Curriculum Corner — Exploring Science

In preparation for the school year, many of you are probably deciding on which curriculum choices to make depending on the needs, learning styles and goals of your learners. As a result, we will continue to publish some Educational Facilitator favorites for the core academics.

As important as “what” children learn is “how” they learn. With each program suggested, we will also include whether it works well with visual learners, auditory learners, or kinesthetic learners. Here is a link to several learning style assessments to help you determine your children’s learning styles.

Real Science 4 Kids
Grades K-6
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

Real Science 4 Kids was written by a seasoned independent study mom with a PhD. There are books for chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy and geology. The books explain concepts at a level in which kids understand, yet they are full of academic information. The projects provide fun, hands-on activities. It is recommended that K-3 learners use Pre-Level 1, while grades 4-6 use Level 1. Families should buy the text, lab worksheets and teacher’s manual for each subject they are interested in purchasing.

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey
Grades 1-8
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

Read, explore, absorb and learn science with R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey ! The text is written in an academic story format that learners will understand. Experiments and lab sheets are included for learners to record their observations. Level 1 is perfect for grades 1-5, while Level 2 works well with grades 6-8. Chemistry, physics, earth, life and space curriculums are available.

McRuffy Science
Grades TK-5
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

McRuffy Science offers a complete science curriculum for grades TK-5. Each grade includes physical, earth and life science lessons that use scientific inquiry. The kits come with a teacher’s manual, workbook, resource kit and manipulative kit. The program includes everything one needs for a full year of science from lessons to games to experiments to assessments. Families might enjoy using this curriculum to provide a fun overview at each grade level of all the science strands.

BookShark Science
Grades TK-7
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

BookShark offers complete science curriculums. The science curriculums come with a Teacher’s Guide, books and the science materials needed to complete the suggested experiments. BookShark’s complete packages are perfect for families that like hands-on science and love to read!

Nancy Larson Science
Grades K-4
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

Nancy Larson Science is another complete curriculum that comes with everything you need to teach the lessons. Nancy Larson was the author of Saxon Math and used her expertise to write a useful and interactive science curriculum.

FOSS Science Nutshell Kits
Grades 2-6
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

FOSS Science Nutshell Kits provide a hands-on approach to science. Everything one might need for experiments and activities are included in the kit. Each kit contains enough materials for six learners (or enough materials for one learner to complete the experiment/activity more than one time). There is also an activity guide included in the kit (order the individual pack and not the class pack). Families might also choose to purchase journals in packs of three to supplement the activities. There are kits for various physical, life and earth science topics. For most kits, there are two levels: 1-3 and 4-6. These pre-supplied kits are excellent for a family who wishes to already have the activities and materials provided for experiments.

Studies Weekly
Grades K-6
Learning Styles: Visual (some Auditory and Kinesthetic)

Studies Weekly has science newspapers that cover all of the California standards for grades K-6. The newspapers contain interesting text and suggestions for experiments. You also gain access to their video library.

Fun Supplemental Kits
Grades TK-8
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

These supplemental kits include everything one needs for fun home experiments on various science topics.

Science Whiz kits include everything needed for a few experiments and projects on different topics such as light, magnets, electricity, DNA, energy, sound, etc.

Magic School Bus Labs have hands-on experiments for grades TK-5.

Thames and Kosmos make kits that include the items needed to complete the project or conduct the experiment. These kits are a little more expensive and more durable than other kits.

Home Science Tools
Grades TK-12
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic

Home Science Tools is a valuable resource for independent studying families! Does your learner have an interest in dissecting specimens? Check out their frog dissection kit or dissection kit intermediate that includes seven specimens. Learners can even dissect a sheep brain or cow eye! There are also rocks, mineral, and chemistry kits. There is really so much to share about this site, so check it out check it out and enjoy learning about all of the materials available for purchase! Please be careful not to order faith-based items. Please also check with your EF regarding “Items Approved for Instructional Use” if any questions arise about items that may be purchased with funding.

Science Books and Videos
Learning Styles: Visual and Auditory

Learners love to read books about science!! Best Children’s Books a nd Usborne have lists of science books cataloged by topic. Visit the local library for these books or purchase them with funds through Rainbow Resource .

Magic School House also has picture books, chapter books and videos that children love! Most of these materials are available at your local library.

Exploring Curriculum is a series covering the core academic subjects for grades TK-8. Here are some of the past subjects covered:

Math

Phonics

Please keep in mind that while links are included to the publisher’s website, many of the resources are available at Rainbow Resource and some of the curriculum may be cheaper there. As you begin to place orders, it is usually more economical to place one big order versus paying the shipping costs on several smaller orders.