You’re excited to start homeschooling your children. You’ve given yourself all the usual pep talks, but now that you are diving into the decisions on what to teach and how to teach it, a hidden fear invades your mind, casting doubt on your abilities. “How am I supposed to teach science?” It’s such an important subject, but you don’t know where to start. What is the best approach for teaching this subject? How do you make science fun for your kids? Does it have to be “boring”? There are so many questions swirling in your mind — and if you’re like most parents, the answers don’t feel obvious.
The good news is that homeschool science can be a lot of fun, both for you and your kids. And you can teach it in ways that will help them master content while also enjoying the experience. If this sounds like an impossible dream, read on! With these five steps as a guide, you’ll learn how to teach science in homeschool without losing your mind (or sanity).
Have goal-oriented discussions with your child.
Discuss the science behind what you are doing. Let’s say you are reading a book with your child, or watching a video or listening to an audio book. While the story is captivating, take time to talk about the science behind it. Ask questions such as “Why do birds fly south in winter?” or “How does water get in your toothpaste tube?” If you watch a video that shows how animals hunt their prey (like lions hunting gazelles), ask questions like:
- How do they find their prey?
- What kind of noises can animals make which help them find their prey?
- How do they communicate with each other when looking for food?
Start the school day with science.
A great way to start the day is by teaching science. While math, reading, history and social studies all have their place in homeschooling children, none of those subjects are as interesting as science. The best way to teach children how things work is through experimentation and hands-on activities that allow them to see how everything works around them in the real world. By starting each day with a fun new experiment or activity you can show your child that learning doesn’t have to be boring or difficult – it can actually be something they look forward to!
Let each child take the lead in their field of interest.
In homeschool, we tend to focus on giving each child a head start in their field of interest. For example, if your son is interested in airplanes and engines, you can teach him about physics and the principles that make airplanes fly. If your daughter loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian, then you can use science lessons to teach her about biology, zoology and anatomy.
For many years I taught my children at home using traditional textbooks from either public or private schools. To be honest with you, it wasn’t until recently that I realized how limiting this method was for exposing kids to different ideas in regards to science education. It wasn’t until we started doing experiments with our kids that things really began taking shape for them creatively!
Use a variety of media to teach science.
There are a number of ways you can teach science in your homeschool. Here are some ideas:
- Read books about science.
- Watch documentaries on science topics (there are many on YouTube).
- Listen to podcasts about historical events in the field of science.
- Visit your local museum, where they have plenty of exhibits featuring all kinds of science topics, from dinosaurs to space travel to medicine and anatomy. You’ll be surprised at how many museums are set up with activities that encourage children’s learning!
Experiment, experiment, and experiment some more!
Experimentation is a key part of science and homeschooling. Nothing shows your children the world, or how to solve problems, like experimentation. It’s fun, too!
When you teach your child how to do an experiment and see what happens, they are learning a lot about the world around them and how it works. They’re also developing critical thinking skills as well as math skills (for example measuring).
If you’ve never done an experiment before then relax! The internet is full of ideas and instructions on how to do many scientific demonstrations and experiments.
You can homeschool science in a fun way that is also educational.
Homeschool science can be taught in a fun way that is also educational. You can use simple tools and materials to teach science at home, and you may even be able to integrate it into your family’s daily life.
Homeschooling is a great way to teach science because it allows students to learn at their own pace. This makes it easier for them to grasp concepts and understand how the world works around them. Also, homeschooling provides students with opportunities for hands-on learning; this type of approach helps children retain information better than in traditional classroom settings where teachers lecture from the front of the room most of the time or when students watch videos as part of their lessons.
You can homeschool science in a fun way that is also educational
Homeschool science can be taught in a fun way that is also educational. You can use simple tools and materials to teach science at home, and you may even be able to integrate it into your family’s daily life.
Homeschooling is a great way to teach science because it allows students to learn at their own pace. This makes it easier for them to grasp concepts and understand how the world works around them. Also, homeschooling provides students with opportunities for hands-on learning; this type of approach helps children retain information better than in traditional classroom settings where teachers lecture from the front of the room most of the time or when students watch videos as part of their lessons.
Science education is creative
The most important tip for homeschooling science is to have fun. Don’t look at it as a chore or you will make everyone miserable. There are so many creative ways to teach science that your kids won’t even realize they are learning something new every day! Remember when choosing which science fields to study, keep in mind their future goals and plans so you can tailor their education accordingly.