Why is the sky blue? Discover the answer—and more—with simple science experiments you can use in your homeschool with today’s episode of the Hey, Mama! Homeschool Show podcast: STEM and Science Fairs. Fall in love with science as Heather Vogler and Sheila Chairvolotti of The Old Schoolhouse® walk through simple, yet fascinating experiments, including a chromatography experiment for botany studies. You will learn about incredible resources available for SchoolhouseTeachers.com members, like World Book access. Plus, you will find guidance on selecting a microscope, and you may even be inspired to form your own science co-op. 

Connections

Connect with God’s Word

“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” (Isaiah 45:12)

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, 

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:2 ESV)

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; 

the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;

the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;

and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

Who among all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In His hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10 ESV)

Connect and See!

View the original recording and see the experiments demonstrated in Let’s Learn About World Book: SCIENCE, a Homeschool Live from The Old Schoolhouse®, which originally aired in October 2022 on Facebook. Watching this segment will also allow you to see science resources available through World Book for SchoolhouseTeachers.com members. If you don’t have green leaves available for the chromatography experiment, try grapes or ketchup!

Connect with The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine 

For more on science, click on the links to these recent articles from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine:

• With a little effort, families may find that there is simply no shortage of opportunities to incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math into their home education curriculum. Here’s “Getting into STEM and Robotics at Home.”
• Beloved curriculum author Jeannie Fulbright shares four methods of teaching science to ensure a lifelong love for science in “Unit Studies and Science!”
• Pique curiosity by raising questions about science and faith. How? Start by reading “Science: What to Teach and When.”
• Love it or hate it, the reality is that STEM is here to stay, and if we want to give our children the best chance for success, we need to embrace it. Here’s “Getting a Head Start with STEM.”

Connect with the TOS App

Do you have the new and enhanced TOS App? It’s the hub for homeschooling. You can access all The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine articles—and more—wherever you go, whenever you need them. Search for homeschooling topics important to you. You will find curriculum choices, resources, homeschool advice, help, and encouragement. The app content is updated weekly. The TOS App is now better than ever, and it’s free. You can find the TOS App on Google Play or download at the App Store today!  

Connect with SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Whether you have one child or ten, a child in preschool or high school, a child who loves chemistry, or a child who loves bugs, you will find a science course to pique their interests with a SchoolhouseTeachers.com membership. A wide range of activities is available, depending on the course chosen, along with a variety of teaching methods, including printable text, video instruction, worksheets, experiments, and tests and quizzes. Over fifty science courses are available on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, like this one:

Fun with Science Homeschool Course

Wondering where to even begin to teach science? Fun with Science will blow you away. Over the course of eighteen lessons, your kids will be taken through a journey that covers the basics of life science, earth science, and physical science concepts. A series of experiments and activities based on printable instructions will have them smiling every step of the way.

In today’s “STEM and Science Fairs” podcast, Sheila Chairvolotti mentioned a microscope resource. Find “Microscopes with Sheila C.” and dozens of other resources in the Science Center at SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  

It’s time for the 2023 Virtual Science Fair for members of SchoolhouseTeachers.com. If you have a budding scientist in the house, we want to know what your child discovered this school year! Entries may include science research projects or exhibits. Award certificates will be presented for first, second, and third places in each category. SchoolhouseTeachers.com Members, visit the Activity/Events tab in your Member Dashboard to find full details and to submit your children’s scientific entries. Student submissions are being accepted from March 6 through April 7, 2023.

Connect with The Canadian Schoolhouse 

The Canadian division of The Old Schoolhouse® is dedicated to supporting Canadian families both spiritually and academically as they impact their world for Christ. Below are just a couple of resources provided by The Canadian Schoolhouse.

Science, like math, is around us daily, from the plants growing in our backyard to the electronics in our homes. Our kitchens are also an exciting place to encounter science. Kitchen science lab experiments are a great way to bring science into your day-to-day life. You and your children will love this Kitchen Science Lab from The Canadian Schoolhouse.

STEAM subjects prepare children with the necessary skills for many jobs. Equipping them with various subjects will ensure they are well-rounded and knowledgeable in concepts that will help in many industries, leaving the door open for many opportunities when they finish school. Here is an excellent resource from The Canadian Schoolhouse: STEAM Ideas for Kids.

Connect with The Homeschool Minute 

Spend a minute with your friends from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine!

The Homeschool Minute is a weekly eNewsletter for anyone homeschooling or considering starting. It’s brief yet packed with a powerful dose of encouragement to keep you going strong in your commitment to your family and to the Lord. Each week, The Homeschool Minute focuses on the same topic covered in the Hey, Mama! Homeschool Show podcast and includes perspectives from a handful of writers. In The Homeschool Minute this week (coming to inboxes on 3/1/23), you’ll discover more on STEM and Science Fairs. Subscribe to the free homeschool newsletter. 

Connect with Upcoming Episodes

New episodes of the Hey, Mama! Homeschool Show are released every Monday. Check back right here for show notes and links at HomeschoolShow.com. Here’s what you can look forward to next: 

• 3/6/23: Episode 6—“Teen Rebels and Prodigals” hosted by Deborah Wuehler of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
• 3/13/23: Episode 7—“The Importance of Art and Music” hosted by Stephanie Morrison of The Canadian Schoolhouse
• 3/20/23: Episode 8—“When They Won’t Listen—How to Gain Attention” hosted by Christine Weller of SchoolhouseTeachers.com and The Canadian Schoolhouse

Questions or comments on the Hey, Mama! Homeschool Show podcast? We’d love to hear from you at HomeschoolShow@TheOldSchoolhouse.com.