Science Outside of Textbooks in Early Elementary

When it comes to teaching science at home, what sorts of learning aids and visuals do you use? If you've been in homeschooling mode for long, you've likely already discovered that science is one area that often requires more than just textbooks... regardless of how cool those books might be. Same holds true for Internet resources. While I've found a handful of wonderful learning aids online... including videos of volcanoes erupting, vivid photographs of animals in their natural habitats and outstanding diagrams of the inner workings of a tulip, teaching your child about the world of science doesn't get any better than a real life ant farm or a miniature growing ecosystem.

I'm currently in the market for a few science toys for my soon to be second grader who is absolutely fascinated with everything from outer space to the inner workings of the human body. It's such a blessing to teach children who have a passion for learning about the world around them... certainly it makes teaching a joy, rather than just something that needs to get done. I'm looking forward to the day when my son realizes just how important math is in favorite subjects... those all being science of course. What I'm really hoping for here is that his disinterest and down right dreadful attitude towards math will all but be forgotten as his love for Science intensifies and he finds himself lost in numbers without even realizing it.

As far as science kits go, I'm looking those over too. I'm thinking about everything from animal habitats and terrariums to early elementary chemistry experiments. Anything to bring science to life in our home. I just can't wait to get started exploring, creating, growing, nurturing and experimenting as we step outside our textbooks and learn hands on!

One store I've found online that offers a wide range of nature related science toys and kits is Atomic Elephant Science & Toy Co. You won't believe how many cool learning tools are on the market today. Amazing!