Hands-On Science (aka Crazy Chaos!)

But I have a nemesis.

Science experiments.

Somehow, the thought of doing experiments at my kitchen counter with excited loud grabby children, well, just makes me want to avoid it. This is odd, because, as a general rule, I love science. I’m fascinated by the amazing creation around us. Our Father gave us a beautiful world to live in. I want my children to appreciate and understand scientific principles. So how do I overcome this fear of science experiments? I’m a work in progress, but I have learned a few things.

Think outside the box

Sometimes we run into problems in homeschooling because we assume things. I assume that science must include experiments. But if I broaden my thinking a bit, I suddenly realize how much my children know about science, even though I could count on my fingers how many times I’ve done official science experiments with them.

• My daughter brought in a shedded exoskeleton from a cicada. Wow!
• My children understand the purpose of the ingredients we bake with. (yeast = puffy bread, etc.)
• We sort animals into groups like mammal, reptile, fish; or oviparous and nonoviparous.
• We garden and grow sprouts in the house to eat.
• We draw pictures of animals and bugs that we find in the field guide.
• My kids love to build forts in the pasture with sticks and baling twine.
• We watch the weather to see if Daddy will be able to land at the airport safely each morning. (He’s a pilot.)
• We watch the moon cycle to help us calculate the Biblical feast days.
• We butcher sheep as a family, and discuss the purpose of various organs.
• My children have helped raised baby lambs that got rejected by their mother, and are completely in charge of the chickens.

Sounds to me like they have a pretty decent handle on zoology, botany, meteorology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and astronomy.

Science is part of everyday life for us. Before freaking out about what I lack, it has been important for me to see just how much they have learned “by accident.” I have started keeping a rough list of what my children do, how they play, what they understand. Most of this list is in my head, and simply helps me to be aware of the knowledge that my children have soaked up.

I’m feeling better already!

Be Prepared

But I still want more. I want to know that I have systematically prepared my children for whatever YHVH may have for them. Science also helps children develop skills like observation, analytical thinking, problem solving. How can I give my children a quality science education that (Oh my goodness) includes experiments?

• Preparation is a key. I’ll never do an experiment with my children if I can’t see my kitchen counter. I need to keep my surroundings orderly. I need to keep up on daily chores, so we can just do an experiment, without having to find a surface first.
• Let Daddy do some experiments. My husband has a keen knowledge of physics, meteorology, and astronomy. He sometimes does activities with the kids, like kite flying, small fireworks, star gazing, and other cool Daddy stuff.
• Keep things small and simple. We don’t need to mix chemicals in the third grade. That can wait until high school, and is really only necessary if there is student interest. Letting the kids help with baking is probably sufficient for chemistry and physics experiments can be done with toy cars, blocks and balls. (That’s not so scary, is it?)
• Find a curriculum you’re happy with. I think I may have finally found a curriculum that thinks like I do, or at least close. This curriculum does not include tests, but rather emphasizes student feedback. The projects are simple and do-able, even for me. The projects we have done so far have been enjoyed by the kids, and expanded their understanding of scientific concepts. And it’s free!

Don’t underestimate nature study

An intimate understanding of the world at my feet is invaluable. Learning about polar bears and volcanoes is fascinating and cool. But knowing which plants in my yard are edible or medicinal is far more valuable. Practicing animal care not only provides food for our family, but promotes compassion and responsibility. Following the seasons and the weather outside my door protects me, and helps me prepare for the future. Watching and listening to the birds in the trees brings enjoyment and relaxation. The flowers and robins and grasshoppers become my friends. As a child, I walked the yard with my Dad, inspecting the little trees he had planted. I learned about how trees grow and change. I learned the names of the wildflowers. I learned about how the killdeer protects its nest by acting injured. Now, as I walk the yard with my own children, I share with them the sound of the loon, the taste of a clover flower, the habits of the squirrels hopping from tree to tree. I need to wake up and realize that this is science at its best. This is meaningful science. This is science that happens accidentally, without anyone noticing.

Just lighten up and enjoy it

Have you ever put off a cleaning job, thinking it would take forever, and when you finally did it, it was done in five minutes?

I think that’s what happens with me and science experiments. I think it’s going to be some major deal, scary, messy, noisy, crazy. But when I actually take the time to do a project with my children, we have a great time, and they are begging for more. When it comes right down to the bottom line, I need to just lighten up. I need to put aside the serious jobs, the internet time, turn off the TV, and just enjoy my children. I know that science doesn’t have to be difficult, but I need to take that final step and just get my feet wet. I might even get my hands dirty. But it’ll be fun! My kids will love it! Isn’t that enough reason to step out of my comfort zone? I think so.

Heidi is a homeschool mom of six children. She spends her days milking goats, changing diapers, reading aloud, and baking yummy goodies. Recently she has begun a journey learning about Asperger’s syndrome to help her daughter and husband. You can read more at her website www.torahfamilyliving.com, where she blogs about how Scripture, particularly the Torah, should permeate all of our lives. She can also be found on facebook.

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Do you have a science experiment hang-up? Or are you a science experiment junkie? How do you make science come alive at your house?

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