Unschooling a Preschooler {Science}
I recently wrote about how we’ve decided against sending our oldest to preschool even though there’s a highly-recommended one just across the street from us. That was the introductory post to a series that I am doing on how exactly my preschooler is learning at home.
In all of my research on education over the last several years, I have been most attracted to the unschooling/eclectic/interest-led approach to learning. While unschooling really starts from birth, this series is more to answer the critics who ask how my child will learn “the essentials” (whatever they may think those are) if I don’t send him to school (or replicate the traditional school model at home).
I want to show that a child who is left to discover and explore the world by following their passion and interest will be well educated and knowledgeable by adulthood. It is our hope and belief that he will be fully equipped for a successful life and career in whatever field he may choose, and he will never lose that passion for learning that is so precious in these young beginner years of which I am in the midst.
In this series I plan to go through a variety of traditional school subjects post by post and show how learning opportunities in those areas are happening organically and naturally through play and living our day-to-day life. Your child is learning every day, no matter what you’re doing or not doing.
To kickstart the series I want to talk about science. My preschooler doesn’t even know the word “science”, but he sure does love it!
General Categories of Science
The main science categories are usually as follows:
- Chemistry
- Life Science & Biology
- Earth & Space Science
- Physical Science & Physics
- Technology
Examples of Natural Learning Opportunities
Today we acquired (second-hand) a tunnel/volcano combo that attaches to Isaac’s train tracks. It basically looks like a mountain with a tunnel in the bottom and red lava coming out the top. Isaac was naturally curious about what the red stuff was, since he has not yet learned anything about volcanoes. I explained that it was called lava, which is like fire, which led to a google search for volcanoes, which led to watching a video of volcano erupting, and a viewing some photos. He observed that the lava was giving light like the sun, which of course led to a discussion about how the sun is actually made out of fire. Boy, were his eyes wide and curious after all of this!
{Earth Science for a 3-year-old? Check.}
Other examples include…
- Using baking soda and vinegar to help Mommy clean and noticing the fizzy reaction between the two (Chemistry)
- Like most kids, he loves animals, and has been learning about them since infancy (Life Science)
- Playing in the dirt outside is probably his all-time favourite activity (Earth Science)
- Seeing blood come from a cut on his finger leads to a discussion about what’s inside our bodies and how they work (Biology)
- Learning the correct terms for his own body parts while dressing and bathing (Human Anatomy)
- Simply being outside to observe and interact with the dirt, sky, plants, and animals (Earth Science)
- Setting up a track off the couch for his cars to roll down and observing the effects of gravity (Physics)
- Using lego to construct a house (Technology and Engineering)
- Helping in the kitchen and asking questions about how food is cooked on the stove (Energy & Chemistry)
- Helping with laundry, and noticing that the clothes out of the dryer are warm, asking why (Technology and Energy)
- Playing with fridge magnets and noticing that they also stick to the stove, asking why (Physical Science)
- When we go on an elevator and he asks how it works I can explain about levers and pulleys (Physics)
- When we go outside and see a dark cloud and it starts to rain (Earth & Environmental Science)
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but that’s really exactly the point. The simple day-to-day living as well as the special outings and trips to places like the zoo or the science centre are all ways that my preschooler will be exposed to the basic foundations of science.
Watching my child soak in these moments and learn is a fascinating and exciting privilege. His brain often seems to be going a mile a minute, and it is truly a wonder to see him be so excited about learning.
How does your preschooler learn science? Can you think of any more natural real-world opportunities?
We send both our kids to preschool and both absolutely love it. They cannot wait to go to school everyday. But, they are both extremely social children that love to be around other kids. The preschool they attend are not about worksheets and instead foster natural inquiry processes which is much like you described in your post, Beth. I cannot imagine not sending my children to preschool.
With that said, I totally had an impromptu science lesson with the older one the other day. We were walking past our beautiful Hibiscus bush and she asked why some of the flowers were crunchy and others were soft. So, biology lesson on the spot. She now asks to hear the “crunchy flower story” almost every time we walk past the bush.
Almost all children are naturally inquisitive between the ages of 3-5. It is kindergarten that often stomps on that natural behavior of our children. Will I send my kids to school, yes, I will because I think that there are learning opportunities to be had at school too. Since the kids will be going to the school where I teach, I feel more comfortable knowing that the teachers they will have encourage the natural inquisition in class and focus on very individualized learning. But, the circumstance fits our lives. If I was in Canada, perhaps my perspective would be different.
All the best as you investigate the homeschooling route. I think that you will be great at it!
Thanks for your encouraging words, Kim! I think it’s great that you’ve thought it through and are doing things intentionally and with purpose – to me that’s the most important thing in deciding how your children will be educated. I love that you see the value in both, you are a wise woman!
I hear you! We use every opportunity as a teaching one (okay, we TRY – we’re only human and sometimes fun without explanation is simply enough), and science in particular is fun. Outdoor scavenger hunts, lying on our backs watching the clouds change, stomping in puddles while rain splish-sploshes beside us and learning about the water cycle – natural, individual, experience-inspired learning triggers all kinds of curiosity and passion in my kids.
We’ve chosen to send Sara to preschool next year not for the educational opportunities (because I think those are best at home) but because we have years of homeschooling ahead of us – and she watches kids go to school with their backpacks and wants to join them (much like I did when I was little). It’s not for everybody. But she loves large group games and crafts (I can’t stand those – I am learning, but if someone else can do the little kiddie ones more effectively, power to them). And I want to get to know more families in the community.
As far as education through worksheets, a friend of Sara’s has some preschool activity books and Sara’s been begging for them. Now we do one or two pages a day (she presses for more – sometimes we do more). So while I’m not all about worksheets – you know, to individualize her learning, I’ll follow her lead! (:
I am enjoying this series. Keep posting!
Love this response, Crystal, and I appreciate hearing your thoughts! For the record, I’m not opposed to worksheets for fun (I totally would have been one of those kids doing them just because I loved it)… I’m just vehemently opposed to forcing kids to do them when they really don’t want to. Make sense?
I love that you will be sharing about this journey! We’re currently going through the adoption process to hopefully adopt 2 kids that are currently in foster care. I’ve been very curious about homeschooling and this philosophy seems so similar to my natural lifestyle. I love it; I want to learn more and see it in action!
On another note, I was one of those kids in school that totally hated science. It wasn’t until just a few years ago, that I had any interest in. What re-ignited the curiosity that was long lost? I wanted to know why certain baking recipes worked they way they did… then stumbled across Alton Brown on the Food Network. I love learning how meringue keeps it shape, how baking soda causes things to rise, why it’s important to include an acid in some recipes… and then figuring out what all the acid options are. Unschooling really seems to be just how life is lived and how people learn… Thank you for sharing!
What an awesome story of the science love/hate. I know for sure that school squashed my loves for certain subjects. I wasn’t always a math/science hater, that’s for sure!
I think your ideas are right on. I think formal preschool is rushing children and forcing them into following a regimen instead of letting them have fun with out even realizing they are learning. Your son is a very fortunate litle boy to have a mom like you.
Blessings,
Thanks Diane. Your words are high praise and I am blessed!
You would like this article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/not-so-fast-home-schooling-trumps-full-day-kindergarten/article1187946/
That article is AWESOME! Loved it!
Thanks!
Love this! I run a daycare, and this is exactly my approach to teaching those 3-5 year olds in my care. No work sheets, no mandatory “math” or “science” or whatever else time. Just exploration. Not to mention it’s far more effective anyways.
That’s so awesome, Grace. I love that you are doing this in real life and seeing it work well!