Science is a subject that sometimes scares homeschool parents, but it does not have to! Especially for young children, teaching science is a natural part of discovering how the world works. On the other hand, a science curriculum can help parents direct a child's interest and help them cover biology, geology, earth and space science, chemistry, physics, and more.
As with my other posts about homeschool curricula, I'm focusing on secular options. I have not used all of these, and so I link to those who have used them or reviewed them for your own convenience. I also share my own ideas for making science work in your homeschool.
For my very young children, I find that living life provides plenty of scientific experiments. We cook together, we build things out of blocks and watch them fall down or pretend Rapunzel is on a tower. We test what floats and sinks. We read great books that discuss science.
With my older children and at my co-op, I taught science through fun STEM projects. We built a bridge. We tested out paper airplanes. See my full list of fun STEM ideas for more of those types of ideas.
Going out into nature is also an essential part of life. For those who do not want to use a curriculum, observing the world around you can teach you about plants and animals, earth science, space (astronomy), and so much more. Physics is the study of natural laws. Why do we wear a seatbelt? A great part of being a homeschooling parent is saying "I don't know! Let's go find out!" when children have a question.
Check out the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op to get discounts on subscriptions for some of these science programs, as well as
Homeschooling can feel overwhelming, but take things one step at a time. Don't try to do it all, and remember that a lot of life is learning about science. Ease into it and begin by deciding what you want to cover when you feel more comfortable with it.
I’ve been basing the “how to get started guides” on my state requirements for what subjects must be taught. This post includes some other subjects that students may or may not be required to be taught and that you may want include, including homeschool foreign language options, life skills in your homeschool, and more.
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