I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormons. We read the scriptures, we pray, and we go to church and activities. We believe God created the earth. We believe Adam and Eve fell and Jesus Christ will save us. It’s just that I stand firmly with Galileo that “the Bible teaches us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go”. I don’t try to smash science into my understanding of scripture, or spread my gospel all over science. I just let them be where they are, knowing my understanding is far from perfect. Religion and science both inspire and amaze me. I don’t expect science to save me, nor do I require detailed technology from my religion. That opinion is my own . . .
Every child is a scientist. Children are born fascinated with the world around them. I feel my responsibility is to cultivate and preserve their natural curiosity. That is the focus of our science education.
Observation: Go on a walk with a child. In general, the only exercise you get on a walk with a child is the opportunity to exercise patience. They take the time to notice clouds and follow a caterpillar- literally following a caterpillar. I decided long ago to separate walks from explores. Walks are when we have a destination and a deadline. Explores are for my little scientists. We crunch leaves, follow butterflies, smell the roses, and get at bug level. Patient observation is a critical skill for scientists. I give my children the space and time to practice this skill.
Collections: Every child wants to collect things. We’ve had boxes of leaves and rocks and bugs. We’ve learned how to bleach chicken bones, so we could keep them. Is it messy? Yes. Do I have surprises in my fridge and on the counter? Sometimes. I let them happen.
Measurement: Children love to count and weigh and measure and compare. They tend to have more patience and longevity than I have. Sometimes they pull out the scale, and sometimes I start something and one child will just stick with it . . . and be weighing and measuring their collections or random things for hours.
Time: Science takes time. I love having all four seasons, over years, with my budding scientists. A garden is very practical science, but allows for wonderful conversations and rewards. Photosynthesis, soil composition, unique plant needs, the miracle of a seed, the reward of a harvest . . . gardening is a unique science adventure. I love that they can continue interests for years.
Life: Life is full of science. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, fixing cars or the fence, sports, injuries, and pregnancies. Life demands experimentation.
Now we do sometimes repeat experiments. That is also science. So we have our family favorite experiments, and we do experiments from books. But I have found that there is a unique power in letting the writing and analyzing and the bulk of their science experience be about their own interests.
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I share what I’m reading. I read Lavoisier. It sounds snooty, but it’s so approachable. Who doesn’t want to learn about how Lavoisier died? Or the amazing role his wife played in his work even after his death? I don’t understand all of his writing, but he did explain how pressure affects weather in a way that was clear enough to me I could explain it to my children.
When I teach my children evolution, I start with Darwin. When I connect the science with the life of the scientist, I find it inspires my children to recognize how much time it can take to learn and make connections. In some cases, a life time. In our instant society, that’s valuable. It also naturally draws in the history, the culture, the drama and the literature that surrounds science.
Cultivating the scientist naturally present in each child is an adventure. It is messy. It takes me out of my comfort zone. It teaches and inspires me. It requires patience and lots of bleach. It makes me grateful for the internet and the blessed beauty of this world.
Below: A scientist talks about God.
Britt grew up in a family of six brothers and one sister and gained a bonus sister later. She camped in the High Sierras, canoed down the Colorado, and played volleyball at Brigham Young University. She then served a mission to South Africa.
With all of her time in the gym and the mountains and South Africa, she was totally prepared to become the mother of 2 sons and soon to be 9 daughters. By totally prepared she means willing to love them and muddle through everything else in a partially sleepless state. She is mostly successful at figuring out how to keep the baby clothed, or at least diapered, though her current toddler is challenging this skill.
She feels children naturally love to learn and didn’t want to disrupt childhood curiosity with worksheets and school bells. She loves to play in the dirt, read books, go on adventures, watch her children discover new things, and mentor her children. Her oldest child is currently at a community college and her oldest son is going to high school at a public school. She loves to follow her children in their unique paths and interests.
She loves to write because, unlike the laundry and the dishes, writing stays done. Whenever someone asks her how she does it all she wonders what in the world they think she’s doing.
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I always thought science was especially important for a Christian–it’s more proof of God’s amazing talents. I happen to believe in both evolution (portions of it) and creation both. When I started homeschooling, people said my kids would never hear more than my side of a subject, but I laughed. In school, they learned only one way the world could have been created, but we bought a book that had dozens of ways and read about them all–including both science and creation. I was the one offering more than one choice–not the schools. No laws get in the way of a homeschooler–we really can offer multiple points of view.
Homeschool really can allow for differing views Terrie. It also allows for greater participation and discussion. thanks for commenting!