Homeschooling: Science by Sonlight

My Natural Learner loves science, He wants to know the whys and the hows and he loves learning. Imagine my heart rejoice and my mind be relieved when I discovered a DVD Science Experiment series called InquisiKids Discover & Do by Sonlight.

They have 5 DVDs in the series.

Level K (pre-primary)
Level 1 (year 1)
Level 2 (year 2)
Level 3 (year 3)
Level 4 (year 4)

(We have Level  K, 3 & 4)

Each DVD contains 60 - nearly 100 experiments each with full instructions and demonstrations making mums job super easy, especially if science is not your strong part.

I originally brought Level K pre-baby because I wanted 'easy back-up' incase I was unable to teach for a period of time. I thought at least he would be learning even if we were not doing hands on experiments ourselves.

I was pleasantly surprised to witness the natural progression of several children asking for certain items to be brought from the shops so they could conduct experiments and I was pleasantly surprised to see them do experiments as part of their own natural desire to learn and explore. A homeschool mums delight "Can we do science?" "Can we watch our science DVD". I let the children watch these as they please.

It wasn't long before I decided to get the whole set this year for our science resources and teaching methods. Unfortunately the place I picked these DVDs up from has closed down (hence not owning level 1 & 2) and I am unsure where to purchase through Australian sites.

I've written before about our learning styles, I like to SEE things in action so I gain understanding before teaching, these DVDs help me to do so alongside my children.

Even though I have no grade 3 or 4 students my children are still able to understand the concepts in those levels.

I could allow these to be the only science we did and it would be enough, however my children naturally love science and experiments and exploring so we don't, it is just a fun, educational, non-schooly approach to something the children of all ages enjoy, together.

First check them out here to see what you think.

I brought these DVDs myself sand have not been paid or compensated in any way.

This method Works for Us


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Natural learning being so enjoyed be everyone and taken into the mind deeply
2. Resources that are set out before me
3. Multi-age method
4. Buy once, use a hundred times type of resources
5. That this can be used as 'play' when friends come over!

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When you teach I am getting it...

Says my 7year old on a regular basis.

He's been learning all sorts of things lately, and later comes to the other parent to brag or share his achievements starting the sentence with 'when you've been teaching me xyz I've been learning it'... And when he sees letters joined together he lets me know what sound they make followed by that's what you've teached me (ok, must correct that word to taught). Or apple starts with a (first word that popped into my head). Or I know the sounds that make the word finished and goes on to spell it to me.. 

He will also let us know that he's doing a good job learning xyz. 

When we enter into a new learning area that he hasn't learnt he asks if this will get him skills. He's interested in learning skills but if it doesn't he does not want to do it. Funny hey!!

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Genuine of Heart

Remember reading this post here? No? Well, just to refresh your memory. It was bed time and the children were all in their room gearing down for sleep. In fact it was very late and all they were meant to do was go to sleep. I wandered down to check on them to discover a certain child rubbing his blanket on pink wet paint all over the wall. I could hardly believe it. Not wanting to Over-re-act and thus do more damage then good I decided the matter belonged to the Papa.

All he said was 'make him clean it up tomorrow' and they had some special time (briefly) before being sent back to bed.

Well. The. Very. Next. Day. This particular child expressed his heart. I was informed he wanted his bedroom wall painted so that it LOOKED PRETTY. In fact we've had this discussion several times already. Let's face it. In our cheap rental the walls are a neutral and unflattering dull yellow (my least fave colour in the world).

Knowing what I then knew I was super duper glad that I 1). Handed the matter over to someone else & 2). that no disciplinary measures where taken. Why? BECAUSE. Although the PHYSICAL ACTION was 'naughty' the INWARD ACTION was not.

I guess the experience has made me consider what is actually classed as being 'naughty'? Is it something that is inconvenient to us? something that wastes our resources (time, money, energy, etc)?

No wonders they say 'kids will be kids' or 'boys will be boys'. Natural learning, exploring, cause and effect. They are just being in the development stage they are in and learning about the world in which we live.

You don't read that kind of 'parenting advice' in the parenting books.

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