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  • How to Get the PEP Scholarship in Florida: Application Tips from a Homeschool Mama Who’s Been There

    How to Get the PEP Scholarship in Florida: Application Tips from a Homeschool Mama Who’s Been There

    If you’re sitting at your kitchen table wondering how on earth you’re going to afford all those beautiful living books, hands-on math manipulatives, and nature study supplies for your homeschool—friend, I’ve been there. When I first heard about the Florida PEP scholarship (that’s the Personalized Education Program, formerly known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship), I had about a hundred questions and no idea where to start. Now that we’ve been using it for our elementary-age kiddos, I want to share everything I wish someone had told me from the beginning.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    What Is the Florida PEP Scholarship?

    The PEP scholarship is Florida’s education savings account program that provides funds for families who want to direct their children’s education outside of traditional public school. For homeschoolers like us, it’s been an absolute game-changer. The funds can be used for curriculum, educational materials, tutoring, therapies, and even some extracurricular programs.

    Here in Florida, we’re incredibly fortunate to have this option. Not every state supports homeschool families this way, and I don’t take it for granted. The scholarship is administered through Step Up For Students, and the application process—while it has a few steps—is completely doable once you know what to expect.

    Who Qualifies for the PEP Scholarship?

    Before you dive into the application, let’s make sure your family is eligible. As of the most recent updates, basically all Florida students K-12 now qualify for the PEP scholarship regardless of income. This is relatively new—it used to be income-based, but the program has expanded significantly.

    Your child needs to be a Florida resident and school-age (kindergarten through 12th grade). If you’re already registered as a homeschool family with your county, you’re on the right track. If you haven’t done that yet, that’s actually your first step before applying for PEP.

    Step-by-Step Application Tips

    1. Register as a Homeschool First

    This trips up a lot of new homeschool families. Before you can use the PEP scholarship as a homeschooler, you need to have your letter of intent filed with your local school district. Here in the Pensacola area, that means sending your notice to Escambia or Santa Rosa County, depending on where you live. Keep a copy of your confirmation—you’ll need to reference it.

    2. Gather Your Documents Early

    Don’t wait until you’re sitting in front of the application to hunt down paperwork. You’ll need:

    • Proof of Florida residency (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement)
    • Your child’s birth certificate or proof of age
    • Your homeschool registration confirmation
    • Social Security numbers for both parent and child

    I keep a dedicated folder (the actual paper kind, because some things are better old school) with all our homeschool documents. It saves so much scrambling when applications or evaluations come around.

    3. Apply Through Step Up For Students

    The application itself is done online through the Step Up For Students website. Create your account, fill in your information, and upload those documents you gathered. The system walks you through it, but take your time. I made the mistake of rushing through our first application and had to go back and fix errors.

    One tip: apply early in the application window. There’s been high demand for these scholarships, and while the program has grown, applying sooner rather than later gives you peace of mind and more time to troubleshoot if something comes up with your paperwork.

    4. Be Patient with the Approval Process

    After you submit, there’s a waiting period while they verify everything. This can take several weeks, sometimes longer during busy seasons. Don’t panic if you don’t hear back immediately. You can check your application status through your Step Up account.

    5. Learn the ClassWallet System

    Once approved, your funds are loaded into a ClassWallet account. This is where you’ll actually make purchases. There’s a learning curve here—certain items are approved, others aren’t, and you’ll need to get familiar with what qualifies. Curriculum, books, educational supplies, and many manipulatives are typically covered.

    We’ve used our PEP funds for everything from our Math-U-See curriculum to quality art supplies like Faber-Castell watercolors for our nature journals. The key is checking that vendors are approved in ClassWallet before you make a purchase.

    What We Buy with PEP Funds

    I know everyone wants to know the practical stuff—what can you actually get? Here’s a peek at some of our purchases:

    Curriculum and Books: Most of our Charlotte Mason-style resources qualify. We love ordering from Rainbow Resource and Timberdoodle—both work with the ClassWallet system, which makes purchasing simple.

    Nature Study Supplies: Our Sibley Birds field guide was a PEP purchase, along with a pocket microscope that my kids have used to examine everything from chicken feathers to pond water. Science supplies like these are generally approved and make our outdoor learning so much richer.

    Educational Manipulatives: Hands-on math tools, spelling tiles, anything that supports actual learning rather than just worksheets.

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    Don’t Assume Everything Is Approved

    Just because something seems educational doesn’t mean it’s covered. I’ve seen homeschool moms frustrated because their purchase was rejected. When in doubt, check the approved vendor and item lists before buying.

    Keep Your Receipts and Records

    Even though purchases go through ClassWallet, keep your own records. Screenshot confirmations, save email receipts, and document what you’re buying. If there’s ever a question about a purchase, you’ll be glad you have backup.

    Don’t Forget About Re-enrollment

    The PEP scholarship isn’t a one-and-done deal. You’ll need to re-enroll each year to continue receiving funds. Mark your calendar and watch for emails from Step Up For Students about renewal windows.

    Is the PEP Scholarship Right for Your Family?

    Honestly? For our family, it’s been a blessing. It’s allowed us to invest in quality, living books and real educational tools without feeling the pinch. My kids are outside more than they’re in front of screens. They help with the chickens, they run barefoot in the backyard with the dog, and they’re learning in a way that feels natural and unhurried.

    But I also know some families prefer to keep their homeschool completely separate from any state-connected funding, and I respect that. There are requirements—annual evaluations, using approved vendors—that come with accepting these funds. For us, the trade-off is worth it. For others, it might not be.

    You’ve Got This, Mama

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the application process, take a breath. Pour yourself some coffee (or sweet tea, this is Florida after all), and tackle it one step at a time. The PEP scholarship has opened up so many possibilities for our little homeschool—more nature guides, better art supplies, curriculum that actually fits how our kids learn.

    And at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about, right? Giving our kids a childhood full of wonder, curiosity, and the freedom to learn in a way that makes sense for them. The paperwork is just the doorway to get there.

    If you have questions about the process or want to share your own PEP tips, drop a comment below. We’re all figuring this out together.

  • Charlotte Mason Homeschool Preschool: What We Do (And What We Don’t)

    Charlotte Mason Homeschool Preschool: What We Do (And What We Don’t)

    If you’re sitting there wondering whether you need a full curriculum, a daily schedule color-coded by subject, and a Pinterest-worthy classroom setup for your three or four-year-old—take a deep breath, friend. You don’t.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    I remember feeling the pressure when my oldest was approaching preschool age. Everyone around me was enrolling their kids in programs, and I kept wondering if I was somehow failing by wanting to keep my kid home, playing in the dirt, and letting childhood just… be childhood. Turns out, that instinct was exactly right—and Charlotte Mason would have agreed wholeheartedly.

    Here in Northwest Florida, where we’re blessed with mild winters and outdoor days nearly year-round, a Charlotte Mason approach to preschool feels especially natural. Let me share what our days actually look like with our littlest learners.

    What Charlotte Mason Actually Said About Young Children

    Charlotte Mason believed that children under six should not be doing formal academics. I know—revolutionary, right? In a world where we’re pushing reading programs on two-year-olds, her philosophy feels almost rebellious.

    She called the early years a time for “masterly inactivity” on the parent’s part. This doesn’t mean we’re absent or uninvolved. It means we create the environment, provide the tools, and then step back to let our children explore, discover, and develop at their own pace.

    The focus during these years? Nature, good habits, living books read aloud, and lots and lots of free play.

    Our Simple Charlotte Mason Preschool Rhythm

    I hesitate to even call it a “schedule” because that implies something rigid. What we have is more of a gentle rhythm that flows with the day and the season.

