Geomagnetic field flip-flops in a flash
Scientists unearth more evidence of superfast changes in Earth’s magnetic polarity.

Science Resource Reviews
Science Resources

Homeschool Directory
Science

Eclectic Educational Weblinks:

• Chemistry 101 or How to Do a Chemistry Class for Homeschoolers
  by Joy Toll
  How do you do chemistry with homeschool high schoolers? Learn how Dorothy Karman recognized that homeschool parents need help with this and how she developed her homeschool high school chemistry class.
• Chemistry Around the Campfire
  by Joey and Lisa Hajda
  With the warm summer months upon us, smells of campfires, roasted weenies and delectable toasted marshmallows often fill the evening air. Before you pop that next toasted marshmallow into your mouth, why not tickle some brain cells as you tickle your taste buds? Practice some basic science skills, learn a little chemistry and have lots of fun while you're at it!
• Chemistry Lab Resources Online
  by EHO Staff
  A listing of online resources that allow you to do chemistry labs at home or find virtual resources.
• Constellation Gazing
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Have you tried using star charts with your young children to star gaze and run into problems when they couldn’t see the constellations you were trying to point out? I have, too. So, with summer here I tried to figure out a way that the shape of the constellation and the layout of the stars in a constellation would be available and easy to see for younger children. My solution – glow-in-the-dark constellation cards.
• Earth Science Online with NASA
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Earth science covers a lot of ground from an understanding of the earth’s core all the way to the outer limits of our solar system and the universe beyond. We may think of the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as being one of establishing a moon base, flying space shuttles, or visiting Mars, but much of what they do is devoted to studying Earth itself from a viewpoint that can only be found from space.
• Eclipse of the Hunter Moon
  by Robin McDonald
  The moon will rise blood red and then comes the eclipse. Yes, it's time for the Hunter Moon also known as the Blood Moon, but this year there's and additional treat for astronomy buffs.
• Exploring Science through Everyday Living
  by Lana D. Graves
  When my family began its homeschooling adventure several years ago, I quickly became frustrated with packaged science curricula and textbooks. Time and again, I read glowing descriptions and reviews for seemingly perfect science programs that sounded as if they were written with my family in mind. I cannot tell you how many of these wound up sitting on already overcrowded bookshelves collecting dust. So, the story goes for many homeschoolers. That is how my family discovered “real life science.”
• Finding Science Treasure in Picture Books
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Did you say treasure? Yes. Treasure! Science picture books are an often-ignored treasure trove of science learning for children typically considered past the picture book stage. I'll be providing you a list of some of my favorite science picture books, but first let's look at what to do with these treasures.
• Helping Your Child Learn Science
  by Nancy Paulu and Margery Martin
  Science is not just a collection of facts. Facts are a part of science. We all need to know some basic scientific information: water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0 degrees Celsius), and the earth moves around the sun. But science is much more.
• High School Chemistry and Physics: The Easy Way
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  High school level science is probably the most intimidating subject for homeschool parents besides math, and, of course, you have to know some algebra to make the most of chemistry and physics. Thoughts of family rooms taken over by science experiments, not to mention dangerous chemicals if you have little ones in the home, make one want to chuck the whole thing. Most universities have a 2-3 credit science requirement including at least one credit with a lab. So, something has to be done.
• Homeschool Robots Hang Up the Laundry
  by Robin McDonald
  Robotics competitions have been taking place all over the United States and homeschool teams are doing well. This year they are required to make a robot that can hang up laundry. Learn about the competition and how two homeschool teams faired in the Five Star Best competition in Houston.
• Homeschool Science Fair
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Planning a science fair is a big task. If you're considering starting a homeschool science fair for your support group, the following considerations and resource suggestions should help make the job easier. Resources for students planning their own science fair project.
• How Does Your Garden Grow?
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Tips on gardening and resources to incorporate gardening into your homeschooling.
• Investing in Your Child's Curiosity
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  One Saturday on our way to the shopping mall, my husband took a detour. Heading down a road that wound through the local university's agricultural experiment station, all he would say was that he and the boys had a surprise for the girls. The surprise? Yellowbelly Marmots.
• Learn More About Archaeology
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Resources for getting hands on with archeology including listings of digs that accept kids under 18.
• Looking to the Heavens in 2004
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  It seems like 2004 will be a very auspicious year for those looking to the heavens. In addition to the Mars Exploration mission, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft will arrive at Saturn. We've put together a number of resources that will allow you to track space events in the coming year.
• Meet an Archaeologist - Dr. Alan H. Cooper
