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The Organic Studies

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 curriculum is based on the idea that the best learning is organic. Harmonious, grounded, organic learning sprouts naturally from the rhythm of our lives and from the world around us, as we open our hearts and eyes to all that life offers. This curriculum seeks to provide an environment in which organic learning grows from the resources and lesson plans provided, as well as the play suggestions, books, and creative movement studies. We hope that it brings your family closer to one another as communication and discussion are promoted, and learning comes from exploring and growing together.

 

 

Nature

 

When we connect to the earth, we are grounded. Grounding provides foundational support: as we come to know and love the earth and experience its joys, we better know our place on it. Being out in nature to explore is an integral part of this curriculum, and will contribute to organic learning by providing a place to learn observation, flow, life’s rhythms, order, and appreciation of beauty.

 

Nature also provides the basis of study in this curriculum. Each unit is based on the natural world, and your child will finish The Organic Studies possessing extensive knowledge about the world around them.

 

 

Creative Movement

 

We move through and experience life in our bodies. Thus, well-rounded learning cannot be restricted to intellectual study and stimulation. The Organic Studies provides creative movement prompts created by our founder, who has a BA in Dance. These movement studies support children in learning the way they naturally desire to learn: through moving and playing and pretending and exploring. Creative movement creates space for children to explore what they are learning physically, reinforces sense of self, enhances communication skills and confidence, and contributes to higher levels of proprioception.

 

 

Art

 

There is something deep within each of us that calls out to create. That creation will look different for each person, but to answer its call is vital. Artistic expression is as important to organic learning as lesson plans and nature walks. The Organic Studies curriculum provides art studies and projects during each unit to give life to your child’s creativity.

 

 

Reading

 

Nothing contributes to organic learning quite like reading fascinating, well-written literature. 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. Core course books will need to be purchased 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.)

 

 

Simultaneous Family Learning

 

True to its mission, this curriculum was designed so that learning can take place organically within a family* of any size. Perfectly suited to a single child, it also works beautifully in larger families. Rather than each child working independently to complete their own work, The Organic Studies provides a base curriculum for a large age range of children to work through together, while parents can supplement extra curricula for older children as desired. This curriculum can function as the full schooling of a younger child, and the science and art of an older child. The Organic Studies is designed for children ages 5-12.**

*The Organic Studies is intended for use within a single family unit. If you plan to use it with multiple families or within any sort of co-op structure, you must purchase a group license. 

**We have recently changed the age range for The Organic Studies after receiving feedback that families were loving it for children up to age 12. This change is not currently reflected in The Organic Studies Parents' Guide, but the age range is 5-12. 

 

 

A Dual Purpose

 

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 simple open-and-go style is intended to beautifully guide your child in learning, while simultaneously teaching you how to teach and lead your homeschool. 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.

 

One hundred percent of Idlewild parents polled reported that their confidence in being able to homeschool grew after using our products! You are capable of beautifully and confidently leading your homeschool, and we believe learning on the job and as you go is an amazingly effective way to gain the skills you need.

 

 

Secular and Spiritual Options

 

The Organic Studies can provide a secular OR Christian homeschool experience for your family. Used alone, The Organic Studies is completely 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. If you'd like to learn more about The Word Studies Biblical add-on, click here.

If you have questions about the secular nature of The Organic Studies, head over to our FAQ page to learn more.

 View the first week of The Organic Studies by clicking below.

Green Mountains

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

Course Details

The Organic Studies is a secular, literature and nature-based unit study curriculum for children ages 5-12 that seeks to create a well-rounded learning environment by connecting nature, science, movement, art, and reading. This 34-week course includes four easy to follow lessons per week plus creative movement prompts and field trip suggestions for the fifth day of each week. 

Subjects of study:

 

  • Science (including Botany, Zoology, Oceanography, Geology, and Astronomy - see topic list below!)

 

  • Art

 

  • Language Arts

 

  • Letter Work (for younger children)

 

  • Creative Movement

 

  • Naturalist History/Field Specific Historical Highlights

 

  • Nature Exploration

 

  • Play*

 

*Children learn through play! Our course includes play suggestions, as well as sensory play activities.

What is included in your digital download:

 

  • Parent guide

 

  • Booklist

 

  • Weekly supply lists

 

  • 34 weeks of lessons

  • Daily lesson plans for each week (Monday - Thursday)

  • Creative movement prompts and field trip suggestions (Friday of each week)

To easily find all core and unit books for The Organic Studies, check out our Amazon Storefront.
(If you purchase through this link, we receive a small commission on your purchase.) 

Topics covered in The Organic Studies:

 

Amphibians

Birds (eggs, nests, feathers, beak adaptations, songbirds, etc.)

Butterflies and moths

Animal homes

The Earth (what creates day/night, seasons, axis, tilt, layers, etc.)

Flowers, including anatomy and pollination

Tectonic plates and mountain formation

Volcanoes

Rock formation/the rock cycle

Erosion

Habitats of the Earth

Insects and spiders

Earthworms

Plant and animal kingdom classification

Landforms

Island formation

Caves

Minerals and gemstones

Fossils

The moon (phases, what it’s like on the surface of the moon, etc.)

Stars and constellations

Aurora borealis

Nocturnal vs. diurnal animals

Owls

Bats

Ocean (waves, salinity, currents, and zones)

Fish

Sharks

Marine mammals

Beaches and tide pools

Coral reefs

Plant roots, stems, seeds, and leaves

Ants

Honeybees

Reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes, and crocodilians)

Clouds

Wind

Storms and tornadoes

Rainbows

Trees (broadleaf and evergreen, bark, shape, etc.)

All planets in the solar system

Vegetables

Fruits

The water cycle

Rain

Snow

Rivers

Pond ecosystems

Mushrooms

Animal tracks

Bears

Animal young (oviparous, placental, and marsupial)

Food chains and webs

Animal camouflage

Migration

Hibernation

Do you have questions about The Organic Studies? Head over to our Frequently Asked Questions page where we answer all commonly-asked questions in detail!

The Organic Studies is a digital download product. You will not receive a physical product, but can print your curriculum files as desired.

Because of the nature of this product, no refunds will be issued. All sales are final.

 

For more information about the printing company we partner with, please visit our Printing page.

If you intend to use The Organic Studies with a group, you will need to purchase a group license below.

The Organic Studies is a digital download product. You will not receive a physical product, but can print your curriculum files as desired.

Because of the nature of this product, no refunds will be issued. All sales are final.

 

For more information about the printing company we partner with, please visit our Printing page.

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