    Morning Time (About 20-30 Minutes)

    We gather on the couch—usually with our labradoodle trying to squeeze in between us—and I read aloud. Picture books, poetry, Bible stories, and simple nature books. That’s it. No worksheets, no letter drills, no sitting at a desk.

    Some mornings this looks beautiful and cozy. Other mornings, someone needs a snack or the dog starts barking at a squirrel and we abandon ship. Both are fine.

    Nature Time (The Heart of Our Day)

    This is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s the core of our Charlotte Mason preschool approach. We spend hours outside—sometimes in our backyard watching the chickens, sometimes at one of Pensacola’s beautiful parks or trails, sometimes just walking our neighborhood and noticing what’s blooming.

    I keep a simple nature journal and some watercolor pencils accessible for when inspiration strikes. My preschooler’s “nature drawings” are mostly scribbles and blobs, and that’s exactly as it should be. We’re building the habit, not creating masterpieces.

    We invested in a pocket microscope last year, and it’s become one of our most-used tools. Examining a leaf, a feather from the chicken coop, or a bug we found—suddenly the ordinary becomes extraordinary through a child’s eyes.

    Chicken Chores

    Our backyard flock has become one of our best “curriculum” investments. My little ones help collect eggs, fill waterers, and scatter scratch. They’re learning responsibility, animal care, and basic biology without a single worksheet.

    If you’re curious about starting chickens with young kids, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is a wonderful resource that’s accessible enough for elementary-age siblings to read aloud to littles.

    Afternoons: Free Play and Rest

    After lunch, we have quiet time. The little ones rest, and I get a breather. Then the afternoon is largely unstructured. Building with blocks, playing in the sandbox, splashing in the kiddie pool when Florida’s heat demands it, or imaginative play.

    This is where I channel that 1990s childhood energy. Remember when we’d disappear outside until the streetlights came on? While I’m not quite ready for that level of independence with preschoolers, I do intentionally step back and let them figure things out, get bored, and invent their own games.

    What We Don’t Do (And Why)

    No Formal Reading Instruction

    I know this might feel scary, but Charlotte Mason recommended waiting until age six or even later to begin formal reading lessons. We surround our children with wonderful books, read aloud constantly, and trust that literacy will come. With my older kids, this approach worked beautifully.

    No Worksheets or Curriculum Boxes

    For preschool? Absolutely not. If you feel pressure to buy a preschool curriculum, I want you to know—you don’t need it. Save your money for when they’re older, or invest in good living books and nature tools instead.

    That said, if you’re looking for quality Charlotte Mason-aligned resources for when your kids are ready, I love browsing Rainbow Resource and Timberdoodle for ideas.

    No Screen Time as Education

    I’m not here to judge anyone’s screen choices, but for us, the preschool years are not the time for educational apps or videos. There will be plenty of time for technology later. Right now, their little brains need three-dimensional, sensory-rich experiences.

    Simple Tools That Support Our Days

    You don’t need much for Charlotte Mason preschool, but a few things have made our lives easier:

    • Good rain boots for Florida’s afternoon storms (we go puddle jumping regularly)
    • A bug catcher kit for curious little naturalists
    • Basic art supplies—crayons, watercolors, plain paper
    • A library card (our most valuable educational resource, hands down)
    • Non-toxic sunscreen because Florida means sun exposure is constant

    The Gift of Slow

    Here’s what I want you to hear, mama: these early years are not about getting ahead. They’re not about making sure your child can read before kindergarten or knows all their letters and numbers by age four.

    These years are about wonder. About noticing the way a rolly-polly curls up when touched. About learning that eggs come from chickens and tomatoes come from vines. About being read to on someone’s lap, feeling safe and loved and curious about the world.

    Charlotte Mason preschool isn’t really about education at all. It’s about laying a foundation of good habits, cultivating attention, and protecting that spark of wonder that children are born with.

    Some days our “school” looks like nothing at all—just kids playing while I drink my coffee and watch. And that’s exactly as it should be.

    If you’re in those early years and feeling uncertain, let me encourage you: you’re doing more than you think. Those ordinary moments—reading on the couch, collecting eggs together, examining a beetle in the grass—that’s Charlotte Mason preschool. That’s childhood the way it was meant to be.

    You’ve got this, friend. Trust yourself, trust your kids, and enjoy this sweet season.

  • Non-Toxic Sunscreen That Actually Works in Florida Heat (What Our Family Uses)

    Non-Toxic Sunscreen That Actually Works in Florida Heat (What Our Family Uses)

    If you’ve ever slathered your kids in “natural” sunscreen only to watch them turn into little lobsters by lunchtime, you’re not alone. Finding a non-toxic sunscreen that actually works in Florida heat has been one of my most frustrating quests as a mama trying to do right by my kids.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    We’re outside constantly — nature journaling in the backyard, checking on the chickens, splashing at the Gulf, hiking our local trails. In Northwest Florida, the sun is no joke. We’re talking humidity that makes everything feel ten degrees hotter and UV rays that mean business from March through November. A sunscreen that works in Vermont just isn’t going to cut it down here.

    Why I Switched to Non-Toxic Sunscreen in the First Place

    Look, I’m not here to fear-monger. But once I started reading ingredient labels on conventional sunscreens, I couldn’t unsee it. Oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate — these chemical UV filters are absorbed into the bloodstream within hours of application. The FDA has found them in blood samples weeks after people stopped using sunscreen.

    For our family, that was enough. My kids are outside for hours every single day. This isn’t a once-a-week beach trip situation. We’re talking daily exposure to both the sun AND whatever I’m putting on their skin.

    Plus, we spend a lot of time at Gulf Islands National Seashore, and those chemical sunscreens are devastating to coral reefs and marine life. It just didn’t sit right with me.

    The Problem With Most “Natural” Sunscreens

    Here’s where it gets tricky. I bought every mineral sunscreen at the health food store and most of them were genuinely terrible. We’re talking:

    • White cast that made my kids look like ghosts
    • Thick, greasy formulas that wouldn’t rub in
    • Sunscreens that melted off the second they started sweating
    • “Water resistant” claims that were absolute lies

    I threw away so much money on sunscreens that left us burned and frustrated. In Florida’s humidity, you need something that can handle sweat, water, and reapplication without turning into a goopy mess.

    What Actually Works for Our Florida Family

    After years of trial and error, I’ve found a few non-toxic sunscreens that genuinely hold up to our lifestyle. Here’s what I look for:

    Zinc Oxide as the Active Ingredient

    Zinc oxide is the gold standard for mineral sunscreen. It provides broad-spectrum protection and sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing into it. I look for at least 20% zinc oxide for real protection.

    No Sneaky Ingredients

    Just because a sunscreen is “mineral-based” doesn’t mean the inactive ingredients are clean. I avoid fragrances, parabens, and anything I can’t pronounce. The non-toxic kids sunscreen options on Amazon have really expanded in the last few years — you just have to read labels carefully.

    Water Resistance That’s Real

    In Florida, you need 80-minute water resistance minimum. My kids are in and out of the sprinkler, the kiddie pool, the Gulf. If it can’t handle water, it’s not going to work for us.

    Our Daily Sun Protection Routine

    We apply sunscreen every single morning before we head outside — even if it’s just to feed the chickens and do our nature study. Florida sun doesn’t care if you’re “just going to be out for a minute.”

    I keep a stick sunscreen by the back door for faces and ears (way easier than cream for squirmy kids), and I use a pump bottle of cream sunscreen for arms, legs, and necks. We reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming.

