Easy-to-implement nature study lessons designed for homeschoolers, co-op groups, and traditional classes, each activity helps students observe and discover for themselves through a firsthand experience with nature. With scientific information, diagrams, and journaling prompts, this book inspires a love for nature and makes teaching it accessible to all educators.

Home Education is a groundbreaking exploration into the art of cultivating a rich and vibrant learning environment within the confines of one's home. Mason, a visionary educator, lays out a compelling philosophy that transcends traditional schooling methods, focusing on the holistic development of a child's mind, character, and habits. Through the lens of living books, nature study, and a thoughtful approach to discipline, Mason offers a refreshing perspective that empowers parents to provide an education that is not only intellectually rigorous but also fosters a love for learning. In this timeless work, Mason provides practical insights into the daily rhythms of home education, emphasizing the importance of cultivating an atmosphere of curiosity and wonder. She advocates for the use of living books—engaging and narrative-rich texts that ignite a child's imagination and create a genuine connection to the subjects studied. Additionally, Mason encourages the integration of nature into the learning experience, promoting outdoor exploration and observation as essential elements of a well-rounded education. Home Education serves as a guide for parents seeking an alternative, more personalized approach to education that goes beyond rote memorization and standardized testing. Charlotte Mason's philosophy, outlined with clarity and conviction, resonates with those who aspire to nurture not only academically proficient individuals but also compassionate, well-rounded human beings. This book is a compelling resource for anyone looking to embark on a transformative journey in home-based learning.

In the early twentieth century, a curriculum known as nature study flourished in major city school systems, streetcar suburbs, small towns, and even rural one-room schools. This object-based approach to learning about the natural world marked the first systematic attempt to introduce science into elementary education, and it came at a time when institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, natural history museums, and national parks were promoting the idea that direct knowledge of nature would benefit an increasingly urban and industrial nation. The definitive history of this once pervasive nature study movement, TeachingChildren Science emphasizes the scientific, pedagogical, and social incentives that encouraged primarily women teachers to explore nature in and beyond their classrooms. Sally Gregory Kohlstedt brings to vivid life the instructors and reformers who advanced nature study through on-campus schools, summer programs, textbooks, and public speaking. Within a generation, this highly successful hands-on approach migrated beyond public schools into summer camps, afterschool activities, and the scouting movement. Although the rich diversity of nature study classes eventually lost ground to increasingly standardized curricula, Kohlstedt locates its legacy in the living plants and animals in classrooms and environmental field trips that remain central parts of science education today.