Homeschool Favorites
Homeschool science is my 2nd favorite subject. Second only to reading aloud to my kids. Which I suppose we do in science too, so, really it’s a tie for first place. And like reading with our kids, we don’t teach science, we do science. And…
If you can read you can learn pretty much anything.
For instance, you can read the instructions on this fire extinguisher I finally broke down and purchased after 10+ years of homeschooling. (I know what you’re thinking… “Ms. Frizzle meets Vector”) Science is definitely my 1st favorite subject to gather supplies. I don’t have a flying bus or a squid launcher yet, but there are plans…
The anticipation of a hands-on course of homeschool science kindles my kid’s mood to start a new homeschool year. And the arrival of a Home Science Tools box is the spark that ignites the fire of curiosity and learning. Our excitement has been know to burst into flames (read and laugh here). Thus, the need for the extinguisher!
Starting Our Academic Season
Okay, maybe I simply have a rule that he can’t dive into the goods until we’ve officially begun our academic season. But whatever works, right? A delivery from Home Science Tools to bust open is my favorite bait!
We can ease into a new homeschool year however we want. Even by busting open a boxed laboratory of goodies and getting goofy with science on the back porch! I mean, who’s in charge here anyway?
Me!
Well, not really. My last remaining homeschool student is the professor in charge. After many years of experimenting together, I’m really only needed to ooh & ahh, discuss and offer suggestions, and man the fire extinguisher.
I also get to sip coffee from my amazing new beaker mug while the mad scientist makes messes teaches himself! You too can brilliantly homeschool hands-free while sipping and hypothesizing…
Get 10% off sitewide thru August 31st with code: HIFALUTINHST Plus a FREE Beaker Mug when you spend $50 or more!
Dive Deeper with Hands-On Science
Earth Science
My young Einstein is especially pumped about homeschool science this year. We’re studying his favorite: Earth Science/Geologyall things rocks. He’s taking charge of his own research and manning the experiments and the rock hammer. My job is providing the structure coffee and resources.
This isn’t our first delve beneath the earth’s crust. So, I’ve had to step up my game to challenge him with a deeper dive into the earth in for details he has yet to discover. The base curriculum for our homeschool study is Discovering Design with Earth Science by Dr. Wile.
To enhance the hands-on learning this year we’re adding:
His absolute favorite geological surprise in our Home Science Tools box:
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- Kids Portable LCD Color Digital Microscope with Fossil Collecting Activity Kit It’s a rock-hound, fossil-hunter’s dream! Battery operated or plug-in, it’s a microscope for viewing 3D objects. And it comes with a selection of fantastically detailed fossils. He can get a close-up look and learn to identify what we find on the rock-hunting field trips we have planned this year. Did I mention the detail is amazing!
- He’s been bringing out old finds for a fresh look with closer inspection. *This microscope can also be used for an up close study of plants, insects, unidentified remains, etc. We think it’d also be awesome to have for a homeschool science course in biology.
Check out what Professor D is discovering with his rock microscope below!
Biology
The freshman professor and I tackled high school biology last year. We had a blast making our own slides as well as viewing premade specimens. Of course his favorite part was all the goo and gross of dissections on the back porch. Here are some cool suggestions I have for hands-on homeschooling biology!
Chemistry
Next year the plan is chemistry. Bubble bubble toil and trouble… Actually, having kept the kitchen mostly intact through chemistry with his older twin brothers, I have some incites. First, a shock to many students is that chemistry is more calculations than smoke and bubbles. Therefore, math readiness is important for high school chemistry. But there is a ton of dangerous fun to be had in chemistry via great curriculum and lab kits. Some suggestions:
Unique for Homeschool Control Freaks
Want to do your own thing? Don’t want to commit to a full giant curriculum set? If you’re looking for more of a unit study type science, but without all the prep.
I’ve got a “fly by the seat of your denim jumper” homeschool science suggestion!
Science Unlocked has kits for all ages (K-12th) at different levels: Wonder, Accelerate, and Launch. allows you to buy one month of hands on science at a time. Choose from many boxes in all areas of science: earth, biology, chemistry, physics, etc. Bundle boxes for a complete semester or full year of study in a single subject. Or buy one kit at a time to shake things up as you go.
Some of our favorite boxes:
A Tip to Reach Resistant Learners
To kill the love of homeschool science:
If you want to kill the excitement of homeschool science from the start, have your kid first read the entire textbook chapter, and answer all focus questions. Then, make them read the experiment in full before making them format their write-up in their lab notebook. Then, and only then, allow them to watch you conduct the experiment. Or allow them to do it, but under heavy supervision. Assure the desired result occurs while you pepper them with recall questions and demand real-time explanations of what the experiment is showing.
By now, your kid hates science. Possibly the most exciting subject has been laid to rest in your homeschool.
Dare to Do Science Like Real Scientist Do
What if you dared to let them just do the experiment first? Oh my… you mean dare to actually do science!?
Yes. Don’t read to the end of the page to learn what should happen. Don’t look up the scientific theory and basis for the lesson yet. Just let your micro-professors get the supplies, read the procedure, and make a wild but logical guess about what’s going to happen next. Then let them see if they are right. You know, like real scientists do it. (Listen to the podcast with more tips for reaching resistant learners here!)
When your resistant learner gets to do the hands-on fun stuff first (which gives you a chance to grab their interest in the lesson while you run and refill your coffee) they get a chance to take the lead in their own learning. Whether they were right or wrong in their hypothesis, they’ll likely be a bit curious about why. Finding out the why will drive the learning.
If you can only hold their interest enough to get to the quickly explained “why” in a fast oral recitation of from quick research, or by looking up a video for an explanation, know that learning has occurred. You’ve peaked their interest. Don’t force long winded write-ups and essays that will douse their curiosity if you’re struggling to get through science. Remember science is experimenting, testing, hands-on questioning of our world.Get ready for and relax and enjoy some messy awesome fun with your kids. And don’t forget the fire extinguisher!
10% off and Free Beaker Mug offer when spending $50 or more is good through August 31st!
**Hifalutin Homeschooler is an affiliate of HomeScienceTools.com. Certain items in this article were provided to us in exchange for our review. Hifalutin Homeschooler will receive a small commission on items purchased through the links provided in this blog post at no extra cost to the buyer.
