As homeschoolers, the idea of doing science experiments can be something to look forward to for one person, and something to dread for another. If you are one who dreads experiment day, then I have some encouragement and an idea for you.

“The only sound method of teaching science is to afford a due combination of field or laboratory work, with such literary comments and amplifications as the subject affords.” Charlotte Mason, vol 6 pg 223

However, you do not need to do as many experiments when you homeschool using living books as the public school must do, because your students are experiencing the discoveries/experiments as they read living books about scientists. Many of these experiments, we cannot do (because we might die or at least be maimed in some way,) but because of the excellent narratives we read, we experience them on the edge of our seats, none-the-less.

One of my favorite historical science books is Robert Boyle: Founder of Modern Chemistry by Harry Sootin. In this book you are pulling for Boyle as he nearly kills a mouse and then saves it at the last minute, while trying to figure out what air is made of. You let out your breath with a strange mixture of let down and anticipation of a truth being discovered when the mouse does indeed die. There are sketches included within the book showing how Boyle set up his equipment and with the combination of that, and good writing, you have no difficulty “seeing” the whole experiment as it takes place on the page, and in your mind.

I say ‘experience’ advisedly, for the word denotes the process by which children get to know. They experience all the things they hear and read of; these enter into them and are their life; and thus it is that ideas feed the mind in the most literal sense of the word ‘feed.’ Charlotte Mason, vol 6 pg 40

Another reason we should not compare our syllabus to that of the public school is that they rely on textbooks and lectures, two things CM clearly says are sure to “destroy the desire for knowledge”. Hands-on experiments are the only hope for children being schooled this way. But there is also the matter of time. We allot approximately 2.5 hours a week to science, while they allot nearly twice that amount of time. To some degree, they need to do experiments to fill time. It can be a version of busy work.

So, we know that we must do experiments, but we do not need to do as many as the public school requires, which brings me to my idea. (With a little background as to how I came up with this idea.)

I recently attempted an experiment in the book Chemically Active! by Vicki Cobb. I like this book a lot for MS chemistry, and wish they would reprint it…with a few updates.  Here’s an example of why. I came to a section that says, “Set up your apparatus as shown in the drawing.” I must include the drawing here to see if you notice the same thing I did.