Frugal Homeschool: Exploring Creation

There is hardly a more frugal homeschool resource than exploring creation and the world around us! As homeschoolers, we are not confined to a classroom, and we have much greater freedom in choosing subject matter.  Whether you live by the sea, in the mountains, the woods, or near a park, there is hands-on learning to be had and wildlife to explore.
Frugal Homeschool: Exploring Creation

Taking a closer look at God’s creation is an incredible way to help your children get to know and understand their Creator.  As one would study great works of art and seek to understand the Masters, taking the time to soak up the details in nature will give your family a picture of their Designer!

We live near the beach, and although there are many birds, shells, and creatures to study – it isn’t about memorizing the names of the various seashells, or recognizing every bird and animal. You can enjoy this style of learning from no matter where you hail.

mollusk shell

Although shells, mollusks, birds, and all animals make fantastic homeschool lessons – the deeper lessons come from the inspiration these creatures provide.  Learning to categorize, reading about wildlife, and observing the habits and habitats of the animals around us help our children develop skills and accumulate knowledge of great value; but, the excitement generated in our children when exploring and making an adventure out of learning  is the catalyst which leads to a lifelong love of learning. THAT is something worthy of our passion!

sharks teeth

Collecting sharks teeth, colorful leaves, shells, or acorns involves taking a closer look at nature. Honing the skills of observation while enjoying fresh air and sunshine is good for body, mind, and spirit! These are benefits of exploring creation, but there is so much more to these frugal homeschool studies.

Teaching your students to make careful observations is only a part of this style of hands-on learning. To make the most of your nature studies, you’ll want to take it further. Whatever you are collecting or observing can lead to next level learning as you leverage your child’s excitement and parlay it into research. Read together on the topic of interest; investigate and compare your observations to the research in books and online information.

Remember, it’s not so much the learning about individual animals so much as it is about the process, the exercise of learning and igniting a spark of excitement in investigating the world around them.

Steps you can take to make nature studies the highlight of your family homeschool:

  • Get outdoors regularly.
  • Teach your children to look carefully and walk quietly to develop skills of observation (and attract wildlife).
  • Make notes of what they see – use inexpensive notebooks or binders to record thoughts and observations.
  • Use microscopes and magnifying glasses to get a detailed look -they don’t need to be expensive to be effective, and they add a layer of excitement to your science studies.
  • Gather books from libraries and research information online about plants and animals to add depth to your studies.
  • Use their interests as a platform for writing, to improve reading, to make hypotheses, and to inspire learning.
  • Focus on expanding thinking by looking at the details.
  • Ask questions and encourage students to ask questions (The answers can come later.).
  • Use drawings or photos by students to add an artistic touch to research and findings.
  • Gather information and pictures in a binder or notebook to review your findings throughout the year.
  • Show excitement when viewing animals, plants, and even bugs – your excitement is contagious!

Your local library will provide many books to peruse, and you can watch free creation videos on a variety of topics with NW Creation Network.  Answers in Genesis  is a terrific free online resource with articles and videos to help you learn exciting facts about animals and nature. Download FREE Wildlife Binder and Notebooking pages from AdventuresInChildRearing HERE. 

 Exploring creation can become the base of your family homeschool and can inspire a lifelong love of learning in your children.

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