Far Afield Natural Science

About this curriculum

Learning Outcomes By the end of Far Afield, students in grades 4-6 will have established foundational understanding of multiple scientific disciplines. Through fieldwork, citizen science, and hands-on experiments spanning homeschool physics, chemistry, botany, ecology, zoology, and more, students will build both scientific knowledge and nurture the habits of wonder and delight. Grounded in the Schullandheim tradition, an approach rooted in outdoor exploration, observation and living books, this literature-based science curriculum teaches students to observe closely, ask thoughtful questions, discuss scientific concepts, and document findings the way real scientists do. Skills Developed Scientific observation and documentation through nature journaling and logbook field notes Watercolor illustration and botanical drawing as tools of scientific inquiry and observation Hands-on experimentation across physics, chemistry, ecology, and engineering Taxonomy and classification using dichotomous keys and field guides Research and scientific writing through open-ended inquiry prompts Citizen science participation, ecological surveying, and real-world fieldwork…