Science

[Jessica Louise]

I am sure that this has been addressed many times before. Perhaps someone could be kind enough to share links to answers previously given.

Why is MP's science laid out as it is? I understand the 'less is more' approach to mastering the material, but why is science not covered in more depth earlier on?

Thanks again for the help!

[jen1134]

MP’s topics are limited, but they’re limited to allow a focus on the observation and classification of nature…which is a critical foundation for later science. We’re learning to look at the whole before we dissect it into its parts.

Paul Schaeffer gave an excellent talk about this very question at the 2018 Sodalitas conference. I highly recommend it! It’s the 8th video on this page: https://www.memoriapress.com/streami...hering-videos/

[jenniferjb]

The Nature of Science by Cheryl Lowe

[Mom2mthj]

I haven’t listened to Paul’s talk, but my take on elementary science is nature study and reading are about all you can do with an elementary/early middle student. MP does nature studies on a topic for that age rather than the smattering of many different topics in many other books. Until your kids have at least some algebra that is about all you can meaningfully do with science. Physics and Chemistry are at their essence using math to explain the behaviors of the natural world.

[tanya]

Here's my science blurb when I do teacher training. After trying several things for science in our early years, this is where we landed:

• Philosophy. Study of the natural world in primary and grammar years; Teaching students about the world around them will give them an appreciation of God’s created world. Learning the constellations, insects, birds, mammals, and trees will enrich their lives forever, and it is a classical way to study science. A survey course that covers volcanos one week, magnets, the next, and arthropods the next doesn’t really teach students anything, and it is difficult for teachers to teach because it requires knowledge in so many topics. Studying birds for a year immerses students and teachers, so that they delve deeply and really learn something valuable. And when students are old enough for biology, chemistry, and physics, they will be able to master them. But a unit on levers in fifth grade doesn’t really do anything to prepare students for physics and is not a good use of time.

[momgineer]

My take as an engineer with a husband who is a professional engineer, a son who is an engineer, a son who is a chemists, and a son studying physics: the absolute best prep you can do for STEM studies is focus on Math and Latin through 5th grade. Also focus on learning to read well as much of biology is simply comprehending what was read. Learning to observe and order nature is important as it gets the mind asking questions. Spend 6th-8th taking middle school life, physical, and earth science so the basic terms are familiar before high school, but keep a strong focus on math and Latin. The math skills are the basis of all high school level physical science and some of biology too. Latin will train the student to think clearly and logically and pay close attention to details and understanding how a few simple letters can completely change a meaning which will apply in high school science. Really before 6th grade any science is best done as playful observations (I like using kits like kiwi crate) and nature study (which I do with a grimace as I am much more interested in physical than life science 😉)

[KrisTom]

I am sure that this has been addressed many times before. Perhaps someone could be kind enough to share links to answers previously given.

Why is MP's science laid out as it is? I understand the 'less is more' approach to mastering the material, but why is science not covered in more depth earlier on?

Thanks again for the help!

The Nature of Science - Memoria Press

I would click on my red link and read this article. It helped me understand it a little bit better. Our problem is we get so bogged down by everything else, sometimes I just think we are not doing science (astronomy) as well as we could be... I sometimes don't remember details myself, so it makes it hard to expect that from my children. We also haven't gotten to a lot of the Greek Myths referenced, so I wish we maybe would have done those first instead of alongside each other...

[Jessica Louise]

Thank you all so much!

[tanya]

KrisTom,

No worries! It doesn't matter that you are doing astronomy and Greek Myths alongside each other. That's the way we do it! Since our curriculum is so interconnected, sometimes you will get to something first in one subject and then hit it again in another subject. That's actually fun! So just enjoy the ride and soak it all up as it comes. Each time you get to something connected, it reinforces what you have taught, and students love that connection.

Tanya

[KrisTom]

KrisTom,

No worries! It doesn't matter that you are doing astronomy and Greek Myths alongside each other. That's the way we do it! Since our curriculum is so interconnected, sometimes you will get to something first in one subject and then hit it again in another subject. That's actually fun! So just enjoy the ride and soak it all up as it comes. Each time you get to something connected, it reinforces what you have taught, and students love that connection.

Tanya

Thank you so much! Yes, I just wish sometimes we could find more time to go read the stories, but I struggle with that. Nonetheless, they really like the class. They are getting astronomy things for Christmas!