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Are your kids thinking about becoming an archaeologist? Learn about one man's route to becoming staff archaeologist for the Somerset County Park Commission in New Jersey.
• NASA's Project JASON Coming to a Homeschool Near You?
  by Robin McDonald
  Take one avid space cadet, a room full of teachers, a few scientists, and what do you get? NASA's Project JASON, a nationwide program that is held at a variety of locations throughout the United States and is available online to homeschoolers.
• Nature Journaling
  by Tammy Marshall Cardwell
  Summer is the ideal time to introduce your children, and yourself, to nature journaling (Also known as nature notebooking). This deceptively simple practice builds important skills, encourages us to connect with God’s wondrous creation in a new and deeper way, and gives the homeschooling parent the chance to bring science, art, and language arts together under one cover.
• Outdoor School
  by Jean Hall
  How can you combine wisdom in science education with the great outdoors? It’s called Outdoor School. Jean Hall shares her experiences and interviews the founder of Wisdom in Science Education and science teacher extraordinaire, Mrs. Duane Schoenborn, about Outdoor School.
• Ponds and Marshes and Swamps. Oh Boy!
  by Barbara Theisen
  What child wouldn’t love learning by heading down to the nearest pond, marsh or swamp in a pair of rain boots, equipped with a magnifying glass, a jar and a sandwich (naturalist have big appetites). The thought of seeing frogs and turtles, dragonflies and water striders, duckweed and cattails, tadpoles and snails, water lilies and algae—well its enough to make anyone grab a net and take an excursion to the nearest pond.
• Re-discovering Nature's Science Lab
  by Lana D. Graves
  We may read a thousand books about scientific theories, methods, and discoveries. We may perform countless fascinating experiments in a sterile laboratory. We may ace the exams and quizzes that follow these classroom experiences. But we can never truly understand and appreciate the beauty of science unless we develop good observation skills.
• Science Experiments
  by EHO Staff
  Find science experiments to complement your science studies.
• Science From Scratch
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Good science curricula is abundant. There are books to read, hands-on activities and experiments to perform, and kits to explore. But when does the student move from being a science learner to a scientist? A scientist is both one who is learned in a particular branch of science and a science investigator. The real question is how does a child become a science investigator? A student becomes a science investigator when they're ready to take the scientific method on their own journey of discovery--when they must find their own answers to all the why's and how's they encounter. They're ready for science from scratch.
• Science with Toys: Slinky®
  by EHO Staff
  Did you know a Slinky can be used to demonstrate inertia, gravity, potential energy, kinetic energy, longitudinal waves, transverse waves, and centrifugal force. Whether it's physics or earth science, a Slinky is a great teaching tool.
• Science, It Can Be Done
  by Katherine Headley
  Creating your own science program.
• Science: It’s All About the Why: Properties of Glass
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  The scientific model is all about why things happen the way they do. A scientist observes a phenomenon, attempts to explain by developing a hypothesis, and then checks the validity of his hypothesis by performing tests. It’s all about the whys. Where this process has not yet achieved a confirmed answer, baffled scientists wrangle with the problem and with each other’s hypotheses. What they wrangle over might surprise you. For example, why glass breaks so easily.
• Sex Education & the Christian Parent
  by Beth Waltman
  Parent-teachers are relieved and yet apprehensive about teaching their children sex education. Ours is the opportunity to join our moral values with necessary instruction about health and sexuality. Despite our reluctance to open the subject prematurely, we mustn't let our offspring wander into the world unarmed into this arena.
• Sneaking Carrots and Tofu Into A Pizza and Chips World
  by Lana D. Graves
  My fledgling scientist is fascinated by all things scientific – well, almost. He wants to know how everything works, loves experiments, and is perpetually curious. His scientific ideal is probably more Dexter than Galileo, but at least he’s interested. However, his zest for science quickly turns sour at the mention of nutrition.
• The Many Scientific Uses of Baking Soda
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Baking soda is a scientific wonder, but there are dangers not least to one’s status as she who can do anything and knows everything. If you’re not intimidated read on and discover how you can incorporate baking soda into your scientific explorations.
• Using the Family Vegetable Garden as a Living Science Classroom
  by Lana D. Graves
  As a practical matter, a small plot of vegetable plants can provide many hours of fascinating scientific study for your homeschool. My children are almost as amazed by the garden plants as I was when I was a child.
• Where on Earth?
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Can you tell Where on Earth? each image is showing in our Where on Earth game? Practice on our easier version, then move on to a much harder version. But first take a look at a very interesting image.
• Wonderful Science Activity for Bird Time
  by Teresa Bondora
  As you may know, spring brings birds back to town. I love birds and just enjoyed watching them as they came around then left. But I started getting serious about wanting them to stick around more and did research into the whole backyard bird thing. I learned a lot, but mostly that you can really sink a lot of time and money into it and it can become addictive. Or you really can do it very cheaply and enjoy the presence of birds who find your yard a great stop on their daily runs. It's a wonderful activity for children and if you'll follow these instructions, your kids will be learning without realizing they're doing it.