    Don’t Forget the Other Stuff

    Sunscreen is just one piece of the puzzle. We also use:

    • Wide-brim hats for everyone, including me
    • Rash guards for beach and pool days — this alone has been a game-changer
    • Shade breaks during peak sun hours (10am-4pm)
    • Kids rain boots and long pants for shady trail walks when we want to skip sunscreen altogether

    Honestly, covering up is often more effective than sunscreen anyway. Those 1990s beach days of our childhood where we got absolutely fried? We don’t have to do that to our kids.

    Bug Spray + Sunscreen: A Florida Combo

    You can’t talk about being outside in Florida without talking about bugs. The mosquitoes here are aggressive, especially in our backyard near the chicken coop.

    I never combine sunscreen and bug spray in one product — it reduces the effectiveness of both. We apply sunscreen first, let it dry, then use Wondercide for bug protection. It’s plant-based and actually works, which I was skeptical about at first. We use it on the dog too.

    Making It Part of Your Routine

    The best sunscreen is the one you actually use consistently. I’ve made it as easy as possible:

    • Sunscreen lives by the back door, not buried in a bathroom cabinet
    • The kids know it’s part of getting dressed for outside, just like shoes
    • I buy in bulk so we never run out mid-summer
    • Everyone has their own stick so there’s no fighting

    We do so much of our homeschool learning outside — nature journaling with watercolor pencils, using our pocket microscope to examine leaves and bugs, just laying in the grass watching clouds. Sun protection has to be second nature or it won’t happen.

    What About Vitamin D?

    I get this question a lot. Yes, our bodies need sun exposure to make Vitamin D. But in Florida, we’re getting plenty even with sunscreen use. Sunscreen doesn’t block 100% of UV rays, and my kids are outside for hours every day.

    If you’re worried about Vitamin D, talk to your pediatrician about testing levels. But I promise, living the outdoor childhood we’re living in the Florida sunshine? Vitamin D deficiency is not our problem.

    The Bottom Line

    Finding non-toxic sunscreen that actually works in Florida heat took me years of experimenting. But it’s absolutely possible. You don’t have to choose between protecting your kids from harmful chemicals and protecting them from sunburn.

    The key is finding a high-zinc formula, applying it generously and frequently, and combining it with smart sun habits like hats, shade, and cover-ups.

    Our kids deserve to spend their childhoods outside — catching bugs with their bug catcher kits, playing in the dirt, running through sprinklers, and exploring the beautiful wild world around them. That kind of childhood requires sun protection that actually works without compromising on ingredients.

    I hope this helps you find what works for your family. And if you’ve found a non-toxic sunscreen you love, I’d genuinely like to hear about it — we’re all in this together, trying to figure out how to raise these wild-hearted kids in a way that makes sense.

    Now if you’ll excuse me, the chickens are squawking and someone left the back gate open. Again. 🐔

  • Backyard Chicken Coop Size Guide: How Big Do You Really Need?

    Backyard Chicken Coop Size Guide: How Big Do You Really Need?

    If you’re standing in your backyard right now, squinting at that corner by the fence and wondering will a coop even fit there? — I’ve been exactly where you are. When we first started talking about getting chickens, I had no idea how much space we actually needed. I just knew I wanted fresh eggs and I wanted our kids to experience the kind of hands-on animal care that seems to be disappearing from modern childhood.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Three years and a whole lot of learning later, I can tell you that coop size is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your flock. Get it wrong, and you’ll deal with stressed birds, pecking problems, and honestly? More work for you. Get it right, and chicken keeping becomes one of the most rewarding parts of your day.

    Let me walk you through everything I wish someone had told me from the start.

    The Basic Rule of Thumb for Coop Space

    Here’s the number you’ll see everywhere: 3-4 square feet per chicken inside the coop. For the outdoor run, plan on 8-10 square feet per bird.

    But here’s what those basic numbers don’t tell you — they assume ideal conditions. And if you’re in Florida like we are, “ideal” looks a little different than it does for someone in Vermont.

    Let me break it down more specifically.

    Inside the Coop

    The interior of your coop is where your chickens sleep and lay eggs. This is their bedroom, essentially. For standard-sized breeds (think Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, or Barred Rocks), you need a minimum of 4 square feet per bird. For bantams or smaller breeds, you can get away with 2-3 square feet.

    So if you’re planning on 4 chickens? You need at least 16 square feet of interior coop space. That’s roughly a 4×4 foot footprint.

    The Outdoor Run

    This is where the real living happens. Your run should give each bird 8-10 square feet minimum. More is always better. For that same 4-bird flock, you’re looking at 32-40 square feet of run space.

    Now, if your chickens free-range during the day like ours do, the run size becomes less critical — but you still need adequate space for those days when you need to keep them contained. Here in Northwest Florida, that means hurricane prep days, the occasional hawk hanging around, or when I just need the garden beds left alone for five minutes.

    Why Bigger Is (Almost) Always Better

    I’m going to be honest with you: the minimum numbers are just that — minimums. And chickens kept at minimum space requirements often develop problems.

    Pecking and bullying increase dramatically in crowded conditions. Chickens establish a pecking order (it’s not just a saying), and when they don’t have room to get away from each other, things can turn ugly. We learned this the hard way our first year when we started with a coop that was technically “big enough.” It wasn’t.

    Disease spreads faster in tight quarters. More birds in less space means more moisture, more ammonia from droppings, and more stress — all of which compromise immune systems.

    Egg production drops when hens are stressed. If you’re keeping chickens partly for eggs, give them room to be happy.

    Our rule now? We size our coop and run for about 50% more birds than we actually have. It gives everyone breathing room, and it means we have flexibility if we want to add a couple of pullets down the road.

    Florida-Specific Considerations

    Okay, let’s talk about what makes chicken keeping in Florida a little different.

    Heat is your biggest enemy. Our chickens deal with months of 90+ degree days with humidity that makes it feel even hotter. This means ventilation is absolutely critical. A coop that might work fine in Minnesota will turn into an oven here in Pensacola.

    We prioritize:

    • Lots of ventilation openings (covered with hardware cloth for predator protection)
    • A shaded run area
    • A good chicken waterer that keeps water clean and cool
    • An automatic coop door so we’re not running outside at dawn and dusk in mosquito season

    Predators are serious business. We have raccoons, possums, hawks, and the occasional neighborhood dog to worry about. Your run needs to be secure — hardware cloth, not chicken wire, and ideally buried or with an apron around the edges.

    Coop Features That Actually Matter

    Beyond square footage, here’s what to consider:

    Roosting Space

    Chickens need about 8-10 inches of roosting bar per bird. They sleep on these bars at night, and they prefer to be up off the ground. Make sure roosts are higher than your nesting boxes, or your hens will sleep in the boxes and make a mess.

    Nesting Boxes

    Plan on one nesting box for every 3-4 hens. They’ll often share favorites anyway. A 12×12 inch box works for most standard breeds.

    Easy Cleaning Access

    This is the thing no one tells you until you’re hunched over inside a tiny coop, trying to scrape out bedding. Get a coop you can actually clean easily. Walk-in coops are wonderful if you have space. At minimum, look for large doors or removable panels.

    We use food-grade diatomaceous earth sprinkled in the bedding and nesting boxes to help control mites naturally — it’s been a game-changer for keeping things fresh without harsh chemicals.

    A Quick Size Chart

    | Flock Size | Minimum Coop (sq ft) | Minimum Run (sq ft) | Recommended Coop | Recommended Run |

    |————|———————|———————|——————|——————|

    | 3-4 birds | 12-16 | 24-40 | 20-24 | 50-60 |

    | 5-6 birds | 20-24 | 40-60 | 30-36 | 75-90 |

    | 7-10 birds | 28-40 | 56-100 | 50-60 | 120-150 |

    Learning Together as a Family

    One of the things I love most about keeping chickens is how much our kids have learned alongside us. The whole experience fits beautifully with our Charlotte Mason approach — it’s real, living learning. Observing chicken behavior, tracking egg production, understanding animal husbandry… these are lessons you can’t get from a textbook.

