Homeschooling cooperatives (often called homeschool co-ops) are a fantastic way to combine learning and opportunities for homeschoolers to socialize. Typically, families will meet once a week and students will learn together in a class setting. You may find that older students will meet more than once a week. The set schedule is usually followed for the entire school year.
Some topics are better suited for learning in a group setting like that offered in a co-op, and at the top of the list is science. Here are just some of the benefits homeschool families can gain by learning science in a co-op setting.
Let’s be honest: sometimes certain subjects get put on the back burner, and that is certainly true about science. I love teaching science more than any other subject, and even I confess to neglecting our science curriculum in my homeschool when all the “have-to-dos” vie for time in our schedule.
Meeting regularly for a co-op science class is a great way to guarantee that science gets done each week.
We all have our gifts. Maybe you are a natural at math or you know how to speak a foreign language, but science (especially high school science) intimidates you.
If teaching science isn’t your forte, a co-op can provide a great way for your children to learn science from someone who is passionate about it. Often families can find a co-op with science classes taught by homeschool parents with science backgrounds (doctors, nurses, lab scientists, etc.), so they can be sure that their children are getting not only a fun class but more importantly— quality instruction.
An added benefit is that students gain experience learning from a teacher other than mom or dad. This is an important real-life skill to master, especially if the student is college-bound.
When asked what holds families back from doing more hands-on science experiments, the number one answer is always the same: the mess. The idea of children doing chemistry experiments in the kitchen or dissecting a frog on the dining room table isn’t always appealing. But when you are part of a science co-op class, there is only one mess to clean. Students can pitch in to clean up after the experiment is done, and since they’re having fun with friends they won’t mind doing it. As the saying goes, many hands make light work!
Certain subjects are just more fun to learn as a group, and science is one of them. There are many science activities that are only able to be done in a group setting, including playing games to review topics, giving group presentations, and many hands-on labs.
When learning about cells, students can create a cell model at home and then present their model in front of the class on co-op day. Alternatively, you can turn the classroom into a giant cell and the students can be chromosomes. Students can then model the process of mitosis for a sure-fire way to bring the abstract concept of cell division to life. In chemistry, students can play a game of Periodic Table Battleship or work in pairs to name ionic compounds. The entire class can play a game of Jeopardy to turn to review for a test into an enjoyable process. Experiments like dissections are also great in a co-op setting. I always pair a student who doesn’t mind dissecting with a student who would rather record data.
Additionally, a group setting with other homeschooling families may make keeping up with classwork more likely to happen. If each student knows that homework will be collected at the beginning of class, he or she may be more likely to do the work–even when it’s challenging. Call it a healthy form of peer pressure.
Taking part in a homeschool science co-op is a great way to keep expenses down. Each family can pool their resources to buy consumable science supplies (like vinegar, ammonia, and denatured alcohol for alcohol lamps) as well as scientific equipment. While it may not make sense for a single family to purchase the equipment necessary to do an acid/base titration, the investment is well worth it when split among the families participating in the class. The co-op can keep a science supply stash of dissecting kits and pans, ring stands, hot plates, thermometers, and lab glassware that can be used year after year.
While there are many benefits to learning science in a co-op setting, there are some things to consider before committing.
It’s important to have a clear goal for co-op meetings before you begin. How will class times be spent? Will the class be used to teach new material or will class time be used for hands-on labs and experiments and students will be responsible for learning the course material on their own at home? Alternatively, each session could be a mix of teaching and lab time. Either way, it is important to have a clear vision of how co-op sessions will be spent before you begin.
It’s important to find a suitable location for your co-op. If your group size is large, you will want to find a location big enough to accommodate your group. Many churches offer the use of their classrooms for homeschool co-ops. If you are using a facility for your co-op, make sure you understand what is required from your group. The church or venue may provide you with a checklist of items that need to be cleaned after your weekly meeting. Make sure to confirm that you are allowed to do science experiments in the space you are using, and ask for any guidelines they may have. For instance, when conducting messy experiments you may be asked to cover the tables and/or the floor to prevent damage or stains.
If your co-op is of a smaller size, you may find it easier to meet in homes. My family spent many years as part of a small co-op composed of only four families and we would alternate our meeting location among each of our houses. While one homeschool mom led a class in one room of the house, the other parents would spend time socializing in another room. Then, at the end of the day, everyone would pitch in and clean up any messes that had been made.
For our family, participating in a co-op was a great way to make learning fun. The weekly classes held us accountable for staying on top of our school work, and the opportunity to get together with our friends, in addition to taking field trips, made our co-op something we looked forward to each week. Of all of the co-op classes my sons participated in, science was always one of their favorites. They were able to take part in hands-on labs and experiments that they likely wouldn’t have done if not for co-op and made great memories along the way.
Dr. Kristin Moon earned degrees in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Florida. She left lab life behind to homeschool her two sons. After homeschooling her boys all the way through high school graduation, she spends her time providing lessons and resources to help other families provide a solid science education to their children from home. She is active on Facebook (Kristin Moon Science on Facebook) and she also provides family-friendly resources for learning about science on her blog: Science Simplified.