Gather Round Homeschool: Earth Science - Free Resources to Save Time!

We are really looking forward to this topic! It will be our seventh Gather Round Homeschool Unit, and I’ve found that even though we enjoy every unit (honestly!), my kids get into the science based ones even more.

So far, we’ve completed North American Birds, Asia, Space, the Christmas mini-unit, Europe, Oceans, and are currently getting ready to begin Africa. I’ve loved how much the topics circle back to things we’ve discussed in previous units. The creators have done a really good job with that, in my opinion!

If you are unfamiliar with this curriculum, be sure to check out this blog post that tells more about it and head over to the website to see everything they have to offer and try out some sample lessons for free!

THE RESOURCES:

These “extras” are the things that I love about doing unit studies! It helps make the lessons even more immersive!

I’ve also found that our lessons go so much more smoothly when I have everything that I want to introduce to my kids all organized and ready to go. Sometimes we may not get to everything or even go down a different rabbit trail of learning, but it’s so helpful to have what I want readily available.

I understand how time-consuming this is, though! So, I’m sharing with you some of the playlists and resources we are using for the Earth science unit study so that you can have what you need without all the planning!

My playlists are mostly geared toward elementary and under because that is where my kids are. There are lots of other videos/books/etc you could add if you have older kids as well.

While I’ve used these resources with my kids, I always recommend that you preview them before using with your kiddos to make sure it’s a good fit for your family.

Gather Round Homeschool: Earth Science – YouTube Playlist

This is the playlist I plan to use with my own kiddos. The videos go in order from Lesson 1 – 20 to make your life easier! Use what you like, leave what you don’t, add what you need.

They can be used during the lesson, after the lesson, or anytime really! How they are used is entirely up to you.

Gather Round Homeschool: Earth Science – Pinterest Board

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy using Pinterest to gather and organize ideas…and recipes! Sometimes I use the ideas that I find directly and other times scrolling pinterest inspires an idea of my own.

This is yet another thing that takes a little time, so here is your shortcut!

I’ve included some extra ideas such as crafts, STEM projects, art, themed snack ideas, and coloring worksheets!

In an attempt to make it as easy to find what you’re looking for as possible, the pins mostly go in order from Lesson 1-20.

Gather Round Homeschool: Earth Science – Book Lists and More!

BOOK LISTS

Rebecca Spooner, the creator of Gather Round Homeschool, has an amazing book list in the front of every unit’s teacher’s guide. It’s even divided up by levels to make it easy! I am able to get most of the ones I want from our local library and then use Amazon and Thrift Books to get any that are remaining.

I also plan on using a few additional books not on that list:

The Big Earth Book, by Lonely Planet Kids
The Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature, by Stan & Jan Berenstain
My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, by Gary Lewis
National Geographic Kids Ultimate Weather-Pedia, by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Usborne Look Inside Wild Weather, by Emily Bone
Usborne Life-the-Flap Very First Questions and Answers: What are Clouds?, by Katie Daynes

SHOWS AND MOVIES

Here’s a list of shows and movies for added entertainment that can further reinforce the theme!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That
- “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” – Season 1, Episode 11 (Wind Power)
- “Puddle Puzzle” – Season 1, Episode 29 (Water Cycle)
- “Spring and Summer & “Fall and Winter” – Season 1, Episode 40 (Seasons)
- “Who Can See the Wind?” – Season 3, Episode 67 (Wind)
The Magic School Bus
- “Kicks Up a Storm” – Season 1
- “Blows It’s Top” – Season 2 (Volcanoes)
- “Wet All Over” – Season 2 (Water Cycle)
- “Rocks and Rolls” – Season 3 (Erosion)
- “Goes on Air” – Season 4 (Air Pressure)
The Magic School Bus Rides Again
- “Frizzle of the Future” – Season 1 (Ecosystems)
- “The Battle for Rock Mountain” – Season 1 (Rock Cycle)
- “Three in One” – Season 1 (Solid, Liquid, Gas)
- “The Tales Glaciers Tale” – Season 1 (Glaciers and Climate Changes)
- “Send in the Clouds” – Season 2 (Clouds)
Curious George
- “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” – Season 11
- “Curious Clouds” – Season 12
- “A Wind-er Wonderland – Season 13 (Wind Energy)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (mentioned in Teacher’s Manual!)
The Wizard of Oz
Frozen 1 & 2
The Perfect Storm (older kids and adults)
Twister (older kids and adults)