    If you’re newer to chickens and want a great resource, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens is comprehensive and well-written. For the kids, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens has been wonderful for getting them involved in age-appropriate ways.

    Our oldest has started keeping a nature journal that includes chicken observations — what they eat, how they act before a storm, which hen is at the top of the pecking order this week. It’s the kind of slow, observational learning that builds real understanding.

    The Bottom Line on Coop Sizing

    When in doubt, go bigger. I know that’s not always possible with budget or yard constraints, but if you can swing it, your future self will thank you. Happy chickens are healthy chickens, and healthy chickens mean less work and more enjoyment for your whole family.

    Start with the minimums if you need to, but design with expansion in mind. And remember — those online coop listings that say “perfect for 6-8 birds” are almost always exaggerating. Read the actual dimensions and do the math yourself.

    We started this chicken journey because I wanted our kids to know where food comes from, to have responsibility for another living thing, and honestly? Because I wanted eggs from hens I could watch scratch around in the sunshine. Three years in, it’s become one of the most grounding parts of our days. Even the dog has learned to coexist (mostly).

    If you’re on the fence about starting a flock, I say go for it. Just give them the space they need to thrive, and they’ll reward you tenfold.

    —

    Have questions about your specific setup? I’d love to hear what you’re planning in the comments!

  • Best Books About Chickens for Elementary Kids: Our Favorites for Young Poultry Lovers

    Best Books About Chickens for Elementary Kids: Our Favorites for Young Poultry Lovers

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve got backyard chickens and elementary-age kids, you already know the magic that happens when little hands collect warm eggs or watch a hen dust-bathe in the Florida sand. But what about when you want to take that fascination indoors? Maybe during our brutal August afternoons when even the chickens are hiding in the shade, or during a rare rainy week when everyone’s getting a little stir-crazy.

    That’s where a good stack of chicken books comes in.

    We’ve been keeping chickens for a few years now, and honestly, some of our best homeschool moments have happened out by the coop. But pairing that hands-on learning with quality books? That’s where the real depth comes in. Charlotte Mason talked about “living books” — books that are written by people who love their subject and bring it to life on the page. And friends, there are some truly wonderful living books about chickens out there for our kids.

    Here are the ones that have earned permanent spots on our shelf.

    Picture Books That Spark Chicken Love

    For Your Youngest Learners (K-2)

    If you’ve got a kindergartner or early elementary kiddo, start with picture books that capture the wonder of chickens without overwhelming them with information.

    “An Egg Is Quiet” by Dianna Aston is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are stunning — like nature journal pages brought to life — and it covers all kinds of eggs, including chicken eggs. My kids pored over this one for weeks, and it naturally led to us comparing the eggs in our own nesting boxes.

    “The Life Cycle of a Chicken” by Lisa Trumbauer is a simple, straightforward introduction that works well for kids who want to understand where baby chicks come from. It’s not fancy, but it’s accurate and age-appropriate.

    “Tillie Lays an Egg” by Terry Golson is a sweet story about a hen who refuses to lay her eggs in the nesting box. If your kids have ever chased a chicken around the yard (and let’s be honest, whose haven’t?), they’ll relate to this one.

    Books for the Curious Middle-Elementary Reader

    When They Want to Know MORE

    Once your kids hit that 7-9 age range, they often want real information. They’re not satisfied with cute stories anymore — they want to know why the rooster crows at 5 AM and how a hen makes an eggshell.

    A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens by Melissa Caughey is hands-down our favorite for this age group. It’s written directly to kids, covers everything from choosing breeds to collecting eggs, and includes simple projects they can actually do. My oldest has dog-eared about half the pages. This is the book that gets pulled out when someone has a question about chicken behavior or wants to try making treats for the flock.

    “Chicks!” by Elise Gravel is another winner — quirky illustrations, fun facts, and just the right amount of humor. It’s technically for younger readers, but my 8-year-old still picks it up regularly.

    Reference Books Worth Having

    For the Whole Family

    Now, I’ll be honest — some of the best chicken books in our house aren’t technically written for kids. But they’re the ones we use together, the ones that come out when we’re trying to figure out if a hen is molting or sick, or when we’re dreaming about adding a new breed to our flock.

    Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens is the chicken-keeping bible. It’s comprehensive, well-organized, and I reference it constantly. When my kids have questions I can’t answer, we look it up together. That’s real learning right there — showing them that mama doesn’t know everything, but we can always find out.

    We keep this one on the shelf next to our Sibley Guide to Birds, and honestly, the two get used together more often than you’d think. Chickens have sparked a broader interest in birds around here, and now we’re noticing the wild ones too — the cardinals at the feeder, the sandhill cranes in the neighborhood, the hawks we have to watch out for.

    Using Chicken Books in Your Homeschool

    Making It Count for Learning

    If you’re a Charlotte Mason homeschooler like us, you already know that living books are the heart of a good education. But how do you actually use chicken books in your school day?

    Here’s what works for our family:

    Narration. After reading a section together, I ask the kids to tell me back what they learned. Simple, effective, and you’d be amazed what they retain about chicken digestion when they’re actually interested.

    Nature journaling. We take our nature journals out to the coop regularly. The kids sketch the chickens, note their behaviors, and sometimes press feathers onto the pages. Pairing this with what we’re reading in books creates connections that stick.

    Copywork. I pull quotes from our chicken books for copywork. It beats random sentences, and it reinforces what they’re learning.

    Hands-on extension. After reading about how chickens need grit to digest their food, we went out and watched our hens pecking at the sandy soil. After reading about dust bathing, we made sure our girls had a good spot for it. Books plus real life equals deep understanding.

    If you’re using the Florida PEP scholarship like we are, many of these books qualify for purchase through approved vendors. Check Rainbow Resource or Timberdoodle — both carry great nature study and animal care titles.

    A Note on Fiction vs. Nonfiction

    I want to mention this because it comes up a lot: fiction books about chickens are fun, but they’re not always accurate. If your kid reads a story where chickens are doing very un-chicken-like things, it’s a great opportunity to compare fiction to reality.

    “That was a fun story, but do our chickens actually do that? Let’s go watch and see.”

    That’s the beauty of having real chickens in the backyard. The books come alive because the learning goes both ways — from page to coop and back again.

    Building a Little Poultry Library

    You don’t need a ton of books to get started. If I had to pick just three for an elementary-age chicken lover, I’d grab:

    1. One beautiful picture book for wonder and read-alouds

    2. A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens for hands-on learning

    3. Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens for the family reference shelf

    That combo covers you from snuggling on the couch to solving real problems in the coop.

    Final Thoughts

    There’s something deeply good about raising kids who know where their food comes from, who aren’t afraid to get dirty, and who understand that caring for animals is both a joy and a responsibility. Books are part of how we pass that knowledge along — not as a replacement for the real thing, but as a companion to it.

    Right now, as I type this, I can hear my kids outside arguing about whose turn it is to check for eggs. In a minute, I’ll call them in, and we’ll probably read a chapter of something together before lunch. Maybe about chickens, maybe not. But either way, I’m grateful for the books that have made our little flock feel like more than just pets — they’ve become part of our education, our rhythm, and our family story.

    Happy reading, friend. And happy chicken keeping. 🐔

  • How to Start Homeschooling in Florida Step by Step: A Real Mom’s Guide

    So you’re thinking about homeschooling in Florida. Maybe you’ve watched your kid come home from school exhausted and overwhelmed. Maybe you’ve seen the spark in their eyes when they’re exploring outside, and you want more of that. Or maybe you just have this gut feeling that there’s a different way — a slower, more intentional way — to raise and educate your children.

