Hands-On Science & Nature Projects for Upper Grades
Each of these resources is appropriate for middle and high school students. If you prefer family-style teaching, they can be tailored down, or you may eliminate some of the more complicated aspects, for elementary students. Want to create your own hands-on nature study? Download the unit study planner, and get started exploring your family’s interests!
Exploring the outdoors is a great way to learn! Soak it all in, homeschool mama, and wear your homeschooling style proudly!
Think Like a Scientist
- Pi Game / Pi Day
- Measuring Practice
- Real World Math
- Math & Physics Round-Up
- Physics & Calculus for High School
Get Inspired
Take a Field Trip
Get Outside
Go Wild
- Zoo Studies
- Permaculture
- Foraging Basics
- Forensics unit study
- Ecosystems unit study
- Endangered Animals Project
A Little of This; A Little of That
- Stars & Constellations unit study
- Holiday Science Activities
- Notebooking Pages for science topics
- Doughnut Math
- Botany Class
- Tinkers’ Club
- Tinkering Lab Kit
- Snap Circuits & Electricity
- Ultimate Coding Kit
Explore through the Pages
- Girl of the Limberlost & Butterflies
- Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan & Raptors
- Science of Breakable Things & Scientific Method
- Nick & Tesla 6-book Physics Bundle
- The Lorax & Earth Stewardship
- Fuzzy Mud & Microbiology
- Shouting at the Rain & Stormy Weather
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
- The Call of the Wild
Use a Complete Curriculum
- Energy Science
- Homestead Science
- Farming & Ranching Plan
- Berean Builders
- Apologia vs Berean
- Friendly Biology
Hands-On Subscription Boxes You’ll Love!
MATTER
We search planet Earth for the most interesting forms of matter. Each month we ship fossils, tools, specimens, materials, or artifacts that have been carefully selected as some of the most interesting pieces of matter in our accessible universe. Part museum, part laboratory, perfect for quarantine! Feed your curiosity or spark someone’s else’s. This one is for the kid who knows everything!! It will spark an interest for further research…Beautiful Discovery
Beautiful Discovery kits use visually and kinesthetically engaging patterns of nature to unleash your hidden pattern power and give you STEAM skills. Items include eco-games, art, origami, drag and drop code, models, natural wonders, full color informational cards, full color picture books and booklets, paints and colored pencils, drawing sheets with art lessons on patterns seen in the natural wonders.Perfect for the student who is hesitant about math, but all about art! This box combines the beauty of nature with real-world math through projects with seashells, crystals, dried leaves, flowers, for their beautiful patterns. There’s even an computer coding element with simple drag and drop block coding that will simulate the patterns seen in the natural wonders studied in each box.
Spangler Science
Let’s make science fun one month at a time! A subscription to Spangler Science Club is a guarantee that we’re working together to prepare your young scientist for a future STEM-based career. Choose from one of three levels of hands-on science kits and subscribe to amazing science delivered every month!Groovy Lab in a Box
With Groovy Lab in a Box, you will receive boxes full of everything you need to learn about and do hands on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiments for ages 8+. We blend Scientific Inquiry and the Engineering Design Process, which allows children to create ingenious inventions, enhance problem solving skills and FUN!It’s NOT Ancient History! Making Connections with World History
There are five concepts – or 5 Cs – of history. These are at the heart of every question historians ask as they seek to better understand the past, and they include (from most easily understood to the more complex): change over time, causality, context, complexity, and contingency. The strangeness of the past enables us to step back and look at our society and ourselves from a new perspective—indeed, we might start to look a bit strange to ourselves! (Think not? Check out Motel of the Mysteries)
General Ancient History
Classes
- Sparks Academy Co-Op World History (or self-paced version)
- Ancient World History course
- History of Ancient Civilizations course
- Understanding Ancient History course
Printables
- World History Literature Bundle
- World History II Literature Bundle
- A World of Adventure
- Write Bonnie Rose
- Writing Through History
- Using Primary Source Documents
Extras
- Mysteries in Time adventures
- Bricks / Legos Through the Ages
- Ancient Artistic Pursuits
- History of the Ancient World
- Tales of Ancient Worlds
- Drive Thru History – Ancient History & DTH Adventures
- Ancient Cities (dvd)
- Audiobooks for World History
Egypt
Greece
Rome
- Eagle of the Ninth book club
- Ancient Rome online unit
- SPQR: History of Ancient Rome
- Famous Men of Rome
- Caesar’s Legions
Asia / Middle East
Medieval
- Sir Gawain & the Green Knight book club
- Legendary Swords morning plans
- Renaissance unit
- Renaissance Time Travelers
Mythology
Rabbit Trails
- Daily Life in the Ancient World
- Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Unconventional Warfare in the Ancient World
- Independent Research
- Archaeology
- Mansa Musa
- Ancient Mayans
- Vikings
- Wulf the Saxon
Innovative Ways to Study World Geography
Why study geography?
