The greatest minds in history started with nature study and deep observation of the world around them.
Nature IS science - it is physics and chemistry and biology and zoology and anatomy. Nature study changes your brain and the way that you observe the world. But she would be adamant about nature study. An extra would be pulling books and learning about naturalists in history and their mark on history.Ĭharlotte Mason would suggest no formal lessons before 6. The lessons and lore make the animals real to them and prompts them to observe them.
Observation I send them out into the yard with a plastic baggie. When lessons come up, we read the next chapter, when lore comes up, we read the next chapter. I use Our Wonderful World for lessons, Burgess Bird book for lore. Certainly the latter is the easier choice. You can link the lore, lessons and observation or you can just read the next chapter in the book that you choose. Lore are tales that bring it to life for the child. The three parts to nature study are lessons, lore and observation. Nature study can be tackled in 15 minutes 3x per week.