    I get it. I’ve been there. And I’m here to tell you: you can absolutely do this.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Starting our homeschool journey a few years ago was one of the best decisions our family ever made. Now our days include nature walks, backyard chicken chores, real books, and so much less rushing. If you’re in Florida and wondering how to actually get started, let me walk you through it — step by step, the way I wish someone had explained it to me.

    Step 1: Understand Florida’s Homeschool Options

    Florida is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country, which is such a blessing. You have a few different legal options for homeschooling here:

    Option A: File a Letter of Intent with Your School District

    This is the most common route, and it’s what we do. You simply notify your county superintendent that you intend to establish a home education program. That’s it. No permission needed — just notification.

    You’ll need to:

    • Send a letter of intent within 30 days of beginning your homeschool
    • Maintain a portfolio of your child’s work samples and records
    • Have an annual evaluation done (more on that below)

    Option B: Register with a Private Umbrella School

    Some families prefer to register with a private covering school (sometimes called an umbrella school). This option has fewer requirements — no annual evaluation needed — but you do pay a fee to the umbrella school.

    Option C: Use a Private Tutor

    This option requires a certified teacher to provide instruction, so it’s less common for most homeschooling families.

    For most of us, Option A is the straightforward choice. It gives you complete curriculum freedom while still being legally compliant.

    Step 2: Submit Your Letter of Intent

    Once you’ve decided to go the home education route, you’ll write a simple letter to your county school superintendent. Here in the Pensacola area, that means sending it to the Escambia County or Santa Rosa County school district office.

    Your letter just needs to include:

    • Your name and address
    • Your child’s name and birthdate
    • A statement that you’re establishing a home education program

    That’s really it. No curriculum approval. No explaining your reasons. Just a notification. Florida trusts parents, and that’s something I’m genuinely grateful for.

    Step 3: Choose Your Approach and Curriculum

    This is the fun part — and also where new homeschoolers can feel overwhelmed. There are so many options out there.

    Here’s my encouragement: you don’t have to figure it all out before you start. Start simple. Watch your kids. See what lights them up.

    Our family follows a Charlotte Mason approach, which means we focus on living books, nature study, short lessons, and lots of time outdoors. It fits our lifestyle here in Northwest Florida perfectly — we’re blessed with mild winters, beautiful state parks, and a backyard full of things to explore.

    Some curriculum resources we love:

    • Rainbow Resource is my go-to for comparing curriculum options and finding deals
    • Timberdoodle curates wonderful hands-on learning kits
    • For math, we’ve had great success with Math-U-See — it’s manipulative-based and works so well for kids who need to see and touch to understand

    Don’t feel pressured to buy everything at once. A library card, a good read-aloud, and time outside will take you far in those early days.

    Step 4: Set Up Your Portfolio System

    Florida requires you to keep a portfolio of educational materials and samples of your child’s work. This sounds more intimidating than it is.

    I keep a simple binder for each child with:

    • A reading log
    • Samples of written work throughout the year
    • Art projects and nature journal pages
    • Any certificates or special projects

    Speaking of nature journals — we use simple sketch journals and Faber-Castell watercolor pencils for our nature study. The kids draw birds, insects, leaves, whatever we find. These pages become beautiful portfolio pieces and meaningful keepsakes.

    Step 5: Plan for Your Annual Evaluation

    At the end of each school year, Florida requires an evaluation of your child’s progress. You have several options:

    • A certified teacher reviews your portfolio
    • Your child takes a standardized test
    • A licensed psychologist evaluates progress

    We’ve done both portfolio reviews and testing over the years. Many homeschool co-ops and evaluators here in Northwest Florida offer affordable reviews — just ask around in local homeschool groups.

    Step 6: Look Into the Florida PEP Scholarship

    Here’s something I wish I’d known about sooner: Florida offers the Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship for homeschool families. It provides funds that can be used for curriculum, educational materials, and even some extracurricular classes.

    We use PEP funds for curriculum, art supplies, and enrichment classes. It’s been a huge blessing for our family, and the application process is fairly straightforward through the state’s scholarship portal.

    If you’re just starting out, I’d encourage you to look into this early — there are enrollment windows, so timing matters.

    Step 7: Find Your Community

    Homeschooling doesn’t mean doing it alone. Here in the Pensacola area, there are wonderful co-ops, park days, and homeschool groups. Finding other families who share your values makes such a difference — for you and your kids.

    Look for groups that match your style. Some are more academic; others are relaxed and play-focused. We’ve found our people through nature groups and Charlotte Mason circles, and those friendships have been such a gift.

    Step 8: Just Begin

    Here’s the truth nobody tells you: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.

    Read good books aloud. Go outside. Let your kids get dirty and curious. Watch them discover a bird they’ve never seen before and look it up together in a field guide. Let them help collect eggs from the chickens and learn responsibility in small, daily ways.

    This is education. It doesn’t have to look like school.

    You’ve Got This, Mama

    I know the beginning feels overwhelming. There’s so much information out there, and it’s easy to second-guess yourself. But you know your kids better than anyone. You see what they need. Trust that.

    Homeschooling in Florida is absolutely doable, and it might just be the best gift you give your family. More time together. More freedom. More space for the kind of childhood you remember — or the kind you always wished you’d had.

    If you have questions, feel free to reach out. I’m cheering you on from my little corner of Northwest Florida, probably with a cup of coffee in hand and a dog at my feet while the kids argue about whose turn it is to fill the chicken waterer.

    You’ve got this.

  • Is a Non-Toxic Mattress for Kids Worth the Investment? A Florida Mama’s Honest Take

    Is a Non-Toxic Mattress for Kids Worth the Investment? A Florida Mama’s Honest Take

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever found yourself down the rabbit hole of mattress research at 11 PM—reading about off-gassing, flame retardants, and VOCs while your kids sleep peacefully on whatever hand-me-down mattress they’ve had since toddlerhood—hi, friend. I’ve been there. With a cup of cold coffee and way too many browser tabs open.

    When we started our journey toward a more intentional, non-toxic home, I honestly didn’t think much about mattresses. I was focused on cleaning products, switching to Grove Collaborative for our household essentials, and making sure our sunscreen wasn’t full of junk. But then I started reading about how much time our kids actually spend on their mattresses—like, a third of their entire lives—and it stopped me in my tracks.

    What Even Makes a Mattress “Toxic”?

    Here’s the thing: conventional mattresses can contain a cocktail of chemicals that most of us never think about. Flame retardants, polyurethane foam treated with various chemicals, adhesives, and synthetic fabrics that off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That “new mattress smell”? It’s not just newness—it’s chemicals releasing into the air.

    For kids, this matters more because their bodies are still developing. They breathe faster than adults, their skin is more permeable, and their detoxification systems aren’t fully mature. When they’re sleeping eight to twelve hours a night with their faces pressed right against that mattress surface, the exposure adds up.

    Now, I’m not here to fear-monger. We can’t control everything, and perfection isn’t the goal. But when I learned about this, it felt like something I could control—and wanted to.

    The Real Cost Breakdown

    Let’s be honest about the elephant in the room: non-toxic mattresses are more expensive. A conventional twin mattress might run you $150-300. A certified organic or non-toxic option? Usually $400-800 for a basic model, and higher-end options can climb from there.

    That’s a real difference, especially if you’re outfitting multiple kids’ rooms like we are.

    But here’s how I started thinking about it: if a mattress lasts 8-10 years, that price difference breaks down to maybe $30-50 more per year. When I compared that to other things we spend money on without blinking—a single theme park day here in Florida, a few months of streaming services, random Amazon purchases—it started to feel more manageable.

