Blog Cruise - Loving Science

This week, the Homeschool Blog Cruise asks What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

The first thing that immediately jumps to mind is science.  I love science.  While I teach English, science definitely gets me excited about learning.

There are so many aspects of science that the boys and I have been able to delve into.  We've student animals groups of all kinds having raised butterflies, fish, African clawed frogs, a bearded dragon, and of course our cat and dog.  In addition, we were able to volunteer at a local waterfowl rescue giving us hand's on experience with many a feathered friend.  We still get to foster birds from time to time, feeding them until they can move on to the rescue in Columbia. 

In addition to that, we all enjoy dissection.  I know - many don't like it.  But - what better way to understand an organism than to see it first hand?  We've dissected plants, owl pellets, a frog, a sheep's heart and kidney, a cow's eye and a shark.  My husband and I are big believers in experiential learning - if we can do it rather than just learn about it, we're in!

Fortunately, there are many options for science open to the homeschool community.  Through the local parks and rec we've been able to go on nature walks, identify trees, learn orienteering and track many animals.  Last year, we took four days and went to Tybee Island in Georgia for a field study.  Beach, forest, and marsh ecology along with firsthand experience orienteering and working with many marine animals.

Can you tell I like the natural sciences? 

We love computer science too.  It's an essential skillset for kids to learn these days.  My husband works for a software company, so he is a HUGE advocate of computing.  I'll be going to a two week seminar this summer to learn to teach Alice, a 3-D visual programming tool available free through Carnegie Melon.  In fact, I'll be blogging about it when that time comes.  If you're interested in teaching your child programming but aren't quite sure how to start, monitor my blog starting August.  I hope to provide free information you can use to include Alice in your homeschool.

Of course, as we continue through school, we'll do chemistry, physics and delve into engineering. It's all just so exciting!  Personally, I can't wait to build robots - I know I'll be able to talk one of the boys into doing it with me.  :)

What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

To see additional interesting posts - hop on over to the Homeschool Blog Cruise...