The Ultimate Resource to Homeschooling Science K-12
Homeschooling science is intimidating to a lot of parents. But the truth is, you don’t have to be a science teacher to teach science!
Homeschooling science can be easy and fun, and I’ll show you how to do it. I’ll also share with you some of my favorite science programs and curricula, science books, necessary supplies, and engaging online resources.
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How Kids Best Learn Science
Remember that regardless of your kid’s age or level of interest in science, everyone learns best with a hands-on approach.
Of course, reading scientific books and textbooks is also important, but students learn science best when they are immersed in the process—by doing real science. So, instead of learning and memorizing facts, science experiments inspire students to ask questions and look for solutions.
Hands-on science develops knowledge and skills.
Homeschooling Science for Early Elementary Students (Grades K-2)
Kids from 5 to 8 are natural scientists. They are curious and want to explore the world with all their senses.
They love to learn new things, use their hands, and are enthusiastic about science experiments.
I can think of two cons, though:
- Short attention span
- A lack of abstract thinking skills
So, I recommend planning short periods of science-related activities on your homeschool schedule.
Early elementary students need constant visual examples and modeling.
If you want to teach them, for example, about the Solar System, you can build a model or even use toys to explain the distribution of planets and other celestial bodies.
Use Kitchen Science and hands-on exploration, and let your kids use all their senses to explore whenever it’s safe. Of course, they will get enthusiastic if you make a bit of a mess.
Vinegar + baking soda = lots of fun.
Start teaching easy science vocabulary. You can use the site with science terms made simple for kids and teach one or two words a week. I also recommend a science notebook, even for kids who cannot write.
They can draw what they saw during a walk in a park, or during an experiment and try to add as many things and details as possible.
They can draw before and after an experiment, label drawings of plants, glue leaves collected outside, and many others things.
You can also collect science supplies. At this stage, it doesn’t need to be anything specific. But you can get kits, slides, and even age-adequate science test tubes.
For ideas on science supplies, check out The Ultimate Homeschool Classroom Supplies List for Beginners.
Ask many questions before, during, and after experiments. Ask them what is happening, what happened, and what will happen. And finally, promote a lifelong interest in science. Make your kid feel they are a budding scientist and enjoy the moment.
Homeschooling Science for Elementary Students (Grades 3-5)
Around the age of 8, kids enjoy group activities more, so you could use a homeschool co-op and pair your children with other kids. Your child is also growing in creativity and abstract thinking, so that you can introduce some match skills in problem-solving to your homeschool science classes.
Get some science kits, and have some fun measuring different materials, playing with dry and liquid ingredients, and solving problems.
At this age, they can start working with different variables.
Introduce the scientific method by following the same steps but with an accessible language:
- Wonder – What do I want to know?
- Think – What do I think will happen?
- Act – See and test. What happens?
- Say – Was I right?
Keep using the science notebook, write their predictions, and describe what they see. They can also use it as a journal if you’re doing weather or plant observations over a more extended period of time.
Try starting a science dictionary and introduce more specific vocabulary.
Give your kid tools for independent science learning. Buy a magnifying glass, binoculars, a telescope, herbarium, beakers, and whatever can spur their curiosity.
Homeschooling Science for Junior High School Students (grades 6-8)
This is the age when you lay the foundations for high school science.
Therefore, you need to introduce more complex tools such as the Periodic Table and tools used in Taxonomy (animal classification).
The scientific jargon should also be more complex, and your kid should know and use specific vocabulary to talk about atom elements or parts of a microscope, for example.
Focus on Life, Earth, Space, and Physical science in your homeschool classes. Introduce your kid to chemistry and physics.
Math skills at this level are already more developed, so you can do some more complex problem-solving.
Make science classes interesting. Students at this age get bored easily, so make sure you introduce some fun elements to your homeschool science classes.
Here are some recommendations:
- Dress up as scientists and have a photoshoot
- Visit the closest science museum
- Start a rock, plant, or insect collection.
Also, make sure to get some topical science books that are level and age adequate.
Teach proper scientific methods and make your kid write down their hypothesis in their science notebook
Teach your child how to adequately track their experiments and use headers such as observations, predictions/hypotheses, experiment process, and conclusion.
It’s important to make them understand that failures are part of a scientific process.
Get a microscope if you don’t have one yet and use it to grow bacteria in Petri dishes or label parts of a cell. Encourage independent learning and ask your child to research and investigate.
You can ask them to write a short paper on a topic of their interest.
Homeschooling Science for High School Students (grades 9-12)
This can be a challenging period if your kid is not science-oriented.
You must earn credits in specific science areas, usually biology, chemistry, and physics, and provide adequate reference materials and lab equipment.
Make sure you check your state-specific requirements on the HSLDA website. Online science curricula will become your best friend since teaching science on this level requires serious knowledge.
If it’s not your area of expertise, look for free and paid resources.
Here are a couple of sites:
- Khan Academy provides AP Science classes at no cost and will help your kid develop scientific thinking skills at a high level
- Science for High School offers science curricula and supplies for homeschool and offers helpful teaching and learning tips on their blog
A local homeschool co-op can help with lab classes, or you can do dual enrollment at a local community college.
Keep making field trips. Go to the local recycling center or the water treatment plant. Make sure your teenager knows various job opportunities in different STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas.
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Homeschool Science Curricula and Resources
Here are some interesting links that can alleviate the search for online homeschool science resources and curricula.
Homeschool Science Resources:
- Backyard Science Experiments provides great ideas for fun experiments you can do with your kid without specialized scientific equipment
- Climate Kids helps younger students understand weather systems and climate change
- Homesciencetools offers kits, workbooks, teacher guides, and curricula for any phase of a science journey. For example, you can buy dissection kits on different levels, chemistry kits, and even blood type test kits. They also offer specific lab kits, such as Apologia, REAL Science Odyssey, or Abeka curriculums.
- In Science AZ you can get hands-on science lessons, experiments, and science books for different grades and reading levels. You can also explore the science A-Z Museum for grades K-6.
- My First Garden is a website run by the University of Illinois that introduces kids to fun and clever gardening. The website is bilingual and can be used by Spanish-speaking students and parents.
- NASA Kids’ Club is terrific for kids to learn about the space program. Educational games on this site encourage learning in a fun way.
- National Geographic for Kids is an incredible educational resource with many videos, games, and interactive programs
- Smithsonian Science Education Center is a science education center with tons of videos, eBooks, apps, and curriculums. You can search resources by type, grade, and topic. Some resources are free.
Homeschool Science Curriculum Options
- Apologia – A Christian, creation-based homeschool science curriculum
- Bridgeway Academy – offers K-12 curriculums, textbooks, and online science classes.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool provides Christian homeschool online courses and free worksheets that you can download, print, or buy in book format.
- Khan Academy has a great selection of science programs for middle and high school students. It even provides AP Science classes at no cost.
- Pandia Press offers REAL Science Odyssey homeschool science curriculum. REAL stands for “read, explore, absorb, and learn” and can be used by students of all ages
- Science for High School offers science curricula and supplies for homeschool and offers helpful teaching and learning tips on their blog
- Time4learning offers a fun science curriculum from PreK-12th grade in an interactive format and can be adapted for students with special needs
For more science and full high-school online programs, check out 8 Best Online Homeschool Programs for High School.
Homeschool Science With No Fear
As you can see, homeschooling science is not that difficult. All you need to do is make a space on your homeschool schedule, adapt your hands-on method to your kid’s age, and choose a curriculum and books that best suit your child.
Supplement your curriculum with online science resources. First, of course, get the necessary supplies. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the whole process!
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