    We didn’t do it all at once. We replaced mattresses one at a time, starting with our youngest since smaller bodies are more vulnerable. We asked for contributions toward mattresses instead of toys for birthdays one year. It took us about two years to transition everyone.

    What to Look For (Without Losing Your Mind)

    If you decide to explore non-toxic mattress options, here are the certifications that actually mean something:

    GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

    This covers organic fibers like cotton and wool. It’s one of the most rigorous certifications out there.

    GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard)

    If you’re looking at latex mattresses, this certification ensures the latex is organic and processed without harmful chemicals.

    CertiPUR-US

    This one is specifically for foam. It means the foam is made without certain harmful chemicals and has low VOC emissions. It’s not as strict as GOTS or GOLS, but it’s a good baseline if you’re going with a foam mattress on a tighter budget.

    GREENGUARD Gold

    This certifies low chemical emissions. It’s especially relevant for kids’ products.

    My advice? Don’t try to find the “perfect” mattress. Look for one or two certifications that matter most to you and work within your budget.

    Our Experience After Making the Switch

    I’ll be honest—I didn’t notice some dramatic overnight change when we switched to non-toxic mattresses. My kids didn’t suddenly sleep twelve hours straight (ha!), and I can’t point to any specific health improvement and say “that was the mattress.”

    But here’s what I did notice: no chemical smell when we unboxed them. That new mattress smell that I’d always associated with, well, new mattresses? It wasn’t there. And that absence told me something.

    I also just sleep better myself knowing that during those long, sweaty Florida summer nights—when the humidity creeps in even with the AC running—my kids aren’t marinating in a chemical soup. Maybe that’s just peace of mind, but peace of mind is worth something too.

    The Bigger Picture of Intentional Living

    For our family, the mattress decision fits into a larger pattern of trying to reduce our overall toxic load. We’re not perfect about it—not even close. But we try to make better choices where we can, especially in areas where exposure is high or prolonged.

    It’s the same reason we use Wondercide for pest control around the house and coop instead of conventional sprays, and why I’m particular about non-toxic sunscreen for the kids when we’re spending hours outside for nature study or just playing in the backyard with the dog and chickens.

    We follow a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, which means lots of time outdoors—way more than the average kid gets these days. My thought process is: if they’re going to get plenty of healthy exposure to dirt, sunshine, fresh air, and all the good stuff (the 1990s childhood we’re trying to recreate), then I want to minimize the unnecessary chemical exposures where I can.

    Practical Tips If You’re Not Ready for a Full Replacement

    Maybe a new mattress isn’t in the budget right now. I get it—we used the Florida PEP scholarship funds for curriculum from places like Rainbow Resource, not mattresses (wouldn’t that be nice though?). Here are some intermediate steps:

    Use an organic mattress protector. This creates a barrier between your child and the mattress surface. It won’t eliminate off-gassing, but it reduces direct contact.

    Air out a new conventional mattress. If you do buy conventional, let it off-gas in a well-ventilated area (garage, covered porch) for several days to a week before bringing it into your child’s room.

    Choose organic bedding. Organic cotton sheets and pillows can reduce overall exposure even if the mattress itself isn’t organic.

    Ventilate the bedroom. Open windows when weather permits. Here in Northwest Florida, those mild spring and fall mornings are perfect for airing out the house.

    So, Is It Worth It?

    My honest answer: yes, if you can make it work financially without stressing your family out. A non-toxic mattress is a long-term investment in an item your child uses every single day for years. The cost-per-use is actually pretty reasonable when you think about it that way.

    But if it’s between a non-toxic mattress and being able to afford the experiences and resources that make childhood rich—the nature journals, the bug catching kits for backyard exploration, the books, the field trips—don’t let mattress guilt steal your joy.

    Do what you can, when you can. That’s what intentional living actually looks like for most of us. It’s not about perfection. It’s about making thoughtful choices, one at a time, that align with the life you’re trying to build for your family.

    And if that means your kids sleep on conventional mattresses with organic sheets while you save up? That’s okay too. You’re doing a good job, mama.

    —

    What about you—have you made the switch to non-toxic mattresses, or is it on your someday list? I’d love to hear where you’re at in the comments.

  • Best Homeschool Science Curriculum Nature Based: What Actually Works for Curious Kids

    Best Homeschool Science Curriculum Nature Based: What Actually Works for Curious Kids

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve been scrolling through curriculum catalogs at midnight, overwhelmed by the sheer number of science options out there, I see you. I’ve been there with a cup of cold coffee in my hand, wondering if I was somehow failing my kids because we weren’t doing elaborate experiments with expensive lab kits.

    Here’s what I’ve learned after years of homeschooling in Northwest Florida: the best science curriculum isn’t always the one with the fanciest packaging. Sometimes it’s the one that gets your kids outside, muddy, and genuinely curious about the world around them.

    Why Nature-Based Science Just Makes Sense

    When I first started our homeschool journey, I bought all the things. The textbooks. The workbooks. The kits with tiny plastic test tubes that got lost within a week. And you know what happened? My kids were bored. They were going through the motions, filling in blanks, but there was no spark.

    Then one afternoon, my oldest found a dead beetle near our chicken coop and wanted to know everything about it. What did it eat? Why was it this color? Did it have a family? That single beetle led to two hours of investigation, drawing, and discussion. No curriculum required.

    That’s when it clicked for me: nature-based science isn’t about replacing rigorous learning with “just playing outside.” It’s about using the real world as your textbook—and trusting that curiosity is the best teacher.

    What Makes a Science Curriculum “Nature-Based”?

    Before I share what works for our family, let me clarify what I mean by nature-based. A good nature-based science curriculum:

    • Prioritizes observation over memorization — Kids learn to see before they learn to label
    • Gets kids outdoors regularly — Not just for recess, but as part of the actual learning
    • Connects concepts to real life — The water cycle isn’t just a diagram; it’s the rain filling our chicken waterer
    • Allows for rabbit trails — When your child wants to spend three weeks studying butterflies, you let them
    • Uses living books over dry textbooks — Stories and narratives stick better than bullet points

    This approach aligns beautifully with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, which is the foundation of our homeschool. She believed children should spend time outdoors daily and learn from nature firsthand. Living here in Florida, we’re blessed with year-round opportunities for this kind of learning.

    Our Favorite Nature-Based Science Approaches

    Nature Journaling: The Heart of It All

    If you do nothing else, start a nature journal practice. Seriously. It’s transformed our homeschool more than any boxed curriculum ever could.

    Every week (sometimes more), we head outside with our journals and just observe. We might watch the chickens for twenty minutes, noticing how they interact with each other. We might study a single flower. We might track what birds visit our backyard.

    A good nature journal with quality paper makes all the difference—especially if your kids like to add watercolor like mine do. We pair ours with Faber-Castell watercolor pencils and the results are beautiful enough to frame.

    For bird identification, we always have our Sibley Guide to Birds nearby. It’s become one of our most-used books, honestly. Florida has such incredible bird diversity—we’ve spotted everything from painted buntings to great blue herons right in our neighborhood.

    Living Books Over Textbooks

    Charlotte Mason was big on “living books”—real books written by passionate authors, not committee-written textbooks. For science, this means choosing narrative books that tell stories about nature, animals, and scientific discovery.

    Instead of reading a textbook chapter about insects, we read real books about entomologists who devoted their lives to studying bugs. Instead of memorizing ecosystem vocabulary, we read about specific places and the creatures that live there.

    Rainbow Resource has been invaluable for finding these kinds of living books. Their catalog is extensive, and they categorize things in a way that makes it easy to find nature-based options.

    Hands-On Exploration Tools

    We keep a basket by our back door with our “discovery tools.” When something catches our eye outside, we’re ready.

