Science at home...

So, the toilet needed new guts.  Papa took care of it, and the big kids watched the whole process.  It's important that they learn how things work.  Kinda like science.  And so begins our explorations into homeschooling after school.  

 Then I devised an experiment that was age appropriate (and FUN!) for a 4.5 year old and a 7 year old.  Here's our Sink or Float chart.  Each child made a hypothesis and then we tested that hypothesis.  Once the sink was full of water, they tested other items as well.  It was fun!

 I am referencing quite a few items for our homeschool adventures.  One is Oak Meadow 1st Grade.  In that curriculum they introduce the moon and phases of the moon.  We can do that!  So here are some things I found to use...

You will notice that this is most definitely NOT Steiner approved or Waldorf related.  That's because R is already in public school and they use a LOT of worksheets in public school.  I am modifying my approach to include traditional methods (like rote learning and worksheets) as well as the creative-artistic approach of Waldorf pedagogy, and I'm throwing in some fun Montessori things as well.  Stay tuned!

Here's how the worksheets turned out:

Some thoughts on public school...

So, at R's first parent-teacher conference they were showing us his grades for reading and math.  He was improving in reading and doing fine in math.  His scores were up on the tests, yada yada.  So after a while she asks us if we have any questions.  I did.  I asked how he was doing in the other subjects like science, social studies, history, etc.  But mostly I was curious how he was doing in science since he loves it.

She got quiet for a moment and said, "We are not allowed to schedule time to teach those subjects."

What the...?  What?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I try to incorporate some of those principles in, but I have to do it in the context of reading or math."  She's obviously embarrassed at this point.

So, just so I'm clear here... "So he's not getting any science?"

"Not specifically, no. But next semester we'll do science experiments on Fridays.  I'll do that instead of Centers." She says.  Since they only get one recess and it's in the morning, Centers is their afternoon break time and it's indoors.  I'm disappointed that he'll miss out on the indoor free play, but experiments sound fun too.

But NO time for SCIENCE... I was horrified.  So I asked, "When are the teachers allowed to schedule science?"

"They are allotted time for science starting in the fourth grade."

So, my kid gets next to no science until the fourth grade.  I'm pretty much speechless at this point.  And a million thoughts popped into my head.

But most especially I thought, well, if I don't want to squash his inquisitive nature I'd better start teaching him at home.