My easy, laid back approach to homeschooling Science. [Part 5]

Welcome to the last part of my 2012 How We Homeschool Series! I hope it’s been encouraging to you in your homeschool journey or research.

This week we are in the middle of learning about squids, octopuses, and the Hawaiian Islands and I have not spent much time at all in preparing. It just came together as I was browsing dvds and books at the library.

Jack played with toys on the library floor and Brendan played on the library computer while I browsed the shelves. Squids, octopuses, and the Hawaiian Islands caught my eye and were available. You can call that “interest-led”, even if it is mama’s interests 🙂 .

Homeschool planning doesn’t have to be all stressful. Give yourself a break. The kid will learn.

How I’m homeschooling the easy-going way.

easy homeschooling

Step #1: I borrowed the following dvds and books from our local library:

Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island Of Oahu(dvd)

Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island Of Kauai(dvd)

Travel With Kids Hawaii The Islands of Maui & Molokai(dvd)

Octopuses by Carol Lindeen (book)

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster (Smithsonian)by Mary M. Cerullo & Clyde F.E. Roper (book)

Giant Isopods and Other Crafty Crustaceans (Creatures of the Deep)(book)

I have been reading to the boys while they color their pages or draw pictures. Maybe even while playing Legos. I’m learning right along with them. Did you know that squids and octopuses have beaks? Yes, like a parrot’s beak. And there aren’t just squids, there are Humboldt Squids aka Red Devils, Giant Squids, and Colossal Squids! And Sperm Whales eat squids.

Step #2: I searched and found online these free printable coloring pages:

Free printable Octopus coloring page (I wanted a more realistic coloring page. Most I found online were “babyish” but this one is not.)

Free printable Squid coloring page and one with labels (each were about half page or less in size so I copied them onto one page after printing them out. You could cut them out for a lapbook or notebook project.)

easy homeschooling

Step #3: I plan to pull in some of the materials I already have at home.

We own books that I can use as well. Some of those books I have reviewed on my blog: The World of Animals and The Complete Aquarium Adventure (which can be used as a curriculum too).