Unit Study Articles - Science

• Creating a Media Rich Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Certain unit study topics lend themselves to multi-media presentation. These can be very easy unit studies to pull together when the right media resources are found. A video series, computer software, and online resources can be the means to an inexpensive but sophisticated unit study.
• Creating Your Own Physical Geography Units with Quick and Easy Resources
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Physical geography is an earth science that really incorporates knowledge from many other topics in science. It is the study of the earth’s surface including things like rivers, volcanoes, and landforms, but because the study of the earth touches on so many areas of science, you’ll find yourself learning aspects of geology, biology, oceanography, and meteorology and more.
• How to Pull a Unit Study Together Quickly: Dogs
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  A friend (I'll call her Abby) wanted to take a trial run homeschooling her youngest daughter. Abby needed to quickly pull together a unit study that could focus on skills her daughter needed to shore up and act as a carrot for homeschooling at the same time. Her daughter likes dogs, so we put together a unit study on dogs.
• Journaling the Seasons
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  When my children were younger, we would spend time on our walks outdoors looking for signs of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Especially as the bitterly cold days of winter began to freshen with the first warm breezes of spring, we would look for signs that we could soon hang up our overcoats and pack away our mittens. The first sighting of a robin stalking worms or the bright yellow beaks of starlings as they squawked outside our window were welcome sights and sounds. On our spring walks we would look for buds on the trees and bushes, crocuses or other early spring flowering bulbs in our neighbors flower patches, and birds building nests in the trees.
• Pet Projects
  by Beth Waltman
  Beth shares how family pets can add a great deal to your homeschooling efforts.

