Social Studies
Charting Your Course
Social Studies
Charting Your Course
Preschool to Middle School
Recommended Course
Simply Smart Experiencing Science
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Whatever science curriculum you choose, the following will help you to be more successful
Utilize a Wide Variety of Resources
You don’t need to rely on a single science curriculum. Draw on the best of everything—books, videos, activities, research, available classes, subscription crates, field trips, etc.
Track Progress with Master Outline
When learning comes at random times and from various sources, as science often does, students will be much more efficient & effective if they keep a master outline tracking what they have learned.
Focus On Hands-on Learning
Children learn best by seeing and doing. The more involved and interested they are, the more likely they are to remember & understand what they have learned. Use as many hands-on activities and experiments as possible. Teaching science in a “co-op” setting greatly facilitates this hands-on approach.
Develop a Scientific Mind
Science is more than memorizing facts. Students should learn to think like a scientist and effectively present their work to others. Help children practice observing, comparing, asking questions, creating hypotheses and finding answers to questions. Encourage children to regularly write on scientific topics & present research to others.
Create a Student Science Notebook
Science is all around us and children can learn through a wide variety of mediums. Have children keep a science notebook summarizing the information they learn. Keeping a well-organized science notebook can be an invaluable reference for children as they get older. It helps them retain information & also helps teach them good organizational skills.
Middle School to High School
Optional Courses
As your child starts middle school, they may want to transition to a more structured approach by selecting one or more of the following courses. Physical science or earth science are often taken as a freshman in high school.
Strongly Recommended Courses
The following courses are often considered standard for a college-bound student.
Independent Exploration for Kids
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Subscription crates are a great way for children to have fun exploring science on their own. With subscription crates, the child receives a box in the mail with all the materials needed to build fun projects and engage in hands-on activities. Click to see our recommendation for subscription crates.