I believe science is the study of the wonderful world God has created. You can learn so much with so little. When the children are young, you don’t need expensive lab equipment to begin with. Teaching Science is important for many reasons. It utilizes all of the senses; it encompasses reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, mathematics, history, and critical thinking. Science is not cut and dry, it requires research and hands on activities. Often times we spend money on expensive critical thinking programs and workbooks. Science naturally causes curiosity in children.

There is a natural over lapping of subjects as well, if you are doing hands on science, especially in the younger grades. I found I was covering most of what was “required” for the year just by doing some of the suggestions I will be giving you. In fact we covered two years of science in one without realizing this...and remarkably this phenomenon easily happens, especially if you are teaching via unit studies. In my experience we would delve into a topic in detail much further than we would by reading a textbook, alone.

If you have considered unit studies yet are concerned about missing something academically for the year, you may want to invest in a scope and sequence, which gives information about what a child should be covering in each grade level. (My book contains a science scope and sequence.) As a life time home educator, I can share that my children did extremely well in higher education.

No matter what your approach to teaching science, I feel most children will love science if given half a chance. I believe half of the battle in homeschooling is attitude. If you love it they’ll love it... if you don’t well they won’t either. Something to remember, even if you don’t love science it is a required subject. They have to learn it sometime. I would hate to think that many children would be introduced to it at the high school level without enjoying all the exploration, experimentation, and fascination that can come when they are younger.

Make a promise to teach science this year on a regular basis. I know it’s easier said than done. If needed make a sign and hang it up reminding yourself that you made a promise to teach science. ;) Many public school systems are using science and technology schools to lure students into less desirable neighborhoods. Yet, most public schools spend less than 1 hour per week on science in K-3 and around 3 hours per week in grades 4-6. In surveying a group of my personal friends I found that most left science out of their elementary curriculum more interested in learning the 3-R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic). Many left science for the end, if they had extra time. Translated? This means they are not teaching science at all. Who, as a homeschooler has an abundance of time?

Did you know that one of the main reasons parents put their children back into high school is because they don’t feel qualified to teach highschool science. Well how many parents are "qualified" to teach reading, or spelling, or any of the 3-R’s? We know that qualification can not be confused with ability. Whether or not you have a degree hanging on your wall that "makes" you qualified, if you have the ability to find the resources for your child, you have all of the qualifications that you need. Many of my friends have shared that they learned along with their children. Why should teaching science be any different?

I never took High School chemistry or physics in school, and didn’t learn how to teach high school level science as an educator, yet I was able to teach these topics to my high school aged children. I also arranged labs with a brave group of my children's friends! I have found the resources to help us and that is how it should be for you, as well. One of the best tools you can give you child is the ability to research questions. A high school teacher with all the answers isn’t going to follow your child around for life and answer their most pressing questions. And yes, I have one homeschool-high school graduate that was accepted to a university and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 3 years. Believe me when I tell you it can be done.

What is your science story? Are there ways you have conquered your fears over teaching a subject?

To be continued...