Geography is the study of humans and people through space, throughout time, and how those spaces have shaped history. Every place has a history behind it, shaped by humans, earth, and climate. By studying geography, we gain meaning and awareness to those places, which also puts history in context. It helps us see the why, when, and how of what happened in history. Learn more about History, Mythology, and World Cultures.Read All About It
- Read Across America pack
- World Literature Book Club (elementary)
- World Literature Book Club (middle school)
- World Literature Book Club (teens)
- Living Literature Units
Walk through the 50 States
- Everyday Explorers USA unit studies
- God Bless the USA (full curriculum)
- Lego States & Capitals
Play a Game
Rabbit Trails
- Independent Research
- Learn map / GPS skills
- Dive into geography trivia
- History & Geography Connections
- Adventurous Mailbox Curriculum Guide
- Let’s Go Geography!
- Christmas Around the World
- (Online) Christmas Around the World
Experience It
Rabbit Trails & Child-Directed Studies
Unlike traditional schooling, homeschooling affords you the opportunity to jump down rabbit trails! What’s a rabbit trail? This is when your child develops a sudden interest in a topic, and you spend the whole day (or week, or month) exploring that topic in-depth, following the trail as far as it goes, or until your child moves on to another interest. Regardless of age, this is a valuable tool to add to your homeschooling toolbelt!Educational Philosophies Encouraging Rabbit Trails
This approach takes all of the subjects and smashes them together in an in-depth study of a topic. For example, a unit study of Rome might include reading and writing about Rome, studying the history of Roman emperors, calculating timelines and marketplace purchases, creating artwork and projects from Ancient Roman times, and studying water (from the aqueducts built during this era). Units may be literature-based, and this is a great style for teaching multiple grades together.
Unschooling
Places to Find Rabbit Trail Ideas
- Cratejoy Boxes
- Focused Learning Center
- Homeschool Garden
- Literary Adventures for Kids
- Online Unit Studies
- ST Unit Studies
Parent Guides & Resources
- Top Ten Boxes for Teens
- The Charlotte Mason Homeschool Journal & Delight Directed Learning Handbook
- Twenty Best Educational Subscriptions
- The Unit Study Project Handbook
- How to Create a Unit Study
- Chasing Rabbit Trails tee
- In-Depth Summer Studies
- Making a Historic Newspaper
- Notebooking Pages for any subject
Pre-Dug Rabbit Trails (to get you started!)
- All Literature Rabbit Trails
- Geography Rabbit Trails
- History Rabbit Trails
- Ancient History
- Colorado Gold Rush
- Elections
- Government & Finance
- Horses in History
- Medieval Times
- Middle Ages
- Renaissance
- September 11th
- Vikings
- World War 2
- Science Rabbit Trails
- Anatomy
- Bears
- Earth Day / Lorax
- Endangered Animals
- Energy, Oil & Gas
- Flight / Aviation
- Forensic Science
- Marine Biology
- Survival Skills
- Miscellaneous Rabbit Trails
Do you have an early learner? Are you looking for some amazing resources to help make your year even better? Whether you have or will soon have an early learner, I am positive you’re going to love the Early Learning Giveaway!
Thanks to these amazing bloggers and brands that love supporting the homeschool community, we’re able to give back to homeschool families in the best way!
Check out this AMAZING Prize package!
