When I began writing this curriculum, I often thought of my grandmother, who taught in a one-room schoolhouse. Her students spanned all ages, yet they learned together with curiosity and care. I’ve tried to follow that same spirit. Each weekly lesson is centered around a single seasonal theme the whole family can explore. Many activities are designed to be done together, while others offer tiered suggestions for three age groups:

• Sprouts (ages 3–7)

• Saplings (ages 8–12)

• Oaks (ages 13+)

This approach allows families to move through the season in step, even with a wide range of ages and abilities.

Yes. The curriculum supports visual, auditory, and hands-on learners through a variety of lesson formats. Whether your child learns best through listening, drawing, observing, or doing, each week offers activities that can be adapted to your child’s natural strengths. Journaling, discussions, field observations, and creative projects allow for both structure and flexibility.

Yes. As a mother of neurodivergent children myself, I created this curriculum with our wonderfully “neurospicy” learners in mind. It is flexible by design, not just to support individual students but to meet the needs of families learning together with varying abilities and learning styles.

Non-readers are supported through hands-on activities, oral narration, and journaling that can be scribed by a parent. If you find that an activity from a different age group fits your child better, you are encouraged to mix and match. One of my boys graduated high school at 14; another wasn’t reading until age 9. There is no one path, and this curriculum honors that by offering gentle structure with room to adapt.

Spending time in nature also offers tremendous support for neurodivergent children. It can help regulate emotions, reduce sensory overload, and increase focus and calm. Whether your child is curious, cautious, or wildly creative, there is space for them here.

Not at all. This curriculum was specifically crafted with non-readers in mind. My oldest son wasn’t reading or writing independently until after age nine, and for years, text-heavy assignments were a challenge. Yet he went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a degree focus in educational studies and a TEFL certification for teaching English abroad. Late bloomers often become deep thinkers. Each lesson is designed as a read-aloud, with many hands-on activities that don’t require writing. Adults are encouraged to record their child’s oral narrations in their journal, allowing every child to participate.

Yes. Lessons are written directly to the student in a friendly narrative tone, making them accessible for fluent readers. However, I encourage you to join in when possible. This curriculum isn’t just about nature study, it’s about spending time learning together. Some of the most meaningful discoveries come from conversations shared outdoors, side by side.

Not at all. Aside from a good field guide for Florida, something I do recommend for identification and journaling, all essential materials are included right in the curriculum. You’ll find excerpts from Burgess storybooks, poetry, nature lore, and even art studies woven into the weekly lessons. The curriculum is written in the style of a living book, offering rich content that you can read aloud and explore together without needing to chase down outside resources.

That said, if you love the library or have favorite nature books on hand, you are always welcome to supplement. But nothing more is required than what is provided.

I believe that a shared love of the natural world is one of the few great unifiers in a time where beliefs are often polarized. The homeschool community that I was part of in England had families from diverse backgrounds and a leadership that set out to make our activities as inclusive as possible for both secular and spiritual families. That same ethos exists in the Wild Florida curriculum. By focusing on the wonder of the natural world at our fingertips, the issues that often divide within the homeschool community of origins, timeframes and spirituality are avoided, creating space for each family to share from their own beliefs on those topics or not at all. The curriculum follows the cycle of the year through the solar events of solstice and equinox, holidays are not included, keeping the focus on what is occurring in the natural world each season. Whether your family is secular or spiritual you will find a welcoming and safe place for learning within our curriculum and communities.