Nature Studies for Australian Children

Downunder Literature

Science and Nature Studies for Australian and New Zealand Children

Providing homeschool resources of enduring value

Do you want to lay down a good scientific foundation for your child?

‘Books dealing with science...should be of a literary character, and we would probably be more scientific as a people if we scrapped all the text books. Where science does not teach a child to wonder and admire, it is perhaps of no educational value ’

Charlotte Mason

Start with books that have literary character .

Rather than sleeping through a science text book choose ‘living books’. That is, books that are so well done, with a smooth flowing story, written by a person who is passionate about science.

Downunder Literature has living science books.

· The Wonderland of Nature (Childrens Book Council of Australia award) and

· The Wonderland of Nature Journal are a homeschool science resource set that covers one year Australian science curriculum for the homeschool or school.

· A Bush Calendar is an Australian nature diary classic written by Amy Mack over a year in the early 1900’s. Her enthusiasm is infectious and it draws you out into the bush.

· Crowns of Fire is a beautifully illustrated masterpiece that will delight as it teaches about bushfires.

· Nature Talks to New Zealanders written by Phillip Crosbie Morrison is an amusing scientific look at the flora and fauna of New Zealand. It makes comparisons with Australia. Recommended by New Zealand homeschoolers.

How should I start teaching science?

There is no lack of science textbooks and science books but where do you start? A quick search on the internet will produce hundreds of options. How can you possibly know where to start? What curriculum should you choose?

Chemist, Hideki Shirakawa of Japan, 2000 winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, said that long hours of nature study were critical in his formation as a scientist.

"Let them once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight and habit through life." Charlotte Mason

Nature Study is a great place to start teaching science in the homeschool and primary school. Teaching about nature gives science lessons on; observation, conservation, habitat, endangered species, landcare and more.

What age should I start teaching science?

Inspiring a love of science in our children begins from birth. My husbands first memory is being lifted up by his mother to look at eggs in a bird’s nest. Taking our children out and showing them nature teaches them the wonders of nature and is the beginnings of their scientific education. If this is not one of your strong points then arm yourself with a good field guide so you can teach yourself along the way.

If you feel it is time to get more organized with the science lessons then you can begin very naturally with a simple nature journals, nature walks and some nature stories. Here are a few free ones we have put online for you.

· The Leaf that Longed to be Red by Amy Mack

· The Wave by Amy Mack

· Spotty the Bower Bird. By ES Sorensen

· The Stick Insect By Gladys Froggart

Some other titles I would recommend are:

· Leslie Rees. Shy the platypus

· Jan Wade. Australian bush fairies

· Narelle Oliver. Sand swimmers. The secret life of Australia’s dead heart.

· Belinda Brooker. Mundarda

· Dianne Lucas. Walking with the seasons in Kakadu

· J Morris. Wombat down below

Also look at these free nature resources