    A pocket microscope has been worth its weight in gold. My kids have examined everything from chicken feathers to pond water to the texture of leaves. Seeing things up close changes how you understand them.

    We also use a bug collection kit for temporary observation. We catch, observe, draw, and release. It’s become a whole ritual.

    Learning From Our Backyard Flock

    I can’t talk about nature-based science without mentioning our chickens. They’ve been our greatest teachers.

    Through our flock, we’ve learned about:

    • Life cycles (from egg to chick to hen)
    • Animal behavior and social hierarchies
    • Nutrition and what makes healthy animals
    • Responsibility and daily rhythms

    If you’re considering chickens for your homeschool, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is perfect for elementary-age kids. My children have read it cover to cover multiple times.

    How We Structure Our Week

    I know some of you are thinking, “This sounds great, but how does it actually work day-to-day?”

    Here’s roughly what our nature-based science looks like:

    Monday: Nature walk with journals. We observe, sketch, and discuss what we see.

    Wednesday: Living book reading related to whatever we’re currently interested in. This might be birds, insects, weather, or animal habitats.

    Friday: Hands-on exploration. This could be examining something under the microscope, doing a simple kitchen experiment, or spending time with the chickens documenting their behavior.

    The rest of our days are filled with organic moments—noticing a cool cloud formation, stopping to watch a spider build a web, wondering why the dog dug in that particular spot. Science happens all day when you’re paying attention.

    Making It Work in Florida

    Living in the Pensacola area gives us some unique advantages for nature-based learning. Our mild winters mean we can be outside almost year-round. We have access to beaches, forests, and wetlands all within a short drive.

    But Florida also has challenges—namely, heat and bugs. During summer, we do our nature time early in the morning or late in the evening. We use non-toxic sunscreen liberally and keep Wondercide spray on hand for pest control that I feel good about using around my kids and our animals.

    You Don’t Need Permission to Keep It Simple

    Here’s what I want you to hear: you don’t need a $400 curriculum to give your kids an excellent science education. You need time outside, a few good books, some basic tools, and your own willingness to wonder alongside them.

    The best science lessons we’ve had weren’t planned. They happened because we were paying attention. Because we weren’t rushing from one activity to the next. Because we gave our kids space to be bored, to notice, to ask questions.

    That’s the 1990s childhood I’m trying to recreate—one where kids learn by doing, not just by watching screens. Where they get dirty and catch frogs and know the names of the birds in their backyard.

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed by curriculum choices, take a breath. Grab a nature journal and head outside with your kids. Start there. Everything else will follow.

    And if you need me, I’ll be out back with the chickens, probably covered in mud, watching my kids discover something wonderful.

  • How to Teach Kids About the Chicken Life Cycle in Your Homeschool (With Real Birds)

    How to Teach Kids About the Chicken Life Cycle in Your Homeschool (With Real Birds)

    If you’ve ever stood in your backyard with a cup of coffee, watching your kids chase chickens around while simultaneously learning more about biology than any worksheet could teach them — you know exactly why backyard chickens and homeschooling go hand in hand.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Teaching kids about the chicken life cycle isn’t just a science lesson. It’s one of those beautiful, layered learning experiences where everything clicks — observation, patience, wonder, responsibility, and yes, actual academic content. And the best part? You don’t need a fancy curriculum. You need some chickens, a curious kid, and maybe a good book or two.

    Why the Chicken Life Cycle Is Perfect for Homeschool Science

    Here’s the thing about homeschooling that took me a while to really embrace: the best lessons aren’t always the ones you plan. They’re the ones that unfold right in front of you.

    Chickens give you a front-row seat to the entire circle of life. From egg to fluffy chick to awkward teenager (yes, chickens have an awkward phase too) to full-grown hen laying her own eggs — your kids can witness every single stage. In real time. In your own backyard.

    This is Charlotte Mason nature study at its finest. No textbook can replicate the experience of holding a warm egg that was just laid, or watching a chick pip its way out of a shell over the course of hours. These are the moments that stick with kids forever.

    And here in Florida, we have the advantage of mild winters, which means our hens keep laying pretty consistently year-round. We’ve raised chicks in February and again in late summer, and both times the kids were absolutely captivated.

    The Four Stages of the Chicken Life Cycle

    Let’s break this down into what you’ll actually be teaching (and observing):

    Stage 1: The Egg

    This is where it all begins, and honestly, it’s where some of the best questions come from. Why do some eggs have chicks inside and some don’t? How does the hen know?

    If you have a rooster, you can incubate fertilized eggs and let your kids watch the entire development process. We’ve candled eggs with the kids using just a flashlight in a dark room, and seeing that tiny embryo and network of blood vessels is genuinely magical.

    No rooster? You can still talk about the egg stage using your regular laying hens. Crack an egg open and show them the parts — the yolk, the albumen, the chalazae (those little white strings), and the air cell. It’s all there waiting to be discovered.

    Stage 2: The Embryo (Development Inside the Egg)

    If you’re incubating eggs, this is the stage where patience really comes in. Twenty-one days feels like forever when you’re six years old. But that’s part of the lesson too.

    We keep a simple chart on the fridge where the kids mark off each day and draw what they observed during candling. Around day seven, you can see the embryo moving. By day eighteen, the chick is getting into position for hatching. It’s incredible.

    A pocket microscope is perfect for examining pieces of shell after hatching — the kids can see the membrane layers and the texture of the shell up close.

    Stage 3: The Chick

    Hatching day is absolute chaos in the best way. Plan nothing else. Just be present.

    Watching a chick work its way out of an egg is one of the most profound things I’ve ever witnessed with my kids. It takes hours. It’s exhausting (for the chick and for the tiny humans watching). And when that wet, wobbly little bird finally emerges, everyone cheers like it’s the Super Bowl.

    The first few weeks of a chick’s life are full of changes — the down dries into fluff, feathers start coming in, they grow at an almost alarming rate. This is prime nature journal time. Have your kids sketch the chicks at day one, day seven, day fourteen. They’ll be amazed looking back at the progression.

    We use a simple nature journal for all our observations, and chicken sketches are some of our most treasured pages.

    Stage 4: The Adult Chicken

    Somewhere around eighteen to twenty weeks, your fluffy chick becomes a full-grown chicken. Hens will start laying, and the cycle begins again.

    This is a great time to dive deeper into chicken care and responsibility. Our kids help with daily chores — filling the nipple waterer, checking for eggs, adding fresh bedding. We dust the coop with food-grade diatomaceous earth together and talk about why we do it.

    If you’re looking for a book that covers chicken keeping in a kid-friendly way, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is wonderful. It’s written at a level elementary kids can understand, with real information they can actually use.

    Simple Activities to Reinforce the Lesson

    You don’t need to over-complicate this. Some ideas that have worked well for us:

    Keep a chicken life cycle journal. Dedicate a section of your nature journal or start a separate one just for your flock. Date entries, sketch observations, press feathers between pages.

    Create a life cycle wheel. Let your kids draw and label each stage, then attach the wheel with a brad so it spins. This is especially great for younger learners who need that hands-on, visual reinforcement.

    Egg dissection. Crack open a regular (unfertilized) egg and label all the parts. Compare it to a fertilized egg if you have access to one.

    Read living books. Charlotte Mason emphasized real, living books over dry textbooks — and there are some beautiful picture books about chickens and farm life that bring this lesson to life. Check your library or browse Rainbow Resource for recommendations.

    Daily observation time. This might be my favorite. Just… watch the chickens. No agenda. Let your kids narrate what they see. You’ll be amazed at what they notice when they’re given space to observe.

