Homeschool Science Curriculum

The thought of a homeschool Science curriculum can cause many people to worry and be afraid that they aren’t capable of teaching it adequately. Basically Science can be broken down into 3 main topic areas:

1. Earth Science

2. Life Science

3. Physical Science

You don’t have to learn it all in 1 year. You actually have 13 years to introduce these concepts to your child. A Kindergartener will be introduced to some very basics concepts in these areas of Science. You can choose 1 or 2 areas to study each year after that and have plenty of time to dive into more in-depth areas of study. As a child gets older they get more and more detailed in their study of these areas, but all of this can be done when spaced out over time.

Here is a more detailed outline of what is covered in each area of Science that can be applied to Homeschool Science as well:

Earth Science - Meteorology, Geology, Astronomy- This includes the basic study of air and water, weather and climate,atmosphere, solar system,water, and land.

Life Science - Biology, Zoology, Botany- This includes:

1. Animals and their classifications, characteristics, reproduction and environment.

2. Plants and their characteristics, relationships with animals and reproduction.

3. Human body including parts, senses, teeth, cells, skin, body systems, illness and drugs.

Physical Science - Physical Science, Physics, Chemistry, Technology- This includes force, gravity, machines, air and water as forces, magnetism, energy, electricity, sound, matter, atoms, elements and compounds, gasses, water, solids, electronics, engineering, flight and the periodic table.

You can use all kinds of methods to teach Science

• Textbook/workbook approach - You can view these reviews for more information - Apologia, Abeka Science, Spectrum Math (with links to their science programs), School of Tomorrow, Switched on Schoolhouse review, and Sonlight Curriculum.

• Video - Online Homeschool e-Science Program. You can also get more information about the online e-Science program from my interview with them at Supercharged Science.

  Switched on Schoolhouse also uses some videos with their homeschool science curriculum.

• Auditory - Lyrical Life Science

• Hands-On approach -

  Considering God's Creation, Sixth edition 2-volumes with CD By Susan Mortimer & Betty Smith / Eagle's Wings Educational This hands-on approach to learning science is a wonderful alternative for all types of students! Whether they're creative, Kinetic, high-energy or traditional students, this course has activities and learning opportunities for all. Chapters cover all aspects of God's creation, including the natural world, solar system, the human body, animals, plants, weather and more. Many activities are cut-and-paste, with the final result being a chart, mobile, helpful illustration or demonstration or the concept, sequential order of events or other representation of the creativity displayed throughout the universe. The student text contains the instructions and reproducibles; the teacher's guide contains lessons with instructional information and answers. Student book is 268 pages with puzzles, songs and glossary; Teachers Manual is 128 pages with answers, CD with Bible songs, and lessons. This can be used for 1 or 2 years of a homeschool science curriculum.

• Supercharged Science can also be used when teaching with a hands-on approach. They make it easy to get your children interested in Science. They have videos that show you complete science experiments right before your eyes. You can do them on your own too, but it's wonderful to be able to have someone else do the planning and initial experimenting.

  They offer a free Science Experiment Guide. The best value is their e-Science Curriculum Program where you can access all their videos online and work at your own pace.

  If you want to see some of their videos, just enter your information and view them here:

  • Magnetism
  • Rocketry
  • Roller Coasters
  • States of Matter
  • Plus lots more...

  Articles: Supercharged Science also provides lots of parent resources on their site in relation to teaching science. Whether you are using a homeschool science curriculum or their online program, they provide lots of fun and interesting things for your children to learn.

  Seven Biggest Mistakes in Teaching Science and What to Do About Them

  Secrets from Successful Teachers

  Six Keys to Teaching Homeschool Science

  Long-Term Effects of Not Fulfilling Your Child's Passion for Science

  Science Activity Manual and Video Guide

• Picture Books - For preschool through the early elementary years, I believe that you can use picture books for ALL of your homeschool science curriculum. Homeschool Science can easily be taught with picture books. This is an enjoyable method for BOTH parent AND child.

• Experiland - "Experiland's science books contain a diverse range of over 300 science projects, and features subjects like Chemistry, Earth science and Astronomy, Electricity and magnetism, Life sciences and Physics. We make lesson preparation easy with a complete listing of required materials, step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the project, why it works and additional information on the subject."

• Unit Studies - Amanda Bennett is the queen of unit studies! Why reinvent the wheel when she has already done all the hard work for you? Here is a sample of what Amanda has available in Science unit studies:

  Oceans

  Astonishing Animals/Creation Camouflage

  Autumn Treasures/Tremendous Trees

  Handsome Horses/Davy Crockett

  Dogs

  Dolphin Days

  Animals Fun Pack - 7 units

  One Year Download N Go program

  Click here to see all the Unit Studies available by Amanda Bennett.

Simple Science suggestions you can use alone or with a homeschool science curriculum:

- Sprinkle baking soda in each sink of our house and then pourvinegar over it to see the bubbles. It’s a fun activity to do together and it gets my drains cleaned without damage to pipes or our lungs.

-Plant seeds indoors our outdoors.

-Draw animals and plants with your child. This helps them notice details and characteristics.

-Watch and track the weather and climate with your child.

-Explore the planets and how they rotate around the sun.

-Get books out of the library about animals and discuss what kind of characteristics they have and where they live.

-Talk about the colors of leaves that fall in Autumn.

-Walk around outside in the Spring and watch the blooms and growth of the trees and flowers.

-Talk about your body and how it works and how to take care of it.

-Talk with them about how machines can be used to get work done.

-Discuss how everything is made up of either a solid, gas or liquid.

Whether you use a prepared homeschool Science curriculum or you put together your own Science resources, be sure to use the time you have with your child to enjoy the world that God has created. Use the resources available to you, but don’t make it a chore. Answer your child’s questions about the world around them and help them create a sense of wonder about how things work and how they were created. This will help you the most when approaching a homeschool Science curriculum.

Once my children turn 13 or 14 I get them started on the Apologia Science series. Before that you can use Considering God's Creation or the Apologia Zoology Series.


Here is a great website that you can go to that gives you the recipe on how to grow sugar crystals. You should have everything you need right in your home (my favorite kind of experiment). This can be added to any homeschool science curriculum.

It's really fun to see something form from something that looks just like water. Growing Sugar Crystals

Another great way to learn about science is to build a rocket. 321Rockets offers a large selection of Estes model rockets, beginner kits, and rocket engines. Buy in bulk to save money for your youth group or function. They can be your one stop rocket shop.

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