There is no right speed. The book has 100 pages across six chapters, and you can move through it in a focused week, over six weeks, or a page here and there over a whole season. For most children ages 4 to 8, one or two pages in a sitting, plus a short chat, feels about right.
Three common rhythms
- One week. A full research week, one or two chapters a day, with a small experiment in the middle. The five-day homeschool week lays this out Monday through Friday.
- Six weeks. One chapter per week, with time for hands-on activities between pages. The six-week research unit walks through each week.
- Open-ended. Color when your child asks to, and let the story unfold slowly. This works well for very young kids.
How the chapters are sized
The chapters are not all the same length, which helps with planning:
- Chapter 1: pages 1 to 10
- Chapter 2: pages 11 to 25
- Chapter 3: pages 26 to 40
- Chapters 4, 5 and 6: 20 pages each, ending at page 100
The first chapter is the shortest on purpose, so your child gets an early win.
Signs to slow down or speed up
Slow down if coloring starts to feel like a chore, or if your child rushes past the questions. Stop mid-page if you need to. A half-colored page with a good conversation beats a finished page with none.
Speed up if your child keeps asking "What happens next?" That is the curiosity I wrote the book to spark, so follow it.
Finishing
The book ends with the Junior Researcher diploma on page 99. Whenever your child gets there, it is worth a small celebration. See How does my child earn the Junior Researcher diploma? for ideas.