    A Note About Letting Kids Lead

    One of the things I love about teaching the chicken life cycle is how naturally curiosity-driven it is. You don’t have to convince kids to care about fluffy baby chicks. They just do.

    Follow their questions. If your kid wants to know why one chick is bigger than the others, research it together. If they’re fascinated by the different comb shapes on your hens, make that a whole lesson. This is the beauty of homeschooling — we get to follow the wonder.

    Our dog has learned to keep a respectful distance during chicken observation time, though she definitely hasn’t lost interest. It’s become this whole family rhythm — morning coffee, chicken chores, nature time. The kind of slow, connected mornings I dreamed about when we started this homeschool journey.

    Bringing It All Together

    If you’re looking for a meaningful, hands-on way to teach life science in your homeschool, chickens are honestly hard to beat. The lessons they offer go way beyond biology — responsibility, patience, the rhythm of seasons, the miracle of new life.

    If you’re thinking about adding chickens to your homeschool, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens is the comprehensive guide that answers pretty much every question you’ll have along the way.

    And if you already have a flock? You’re sitting on a goldmine of learning opportunities. Get outside with your kids. Watch. Sketch. Ask questions. Let them hold a warm egg in their hands and feel the weight of something so simple and so extraordinary.

    This is the stuff childhood memories are made of — and honestly, it’s the stuff mama memories are made of too.

    Happy homeschooling, friend. 🐔

  • Florida Native Plants to Grow with Kids: Easy Picks for Little Gardeners

    Florida Native Plants to Grow with Kids: Easy Picks for Little Gardeners

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever watched your kids dig in the dirt with complete focus—the kind of attention they never seem to give to worksheets—you already know something important. There’s magic in getting your hands in the soil. And here in Florida, we’ve got a secret weapon that most families overlook: native plants that practically grow themselves, attract incredible wildlife, and give your kids a front-row seat to real-life science.

    Our family started growing native plants a few years ago, partly because I was tired of fighting our sandy soil and humid summers, and partly because I wanted our little backyard ecosystem to actually work. Now our yard is full of butterflies, bees, and birds—and my kids have learned more about pollination, life cycles, and ecosystems from our garden than any textbook could teach. That’s the Charlotte Mason way, right? Living books, living experiences, living nature.

    Let me share some of our favorite Florida native plants that are perfect for growing with elementary-age kids.

    Why Native Plants Matter (And Why Kids Should Know)

    Before we dig in, here’s the quick version of why native plants are worth your time: they’ve evolved right here in Florida, which means they’re adapted to our heat, humidity, and sandy soil. They need less water, less fuss, and no harsh chemicals to thrive. And because local wildlife evolved alongside them, native plants support way more butterflies, bees, and birds than non-native ornamentals.

    For us homeschool families, that translates to endless nature study opportunities. When you plant a native, you’re not just growing a plant—you’re creating habitat. You’re inviting the whole food web into your backyard.

    This is the kind of hands-on learning I want for my kids. Less screen time, more dirt time. More wonder.

    Easy Florida Native Plants for Kids to Grow

    Milkweed (Asclepias Species)

    If you only plant one native with your kids, make it milkweed. Here in Florida, we can grow several species—butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) with its bright orange flowers is gorgeous, and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) does great in wetter areas.

    Milkweed is THE host plant for monarch butterflies. That means monarchs lay their eggs on the leaves, and the caterpillars eat the foliage as they grow. My kids have watched the entire metamorphosis cycle happen right in our yard, from tiny egg to fat striped caterpillar to jade-green chrysalis to that breathtaking moment when a butterfly emerges.

    We keep a nature journal on the back porch, and sketching milkweed in different stages has become one of our favorite rituals. Add some watercolor pencils and you’ve got art class and science rolled into one.

    Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)

    This one’s special—coontie is Florida’s only native cycad, and it’s the host plant for the atala butterfly, which was once thought to be extinct. These slow-growing plants look like small palms and are incredibly low-maintenance once established.

    Kids love coontie because it looks prehistoric (because it basically is). It’s a living fossil, y’all. We planted a few near the chicken coop, and the kids love checking the undersides of leaves for bright red atala caterpillars.

    Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)

    For instant gratification—which let’s be honest, elementary-age kids need sometimes—blanket flower is perfect. These cheerful red and yellow blooms grow fast from seed, tolerate our sandy soil and salt air, and bloom for months. They’re also a pollinator magnet.

    Let your kids direct-sow seeds in a sunny spot and water them in. Within weeks, they’ll have flowers they grew themselves. That pride? You can’t buy it.

    Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

    Beautyberry is one of those plants that makes people stop and ask, “What IS that?” In fall, it produces clusters of bright magenta-purple berries that look almost fake. Birds love them, and kids are mesmerized by the color.

    This shrub is low-maintenance and grows well in partial shade—perfect for those spots under oak trees where nothing else wants to live. We planted ours near our bird feeding area, and it’s fun to watch the mockingbirds and cardinals feast. A good bird field guide helps the kids identify who’s visiting.

    Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

    Passionflower, or maypop, is a native vine with some of the most intricate, alien-looking flowers you’ll ever see. It’s also the host plant for gulf fritillary butterflies, so you’ll get caterpillars and blooms.

    Fair warning: this vine is vigorous. Plant it where it has room to roam, or where you don’t mind pulling up runners. But the flowers are absolutely worth it for nature study. We’ve spent whole afternoons examining the complex structure with a pocket microscope—the kids are always amazed at what they can see up close.

    Tickseed (Coreopsis species)

    Coreopsis is Florida’s state wildflower, so you really can’t skip it. These sunny yellow flowers bloom prolifically, attract pollinators, and reseed themselves year after year. They’re forgiving of neglect and perfect for kids who want to see quick results.

    We’ve scattered coreopsis seeds along our fence line, and every spring it looks like a little wildflower meadow back there. The chickens aren’t allowed in that area (they’d scratch it all up), but they seem to enjoy watching the butterflies from their run.

    Tips for Gardening with Kids in Florida

    Start Small

    You don’t need a huge garden. A few containers on the porch or a small dedicated bed is plenty. The goal is connection, not perfection.

    Embrace the Mess

    Gardening with kids is muddy, slow, and sometimes chaotic. That’s the point. Put them in some sturdy rain boots and let them get dirty. Some of my favorite memories are of my kids absolutely covered in Florida sand, holding up a earthworm like it’s treasure.

    Make It a Routine

    In our homeschool, we try to spend time outside every morning before it gets too hot. A quick garden check—looking for new growth, caterpillars, or blooms—takes five minutes and grounds us before we start our book work.

    Connect It to Your Studies

    Native plant gardening ties into botany, ecology, entomology, art (nature journaling!), and even Florida history. If you’re using the Florida PEP scholarship, many of these supplies—field guides, art materials, seeds—can count toward your curriculum purchases.

    A Note on Sourcing Native Plants

    Not all plants labeled “native” at big box stores are actually native to Florida, and some may be treated with pesticides harmful to the very pollinators you’re trying to attract. Look for native plant nurseries in your area—here in Northwest Florida, we have some great ones. Many Florida native plant societies also hold sales in spring and fall.

    Growing from seed is another budget-friendly option, and kids love the process of watching seeds sprout.

    Growing Wonder, One Plant at a Time

    When I think about the childhood I want for my kids—the kind I remember from the 90s, full of outside time and curiosity and real experiences—gardening native plants fits right in. It’s slow. It’s unplugged. It teaches patience and observation and care for living things.

    And honestly? Watching my kids get excited about a caterpillar on the milkweed or a butterfly on the blanket flower never gets old. This is the good stuff, y’all. This is what we’re out here doing.

    So grab some native seeds or plants, get your kids outside, and see what grows—both in your garden and in their hearts.

    Happy planting, friends.