Ambleside Online uses The Story Book of Science by Jean Henri Fabre (1823-1915) in Year 4 and along with another Year 4 science title, Madame How & Lady Why (MHLW) the book generates many questions and discussions on the AO forum.
Fabre wrote this book in 1917, and many
of the forum questions are related to either the wisdom of using a science book
of that age, or the style of the author's writing. My reasons for using MHLW
are here and are similar to those that helped me decide to use The Story Book
of Science.
Charlotte Mason believed that there was poetry in science and
that the literary treatment of science enabled children to learn how to wonder
and admire. This idea has been cemented even further for me as I've been using
The Story Book of Science with Moozle. We started this book last year when she
was nine years old (she turned ten a couple of months ago) and it has been one
of her favourite books from Year 4.
We read recently in Chapter XLVI about the volcanic
eruption of Mt. Etna in Sicily which threatened to wipe out the town of Catania:
"Without
those brave men who did not hesitate, at the risk of being burnt alive, to go
and open a new passage for the stream of fire, Catania would certainly have
been lost," remarked Jules.
"Catania
would have been all burnt down, there is no doubt. To-day its calcined ruins
would be buried under a bed of cold lava, and there would be nothing left but
the name of the large town that had disappeared. Three or four stout-hearted
men revive the courage of the terrified population; they hope that heaven will
aid them in their devotion, and, ready to sacrifice their lives, they prevent
the frightful disaster. Ah! may God give you grace, my dear child, to imitate
them in the time of danger; for, you see, if man is great through his
intelligence, he is still greater through his heart. In my old age, when I hear
you spoken of, I shall be more gladdened by the good you may have done than by
the knowledge you may have acquired. Knowledge, my little friend, is only a
better means of aiding others. Remember that well, and when you are a man bear
yourself in danger as did those of Catania. I ask it of you in return for my
love and my stories."
Jules
furtively wiped away a tear. His uncle perceived that he had sown his word in
good ground.
Fabre
has been called the 'Homer of insects.' He was also a poet and spent
his long life observing, wondering, admiring. He wrote volumes on just insects
alone. Mostly self-taught, he quietly pursued his study of the natural world
and it was not until he reached his mid-eighties that his wonderful
achievements were recognised.
Fabre
was very critical of the theory of evolution but was kind and respectful to fellow scientists who promoted the theory, such as Charles Darwin, who in turn respected Fabre and called him the "inimitable observer." When Fabre was in his
nineties he was asked if he believed in God. He replied emphatically:
"I can't say I believe in God. I see Him.
Without Him I understand nothing. Without Him all is darkness...
Every
period has its manias. I regard Atheism as a mania. It is the malady of the
age. You could take my skin from me more easily than my faith in God."
The Life of Jean Henri Fabre by Augustin Fabre
His
writing has a story-telling quality, revealing the secrets of nature in a
literary fashion whilst also adding the 'padding' that Charlotte Mason speaks
of. Children are required 'to dig' for their knowledge when they read this book
or have it read to them. They don't read through a list of facts or pieces of
random information and look at glossy pictures.
I
don't give my children a vocabulary list and tell them to find out the
meaning of the words by using a dictionary, but if a word they don't know comes
up in a book they are often able to figure it out by context. If not, they can
look it up in the dictionary if they need to, but they have first enountered
the word in a literary medium & not in a fragmented, unconnected form. In
the same time way, I often add a video or photograph or some other
resource related to the chapter after we've read it. The story itself
creates a sense of wonder and the other added resources relate to what has
already been assimilated.
I've been adding ideas to a Pinterest board as we
use them throughout The Story Book of Science.
'Knowledge
should be communicated in well-chosen language, because (a child's) attention
responds naturally to what is conveyed in literary form.'
A
Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason, pg xxx