Unit Studies - Science

• Amphibians Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Nature studies provide an excellent opportunity to do hands-on science. The topic of amphibians is especially replete with interesting things to do whether you want to do it hands-on or not. You can dissect a frog virtually or in real life. You can study metamorphosis by reading a book and watching videos or by raising tadpoles yourself. Discover a salamander’s habitat by reading The Salamander Room or visit the zoo to see salamander’s in person. The resources we have provided with this unit will allow you to explore amphibians at your own pace and at your own level of intricacy.
• Backyard Birding
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Attracting birds to your backyard is as easy as putting up the right bird feeder with the type of seed that attracts the kind of birds you want to watch. From inspiration to information, this unit study resources article will provide you with the basics for starting your own backyard bird watching program.
• Botany Unit Study Resources
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  If you are a family of gardeners or even farmers, then the study of plants, botany, is likely to be one of your choices for high school science studies. Finding resources to study botany isn’t as easy as you might think. Sure, there’s plenty of gardening books for kids and adults, but actual botany, the science, resources aren’t as easily come by, especially if you are looking for something that hasn’t been infused with evolution. See what we’ve managed to find.
• Bubbles Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Unit studies can be built entirely around the questions inspired by a particular topic. Bubbles is a good example. Spend time blowing bubbles with your children asking what they wonder about bubbles. The questions that pour out can be the basis for a week or two spend exploring bubbles.
• Creation Science Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  This study is focused primarily on elementary and middle school students, and so rather than major on evolution vs. creation science we'll focus on how a Christian should respond to the intricate details of God's creation of the universe. Yes, we'll give you the resources to help your children understand the differences between the theory of evolution and creation science theories. You'll also find resources to help your children develop a sense of awe and wonder at God's great creative power and a deeply felt gratitude for all that He has provided for us.
• Flight Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Taking wing like a wild goose flying high over ripened fields or soaring like a rocket bursting through the air in an explosion of power, flight is something that all children can enjoy discovering
• Fossils Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  In the past our family has studied creation and evolution, but we never took an in depth look at fossils specifically. It’s fascinating to learn about the different types of fossils from coprolites (fossilized dung) to insects frozen in amber. Fossils are an interesting record of plant and animal life in prehistoric times.
• Gross Things Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  I knew this book would be a hit with my youngest son, but I didn’t realize how big a hit. I showed it to Ian one day, but didn’t get too much of a response. A little while later he and his friend were sitting on the couch chortling with glee over the pages. What book would happily engross two young boys? Engross is the key word—Gross Anatomy: An Off-Color Coloring Book.
• Ian’s Insects
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  How is an invasion like a unit study? When it involves insects. It may be hard to pause from your extermination plans to latch on to the learning opportunity when crickets or roaches move in to your home, but the next time insects invade your life, consider the possibilities.
• Mammals Unit Study Resources
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Books, software, videos, and websites to use in creating your own unit study mammals.
• Matter Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Ever tried to describe something to someone that they have never seen? How about describing something to someone that you have never seen? That's the position I found myself in when beginning our study of matter. As we began reading about atoms and molecules my daughter wanted to know how scientists know all these things if you can't see them.
• Microscopes Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Online resources for learning to use the microscope, lesson plans, tips and sources for buying microscopes, and resources for learning with microscopes.
• Moon Unit Study Resources
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  A study of the Moon is a perfect introductory science unit study for primary grade children and offers an easier topic to explore if you have older children studying other aspects of astronomy. Beverly Krueger shares how she explored the Moon with her children.
• Ocean Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  There are a number of different graphic organizers that can be used to help in creating your unit studies. A web is particularly good for developing a unit study. You begin with your core topic. In this case we are using oceans as our core topic. The idea is then to spend time brainstorming to see what sub-topics you can come up with.
• Pets and Vets Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  I grew up with a chinchilla ranch in the basement, a cat, gerbils, and assorted dogs. After setting up housekeeping with my husband we soon added a cat to our lives. Over the years we’ve had cats, a dog, fish, gerbils, hamsters, and parakeets. They’ve added a special dimension to our lives. Your home may be crawling, swimming or flying with furry, scaled or feathery creatures, or you may not have entered the realm of pet ownership. Either way your kids probably want to know more about their pets or potential pets.
• Physical Science: Resources to Help You Create Your Own Curriculum
  by Beverly Krueger
  Worried about providing your children a solid science education or preparing them for high school science? Canned textbook curriculums leave you cold? You can create your own science units easily for less than you might think and provide a top-notch science education for your children. You don’t need to be a scientist to do it either.
• Ponds Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  There’s nothing quite so appealing to young children as the potential for nature adventure at a small pond. Even a roadside ditch that has standing water will offer a bevy of critters from microscopic once cell creatures to crawdads. Armed with a simple fishing pole (stick, string, and hook) baited with something tempting like a chunk of spam, you, too, can catch crawdads.
• Reptiles Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  A unit study in Reptiles is a good time to begin explaining the animal classification system to your children. The distinctions between the Class Reptilia and other Classes of Vertebrata are easy to understand. Learn more about animal classification and reptiles in particular with this collection of unit study resources.
• Rocks and Minerals Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Early on, my oldest son became a rock hound. I used to joke that we were taking the church parking lot home one pocketful of rocks at a time. Eventually he graduated from collecting gravel to more unique specimens. His rock collection is kept in one small drawer of his dresser, but that’s one heavy drawer. Once you have collected a drawer full of rocks, you really do want to figure out what you have.
• Simple Machines - Science Unit Study
  by Beverly S. Krueger
  Simple machines really are simple but profoundly useful. They’re the machines that man has used throughout history to do jobs that are too big for him. When we think of machines, we might think of the automobile or the printing press. Simple machines are much simpler than these machines. In fact, most complex machines are made from many simple machines. Simple machines include the incline plane, wedge, screw, pulley, lever, and wheel and axle. A simple machine requires energy to work. Originally, that energy would come from the effort of man, animals, sometimes a millstream, or the wind. Throughout man’s history his understanding of simple machines has developed and grown. Today we harness the energy from coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power to provide the energy needed to make our machines run. This unit study will provide you the information and resources needed to create a simple machines unit study.