Today we're continuing our series on Nature Study Q&A.

If you've missed any of the previous episodes, check the show notes for links.

Last week, Karen talked to us about nature study ideas for preschool.

Shared some great ideas, and I'm excited to hear her thoughts today.

We're going to be talking about what's the balance between nature

study and science lessons. So let's dive in. Welcome to the Simply Charlotte Mason podcast. I'm

Sonia Schaefer. Today joining me is Karen Smith.

Karen, thanks for coming along on more Nature Study Q&A. Today we have some great questions,

all about the balance, I guess you'd say, between nature study and elementary science lessons, mainly elementary. This could go throughout all the

grades, but the questions we got were mainly for elementary. Okay? Let me give you some samples of

these questions. One parent said, I feel pressured for my seven-year-old daughter to know more

science than just nature study. How can I include

other science topics like space, earth, weather, or technology? Another mom said, what are the

goals to accomplish during an outing? And someone else said, should our weekly nature hike go along with our science studies,

or just go its spontaneous way? And one more, just because you don't have enough questions already.

These are all kind of connected though. If each child is interested in a different type of nature study, should I be getting them

books to read or what?

All right, so what's the relationship or the balance between nature study and elementary

science lessons?

Your nature study should be coupled with science lessons. We recommend for grades

one through three to do formal science lessons twice a week and for grades four through six

three times a week. That way the children are getting a foundation. But nature study

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