or·gan·ic /ôrˈɡanik/
1. denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole.
-
characterized by continuous or natural development.
The Organic Studies 34-Week Literature-Based Nature Course
$75.00
The Organic Studies is a unit-study style curriculum designed to provide deep, meaningful, and organic nature-based learning. This intuitive guide provides curiosity-driven learning to the whole family through incredible book selections, art ideas, notebooking prompts, hands-on projects, discussion questions, creative movement prompts, and field trip ideas.
Rich and layered, The Organic Studies was written to be used with children ages 5-12 and is meant to be used multiple times and revisited as children grow. With engaging activities for little ones and Going Deeper extensions for older children, The Organic Studies was created to be so comprehensive that it can be your family's go-to nature resource for years.
The Organic Studies also guides parents in leading a joyful, organic homeschool. With clear prompts and discussion points, it supports confident teaching while fostering creativity and connection throughout your family's learning journey.
Topics covered in The Organic Studies -Amphibians -Birds (eggs, nests, feathers, beak adaptations, etc.) -Butterflies and moths -Animal homes -The Earth (what creates day/night, seasons, axis, tilt, layers, etc.) -Flowers, including anatomy and pollination -Tectonic plates, mountain formation, and erosion -Volcanoes and earthquakes -Rock formation/the rock cycle -Habitats of the Earth (mountains, forests, deserts, wetlands, grasslands, polar habitats etc.) -Insects and spiders -Plant and animal kingdom classification -Landforms -Island formation -Caves and canyons -Minerals and gemstones -Fossils -The moon (phases, structure) -Stars and constellations -Comets and meteoroids -Aurora borealis -Nocturnal and diurnal animals -Owls -Bats -Mollusks, cnidarians, and echinoderms -Ocean (waves, salinity, currents, and zones) -Fish -Sharks and rays -Marine mammals -Beaches and tide pools -Coral reefs -Plant roots, stems, seeds, and leaves -Photosynthesis -Ants and honeybees -Reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes, and crocodilians) -Clouds and wind -Storms and rainbows -Tornadoes and hurricanes -Trees (broadleaf and evergreen, bark, shape, etc.) -All planets in the solar system -Vegetables and fruits -The water cycle -Rain, snow, rivers and ponds -Fungi (anatomy, growth, how fungi work, etc.) -Animal young (oviparous, placental, and marsupial) -Food chains and webs -Animal camouflage -Migration and hibernation
Books and Supplies Nothing contributes to organic learning quite like reading fascinating, well-written literature. And beautiful books are the backbone of this curriculum! We have spent hours combing through the best books available to create a book list that will grow with your child and contribute to the creation of a family library that helps mold the ideal home learning environment. Book selections include core course books, unit specific books, and historical reads for each unit. We recommend purchasing core course books since they are used often, while many unit specific books can be checked out from libraries, or watched on Youtube as read-alouds. (The books that are available on Youtube will be indicated on the booklist so you can plan accordingly.) Click the button below to view the core book list. The Organic Studies also requires simple supplies (notebooks, writing and painting supplies, etc.) Supply lists are included.
Core Book List
Parent Guide The Organic Studies includes a 14-page Parent Guide filled with helpful information and practical tools to support your success, along with suggestions for adapting the course to your family’s unique needs and preferences. Each week of this 34-week study offers four easy-to-follow lesson plans (Monday–Thursday), plus play invitations, creative movement prompts, and field trip ideas for the fifth day. Daily lessons guide you through the core books with discussion prompts, hands-on activities, art ideas, and recommended YouTube videos. Letter Work ideas are included for younger children, along with gentle options for supplemental Language Arts practice such as sentence writing. Each unit features extensive (but optional!) library book lists to help you expand your learning or fill your book basket, and many units also include Going Deeper sections designed for older children or for families who want to explore further. The Organic Studies is truly a feast, providing everything you need to shape your family’s ideal learning experience. And it’s all laid out simply and intuitively, requiring only minimal prep (5–10 minutes per week). View the first week by clicking the Sample Week button. True to our mission here at Idlewild, The Organic Studies is also designed to tutor you as the parent in organic and natural learning within the walls of your home. The low-prep lesson style is intended to beautifully guide your child in learning, while simultaneously teaching you how to teach and lead your homeschool. In each lesson you will also be provided with questions to ask and key learning points to highlight. You will not be left to wonder what to do with the information presented. In addition, tips and pointers will be provided at the beginning of each unit to help you feel confident and comfortable. We want to instill confidence in you as you recognize how simple learning at home can be. Homeschool does not have to be complicated to be meaningful and provide depth.
Sample Week
Secular or Spiritual Options The Organic Studies can provide a secular OR Christian homeschool experience for your family. Used alone, The Organic Studies is considered secular. For Christian homeschool families, we have created a nature-based Bible study add-on that works seamlessly with The Organic Studies to provide the spiritual instruction many are seeking to give their children. If you'd like to learn more, visit The Word Studies product page. If you have questions about the secular nature of The Organic Studies, head over to our FAQ page to learn more.
Digital Download Details This file is a digital download and will be sent to the email address used at checkout. The curriculum is a compressed .zip file that contains the full course, Parent Guide, Booklist, Optional Library List, and Supply List. You are welcome to print the files at home, use the course digitally, or have the files professionally printed and bound. For more information about the printing company we partner with, visit the Printing page. Because of the nature of this product, no refunds will be issued. All sales are final.
The Organic Studies is intended for use within a single family unit. If you intend to use The Organic Studies with a group, you will need to purchase a group license below.
Parent Reviews
“The Organic Studies brings so much joy to my home! I absolutely love the emphasis on good literature and look forward to our lessons every day. I love that this curriculum applies to so many different age levels, because I will be using it for years. My 8-year-old down to my 2-year-old are benefitting from it and it has vastly simplified our homeschool days. I tell all my friends about it because it’s such a refreshing approach to homeschool. I’d buy it just for the booklist alone. I’ve been so impressed!”
-C
"I have to tell you, we ABSOLUTELY love your studies! I am so glad I made the investment. I have a lot of curriculum, and yours blows the others away. It is so rich and so deep and we are learning so much. It is beautifully done and the cherry on top is how The Word Studies ties it all together. Thank you so much for creating it!"
-A
"I am so thankful we found you! I love how well you wrote it all – it’s the best thing I have ever used. You really know how to speak to children; my almost six-year-old daughter starts drawing exactly what your course recommends before I even get to that point in the lesson! It flows so naturally in her mind. I love your stuff, we use it daily, and it has been such a blessing to our homeschool. We were lost before your curriculum. It gave me solid structure and bones to go by. It’s amazing!"
-A
If you intend to use The Organic Studies with a group, you will need to purchase a group license below. Group licenses being used in a commercial setting will need to be purchased yearly.
The Organic Studies Group License
For Up to 15 Students
$175.00
