8-year-old Sarah uses Sonlight Science to teach the family rooster about chickens
It's no secret that Sonlight offers literature-rich curriculum. But does this mean that a child who use Sonlight spends all their time with their nose in a book? Hardly.
I'm always fascinated by the variety of photographs featured in the Sonlight catalog. Not only are children enjoying learning, often with their families, but many of them are outdoors.
Whether they are doing science experiments, engaged in nature studies, or simply reading outside, Sonlight is not about locking kids in a musty library and throwing away the key! Just flip through our catalog and you'll quickly find families involved in all kinds of activities, eager to learn and curious about the remarkable world around them.
But we do realize the power of great literature. It can take children to places they might not get a chance to see in person, and also to interesting historical eras where they can "meet" the people who have literally made history.
In his insightful little book An Experiment in Criticism, C.S. Lewis offers some wonderful commentary on why people enjoy literature: "We want to see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts, as well as with our own ... We demand windows ... One of the things we feel after reading a great work is 'I have got out.' Or from another point of view, 'I have got in.'"
What kinds of activities do you and your children enjoy when homeschooling? Do you spend time learning outdoors? Why are you drawn to literature-rich curriculum?
Robert Velarde
Author/Educator/Philosopher
P.S. Once again I'm near Colorado wildfires and, as a result, am reminded of a relevant blog post I wrote last year around the time of the Waldo Canyon fire: "What Matters Most?"
