Homeschool Science Curricula
Choosing the right science curriculum for your homeschool can be a daunting task, especially when deciding between two primary instructional styles: the spiral approach and the mastery (or deep dive) approach. Understanding these methods and how they align with your educational goals is crucial for fostering a love of science in your children.
Spiral Approach
In a spiral curriculum, students revisit various branches of science—such as biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science—each year, with increasing complexity. This method reinforces previous knowledge and builds upon it, promoting long-term retention.
One example of a spiral curriculum is Nancy Larson Science, a secular program for elementary students. It's an open-and-go, traditional curriculum that covers a wide range of topics, with each year building upon the last. This structure allows for consistent reinforcement and expansion of scientific concepts.
Mastery (Deep Dive) Approach
The mastery approach involves an in-depth exploration of a single science domain over an extended period, often an entire year. By mastery, I really mean “mastery” — students aren’t expected to master all there is to know in this topic range. However, programs that align with this deep dive approach do not necessarily come back to domains in the elementary years. This method allows students to immerse themselves fully in a subject, fostering a deeper understanding and potentially igniting a passion for that area of science.
Curricula like Blossom & Root Science and Real Science Odyssey exemplify this approach. They offer comprehensive programs that allow students to delve deeply into specific scientific topics, encouraging thorough exploration and understanding.
Aligning with Standards
When selecting a curriculum, it's beneficial to consider how it aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These standards emphasize a three-dimensional learning model, integrating disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts. Depending on the curriculum's design, both spiral and mastery approaches can align with NGSS.
Incorporating Notebooking
Regardless of the chosen approach, integrating notebooking into your science studies can enhance learning. Notebooking encourages students to document their observations, hypotheses, experiments, and reflections, promoting active engagement and retention. For more insights on notebooking, check out my Notebooking Guide.
My Science Curricula Bookshelf
Nancy Larson Science (spiral)
We have used NLS for the past year and a half. It’s by no means perfect, but we are consistently getting science covered, and the kids are learning. For more on NLS, check out my post and video reviews here.
Pros:
Open-and-go, scripted lessons make it easy for parents to teach.
Strong emphasis on vocabulary and retention and rooted in the Science of Learning.
Hands-on activities are included in the kit.
Sequential, building on prior knowledge each year.
Incorporates study skills into lessons.
Cons:
Expensive compared to other programs.
Teacher-intensive; requires parent involvement for scripted lessons.
Limited flexibility in pacing and topic selection.
Lacks in-depth exploration of any single subject.
Blossom & Root Science (mastery)
I have a shelf full of B&R science programs. We have done deep dives in several subjects and, while we did not stick to a B&R program for an entire year, have found them to be fantastic guides for our deep dives. I really appreciate the wide array of activities provided for each topic.
Pros:
Nature-based, hands-on science with a strong literature component.
Encourages observation and curiosity rather than rote memorization.
Incorporates notebooking and creative projects.
Gentle approach, ideal for relaxed or Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers.
Cons:
If used as intended, students do not come back to topics regularly
K: Astronomy
1st: Earth Science
2nd: Botany
3rd: Zoology
4th: Physics
5th: Oceanography & Astronomy
6th: Chemistry (coming soon)
Requires additional resources for full NGSS coverage.
Hands-on projects may not suit every homeschooling style.
Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (spiral)
BFSU is a classic homeschool science curriculum rooted in a spiral approach. There are a plethora of resources available, ranging from a Facebook group with complete (free) lesson plans to a BFSU-inspired homeschool program, Scientific Connections Through Inquity (SCI), and more. I have tried to get into BFSU for years and I just don’t have the time or energy with 3 kiddos.
Pros:
Designed to build conceptual understanding in a logical sequence.
Strong alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Encourages inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
Affordable, especially for multi-age homeschooling.
Cons:
Not an open-and-go curriculum; it requires extensive preparation.
Lacks student workbooks or worksheets for reinforcement.
It can be challenging to implement without a solid science background.
Real Science Odyssey (mastery)
We dabbled in RSO programs alongside Blossom & Root for years, and my kids enjoyed the hands-on labs and lab sheets.
Pros:
Comprehensive, secular science curriculum with engaging labs.
Covers science systematically and incorporates “labs.”
Hands-on experiments included with detailed lesson plans.
Encourages critical thinking and inquiry.
Cons:
Can be time-consuming due to the hands-on components.
Requires purchasing additional materials for experiments.
Some families may find the pace too slow for students uninterested in deep-dives. Topics covered include:
Astronomy (recommended for 1st-4th grade)
Chemistry (recommended for 2nd-5th grade)
Earth & Environment (recommended for 1st-4th grade)
Physics (recommended for students 3rd-6th grade)
Biology 1 (recommended for students 2nd-5th grade)
Nomad Press Guides (unit studies)
I love Nomad Press guides. They have them for just about every science topic. You can often get them for free from your library or dirt cheap on eBay. They are a really easy way to jump into a unit study, beef up a kind of dry program with more hands-on activities, and can serve as a “textbook” of sorts for a topic you are covering in a more homeschooly kind of way. Check out my YouTube flip-through on Nomad Press guides here.
Pros:
In-depth, engaging books on specific science topics.
Great for supplementing other curricula or for unit studies.
Hands-on activities and real-world applications included.
Affordable and adaptable for multiple ages.
Cons:
No structured, year-long curriculum; requires planning.
May need to be supplemented with other science resources.
Some guides may be more suitable for older learners.
Notable Mentions
Science is Weird! Holy Batman, this is a cool program. My oldest loves it. I don't have enough experience with it to give you a full write-up, but you should check it out.
Science Mom If you are looking to outsource science for your 4th-6th grader, definitely check out Science Mom’s offerings. We will likely check these out in the near future and I have heard great things from friends.
We have dabbled in Oak Meadow offerings over the years. For grades K-4, science is integrated with the main sourcebook and follows a spiral approach. Starting in 5th grade, science is a separate coursebook. 5th grade still reflects the OM spiral approach. OM’s middle and high school science offerings follow a more standard traditional school approach, focusing on the main branches of science each year.
Moving Beyond the Page MBTP is a literature-based, hands-on curriculum integrating science with language arts and social studies. It follows a unit study approach, allowing students to explore in-depth topics through experiments, projects, and engaging books. While it offers strong critical thinking and inquiry-based learning, it requires significant parental involvement and can be costly compared to other options.
Our Favorite Reference Books:
Final Thoughts
Choosing between a spiral and mastery approach depends on your educational philosophy, your child's learning style, and your homeschooling goals. Both methods have their merits, and it's essential to select a curriculum that aligns with your family's needs. It’s also essential to know that those needs will likely change fairly regularly. It’s ok to dabble in both approaches! My biggest takeaway? Know that you will oscillate and bounce around. Every kid is different. Every year is different, and that is ok!
