A fun and functional way to supplement your homeschool curriculum is by learning herbalism in your homeschool.
Are you looking for a unique and engaging addition to your homeschool curriculum? Look no further than herbalism! Learning about herbs and their uses can be a fun and rewarding adventure for both you and your children. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of learning herbalism in your homeschool and provide tips for getting started.
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An Introduction to Herbalism
Herbal (adj.) 1610s, from Latin herbalis, from herba “grass, herb”
Herbalism is a traditional form of medicine that focuses on the health of the body, mind, and soul, and it has been used for generations to treat various ailments.
A little homeschool study in herbalism can have your kids understand everyday herbs like basil, lavender, rosemary, oregano, or thyme. And how just those can relieve pain, ease digestive issues, kill infections, boost oxygen uptake in the blood, and more.
How powerful is it for kids to learn there can be a whole mini pharmacy in their own kitchen cabinet?
Benefits of Herbalism in Homeschooling
The benefits of herbalism within homeschooling are really in the homeschooling aspect. Homeschooling gives us, you and me, homeschooling parents/ teachers, and family members the opportunity in our young ones’ lives to teach them valuable information that they might never get otherwise.
Herbalism is just about the oldest form of medicine, however, it is nearly unheard of in our culture. Why is that? Is it because it doesn’t work for health or healing? No not at all.
Herbalism isn’t nearly as profitable as pharmaceuticals, and since the profit margin isn’t there we have seen herbalism pushed out of mainstream education and life as well.
However, when talking about homeschooling we are not required to fit inside the “mainstream mold”. So bring on the herbal knowledge, the lost and forgotten skills, and know-how, it is really a better way of doing things anyway.
Finding Quality Herbalism Resources
At first glance, it may seem that finding quality sources to cover the topic of herbalism in your homeschool might be hard to do.
But thanks to living in the age of information we now have these resources at the click of a mouse.
In a downloadable curriculum, basic topics like learning medicinal plants, local plant knowledge, drying herbs, and foraging in different weeks throughout The Self-Reliant Vintage Skills Academy.
Additionally, there are some Amazing Herbal books:
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies
Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar
How to Incorporate Herbalism into Your Homeschool Curriculum
Journaling
This is just about the simplest way you can start learning herbalism in your homeschool. With a journal, you can have your kids focus on one plant at a time. This way they can draw a picture of the plant and takes notes as they learn about that herb.
Another fun thing to do here is to use the actual plant and press-dry them ( I like to do this by pressing it between pieces of parchment paper and placing it inside the pages of a thicker book).
Notebooking
This is similar to journaling except it is a little bit more done for you.
Notebooking pages are one of my favorite homeschooling resources for all sorts of learning.
You can print out notebooking pages for any plant, flower, tree, etc. or use blank ones and use all the places to dive into drawing, note-taking, magazine cutouts, or anything else you desire.
Check below to find great notebooking pages
Online Classes
Maybe you are looking for something online, with loads of information. In that case, online classes might be just the thing you are looking for. And again that’s to living in a time where information is so accessible there are even A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Herbalism online resources for homeschooled kids, which was never possible in the 90s (back when I was a kid). Talk about the world at your fingertips.
For older homeschoolers, I would recommend Looking at some courses From The Herbal Academy. They have a great beginners level course called the Introductory Herbal Course.
For those younger learners, they offer an Online Nature Camp: Herbalism for Kids.
Herbalism Projects for Homeschoolers
- Pick an herb and learn about it, draw it, and then use it in a recipe.
- Pick a handful of herbs to plant, watch them grow, and learn about each one.
- Look up your local herbs and go hunt for some.
- Use herbs to press, dry, or preserve.
- Learn the different ways you can use herbs in your daily life
Herbalism is a great way to bring valuable new knowledge and perspectives into your homeschool classroom. This blog post provided tips on how to get your homeschool learning herbalism, from an introduction to the subject to sample projects for homeschoolers. With the help of this post and the wide range of resources available, you can get your homeschool learning herbalism in no time.
If you found this blog post helpful and would like to learn more about herbalism, please check out The Self-Reliant Vintage Skills Academy a 36-week curriculum building self-reliant & independent kids during (uncertain) times with Vintage Life Skills.
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Beth is a mother of 6 living on a handful of acres in an old farmhouse in central Kansas. Beth has a background in the military and health and fitness however her passions come from her homestead life. Beth is an enthusiastic homeschooling mom, avid organic gardener, chicken & goat wrangler, who is obsessed with herbs and natural remedies and maintaining an all-around Do-It-Yourself lifestyle. Beth loves to share all she has learned about and sustainable living. While striving for a healthy, natural life, family-centered life.