I Send My Child to Preschool? Thoughts on Education, Family, and Community from a Christian Perspective

Relaxed Homeschooling Curriculum for a Creative Gifted Child 2

Relaxed Homeschooling Curriculum for a Creative Gifted Child

WriteShop for Homeschool Writing and Gifted/2e Learners

Classical Conversations Negatives and Why We Didn't Join 2

Classical Conversations Negatives and Why We Didn’t Join

Homeschooling a Gifted2e Visual-Spatial Learner 2

Homeschooling Curriculum for Gifted/2e Visual-Spatial Learners

ABC Mouse Website for Toddlers, Preschool, and Kindergarten 2

ABC Mouse Website for Toddlers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade

How I Homeschool My Three Year Old 2

How I Homeschool My Three Year Old

Previous Post: «How I Teach Math – Relaxed Homeschooling in the Early Elementary Years Series 2 Relaxed Homeschooling Math in Early Elementary
Next Post: Relaxed Homeschooling History in Early Elementary How I Teach History – Relaxed Homeschooling in the Early Elementary Years Series 2»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ginger @ School en casa

    January 15, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    We love Snap Circuits here, too! Thames and Kosmos kits are popular as well. I agree that there doesn’t seem to be a great science curriculum for this age; exploring everything and letting them indulge their curiosity about how things work and about nature has worked very well for us, too!

    Reply
  2. Sallie

    January 17, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Hi Ginger!

    I’m not familiar with Thames and Kosmos so I’ll have to check them out. I love hearing about new things Caroline might enjoy. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




 

Thank you for your comment. I read and appreciate each one even if I am unable to respond.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I’m Sallie and I encourage women to create a life of peace, understanding, joy, beauty, and faith. I am unapologetically conservative both theologically and politically. I value liberty and freedom to live quiet and simple lives. Please start here. ♥

The Simple Life Library - Free!

Receive this free PDF collection today and encouraging emails in the days ahead.

Check your inbox (or spam folder) to confirm your subscription and receive The Simple Life Library.

Access Everything in My Shop for a Year

Categories

Popular Today in Homeschooling

  • Classical Conversations Negatives and Why We Didn't JoinClassical Conversations Negatives and Why We…
  • Why I Homeschool in the Afternoon and Not the MorningWhy I Homeschool in the Afternoon and Not…
  • Middle School Chemistry for Relaxed HomeschoolersMiddle School Chemistry for Relaxed Homeschoolers
  • Relaxed Homeschooling Curriculum for a Creative Gifted ChildRelaxed Homeschooling Curriculum for a…
  • How We Ended Up Relaxed Homeschoolers and What It Looks LikeHow We Ended Up Relaxed Homeschoolers and…
  • Relaxed Homeschooling in Seventh GradeRelaxed Homeschooling in Seventh Grade
  • Homeschooling Curriculum for Gifted/2e Visual-Spatial LearnersHomeschooling Curriculum for Gifted/2e…
  • Why We're Relaxed Homeschoolers (and Not Unschoolers)Why We’re Relaxed Homeschoolers (and…
  • A Sample Kindergarten Homeschool Schedule for a Creative, Dreamer ChildA Sample Kindergarten Homeschool Schedule…
  • Relaxed Homeschooling Math in Early ElementaryRelaxed Homeschooling Math in Early Elementary
  • WriteShop for Homeschool Writing and Gifted/2e LearnersWriteShop for Homeschool Writing and…
  • Relaxed Homeschooling in Middle SchoolRelaxed Homeschooling in Middle School

Our History Timeline

Recent Comments – Join a Discussion

  • Sallie on Teachers Pay Teachers and Equity Funding
  • Sallie on Teachers Pay Teachers and Equity Funding
  • Sallie on Teachers Pay Teachers and Equity Funding
  • Debbie on Teachers Pay Teachers and Equity Funding
  • Sallie on I Removed My Products From Teachers Pay Teachers Due To Their Anti-Racist Agenda
  • Sallie on I Removed My Products From Teachers Pay Teachers Due To Their Anti-Racist Agenda
  • Sallie on I Removed My Products From Teachers Pay Teachers Due To Their Anti-Racist Agenda
  • Sallie on I Removed My Products From Teachers Pay Teachers Due To Their Anti-Racist Agenda
  • Sallie on Simple Living This Week No. 64

Popular Pages This Week

  • ForumsForums
  • Copywork Printables in Print & CursiveCopywork Printables in Print & Cursive
  • 100 Resources for Parenting a 2e Child100 Resources for Parenting a 2e Child
  • The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right Brained ChildThe Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling a Right…
  • Parenting & Enjoying Your High Need Baby or ChildParenting & Enjoying Your High Need…
  • Parenting & Enjoying Your Highly Sensitive & Spirited ChildParenting & Enjoying Your Highly…
  • A Full Year Shopping PassA Full Year Shopping Pass
  • Parenting & Enjoying Your Only ChildParenting & Enjoying Your Only Child
  • My Favorite Simple Living BooksMy Favorite Simple Living Books
  • My Reading Tickler ListMy Reading Tickler List

Tags

10 Days of Homeschool Encouragement (10)Animal Stories (15)Asynchronous Development in Gifted/2e Children (12)Beauty (10)Books for Girls (17)Caroline's Art (10)Celebrating Christmas (27)Clutter (19)Contentment (17)Decorating the Home (9)Dyscalculia (11)Dysgraphia (18)Fall/Autumn Themed Activities & Books (20)Farm Themed Activities & Books (14)First Grade (40)Fourth Grade (16)Free Word Searches for Kids (16)Gifted Adults (10)Highly Sensitive Children & Adults (12)History Learning Activities & Books (34)Home Organization (12)Homeschool Organization & Supplies (12)Home Themed Activities & Books (10)Hymns (25)Introverts (11)Joy (15)Kindergarten (24)Laura Ingalls Wilder & Little House Books (15)Learning Websites (9)Living in Difficult Times (20)Making Choices (17)Margin (11)My Homeschool Journal (12)Online Homeschool Classes (13)Prayer (17)Quitting Facebook & Social Media (12)Reading Learning Activities (11)Recipes - Breakfast & Brunch (12)Recipes - Desserts and Treats (11)Recipes - Main Dish (17)Science Learning Activities (14)Second Grade (42)Stuffed Animals (10)Third Grade (32)Twice-Exceptional (2e) (26)

Thank you for supporting my work which helps support our family. ♥

One Time Donation - Stripe

Stripe Donation
Processing ...

 

One Time Donation - PayPal


Monthly Supporter - PayPal

  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimers & Affiliates

Site Footer

© 2005-2020 Sallie Borrink, All Rights Reserved · Website by David & Sallie Borrink
Sallie Borrink theme, running on the Genesis Framework on WordPress · Hosting on InMotion Hosting.