This semester for science we are studying botany. We use the Apologia science curriculum. I really like it and you can check out all their different elementary science courses here. It is a Christian based curriculum, which I swore I would NEVER use. I also swore my kid would not eat french fries till they were five...what do I know?
Anyway, the religion is pretty separate from the science and if I do find an off the wall evangelical tidbit, it is easy to skip that paragraph and none of the science is lost. There is a lot of pretty advanced information in the text, but I just emphasize the basics and we work through the botany journal and the kids are learning some really cool stuff. They know taxonomy is a way to organize things, the difference between a seed and a spore, the difference between vascular and non-vascular plants, and the difference between angiosperms and gymnosperms. (Most of that I didn't even know.) So now at the conclusion of unit one we are making a grow house to grow herbs. (Later we will use the herbs to cook or make soap).
We went with Seeds of Change organic seeds from Lowe's. We bought organic potting soil and took some time to talk about why we chose organic over other things like Burpees seeds or Miracle Grow potting mix. (We know these kinds of things sink in because the last time we went to Texas Road House the kids were looking at the cuts of meat in the window and asked if it was made from "sad cows.")
Then on to the fun part! Diggin' in the dirt!
They each picked out their pots. The fact that they all happen to coordinate with their outfit for the day was a total coincidence! And even though Liam looks grumpy, he was really having a good time.
We took a plastic tote with a lid and I drilled 1-1/4 inch holes in the top. $6 clamp lights from Lowe's with the clamps and shades removed (we are currently using the clamps on the chicken brooder) fit snugly in the hole. "Daylight" compact florescent 60 watt bulbs screw into the underside.
We lined the inside of the tote with aluminum foil. We talked a little about the reflective properties of light (science is everywhere!!!) and why having the light reflect within the box would be beneficial for the plant.
We snapped the lid on, we'll water it regularly, and in 40-75 days we will have organic slow bolt cilantro, garden sage, dill, and Italian flat leaf parsley. Now on to unit two: seeds!