An Early Learners Introduction to the 50 States from In All You Do – The Early Learners Introduction to the 50 States is a fun and simple way to introduce your little ones to the United States. In these simple pages, they will color the state name, state shape, state bird, state flower and state flag. They will also be able to trace and copy facts and do a simple word search puzzle about each state. This is perfect for preschool and kindergartners. | |
KinderBach Level 1 from Music in Our Homeschool – KinderBach is an early childhood online piano and music theory program for children ages 2 to 7 where young children thrive in learning from fun characters and animations, songs and chants, games, playing simple instruments, and more. | |
Number Tracing- My First Number Workbook – Spring Edition from Monkey and Mom – “My First Numbers Workbook- Spring Edition” is a digital workbook offering preschoolers a fun way to learn numbers 1 to 10 through spring-themed tracing, cutting, coloring, and interactive counting activities. With over 70 colorful pages, it enhances fine motor skills, number recognition, and foundational math skills, using visual exercises and number patterns, all designed to make number learning engaging. | |
24 Shark Teeth & Printable Pack from The Homeschool Scientist – This learning pack includes 24 shark teeth from Florida and our DIGITAL 65+ page study of sharks. Topics covered include the unique features of sharks, shark anatomy, shark teeth, shark identification cards, food webs, and more! Use this with a range of grades K-6. We have also included some fun puzzle pages. | |
Seasons PlayDoh Mats Bundle from Our Crazy Adventures In Autismland – Use this different seasons PlayDoh mats bundle to teach your autistic child all about what to expect for upcoming events while having fun. |
Learn more about each of the 2024 Early Learning Giveaway Sponsors
This giveaway wouldn’t be possible without our amazing sponsors! We encourage you to visit their site and take a look around at all their wonderful products perfect for homeschoolers! Thanks to these amazing bloggers and brands that love supporting the homeschool community, we’re giving away more than $110 in Early Learning products!Want to enter to win? Simply enter by following as many sponsors and partners on the form below, and you’re in it to win it!
You are responsible for reading the Terms and Conditions before entering. Entering this giveaway confirms that you have read and understand the terms. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Come Fly With Me!! Aviation & Flight Resources for Your Homeschool
Aviation Field Trips
- Kitty Hawk – First Flight
- Tulsa Air & Space – WW2 Flight
- Bush Pilots & Planes
- Korea, Vietnam, and Modern Aviation
- Airplanes & Air Shows
Space-Themed Field Trips
- Johnson Space Center
- Kennedy Space Center
- US Space & Rocket Center
- Stafford Air & Space Museum
- Sea, Air, and Space Museum
Aviation / Space Unit Studies
- DaVinci & Early Aviation History
- The First Flight
- World War I Pilots
- Women in Aviation
- Astronomy
- The Rocket that Flew to Mars
- The History of Air Travel
Aviation / Space Resources
- NASA educational collection
- Solar System worksheets
- Space & Beyond Fun Box
- Doctor Aviation
- YWAM: Orville Wright & Alan Shephard
- Civil Air Patrol curriculum (free)
- Aviation Notebooking Pages
- Tales of the R.A.F.
- Flygirl
- Wings of Victory
- Dave Dawson
- Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
- Aeroplane Boys
Hands-On Learning
(we have both of these…and love them!)
For more AMAZING flight-themed resources and projects, check out the Flight Unit Study, Aerospace Engineering collection, and the FAA Aviation Curriculum (all grades represented).
Homeschooling Around Town – The Art of the Field Trip!
Field Trips in Town
- Attend a library program
- Local historic architecture
- Air Shows
- Historic Re-enactments
- Climb rocks
- Historic Museums (some are free)
- Pick-Your-Own Farm Visit
- Zoo (only free on certain days, or with a pass)
- Local newspaper
- Factory tours (some are free)
- Visit the beach, lake, or riverbank
- State Fairs have homeschool days
- Visit the local airport
- Work in a community garden
- Shadow a business (teens)
- Animal workshop at the pet shop
Field Trip Starters
- Zoo Studies — unit study bundle with sixteen zoo features
- Free & Easy Field Trips — printable idea planner
- Out of the Box Activity Calendar — VERY local ideas for daily fun
- Field Trips Planning Pack — get your co-op together for a trip
- Stars Study — nighttime field trip!
- Ecosystems — study your region and compare it to others
- Famous Artists — visit a local art museum and compare the pieces
- Rocks & Minerals — get down in the dirt and learn local geology
- Homeschool Uniforms — matching shirts mean it’s easier to spot a roaming kid!
Unique Field Trips
- Recording Studio (music)
- Doughnut Shoppe (math)
More Field Trip Ideas
- Check out the Roadschooling Page to find unit studies and field trips built around your location. There’s something for just about every state in the United States up there!
- Finally, though these aren’t free, educational subscription boxes are a great way to bring the field trip into your home. Here are some of our favorites!
- Use the world diversity book studies from Literary Adventures to travel the world from the comfort of your own home. You can go anywhere!