Blue Collar Homeschool Curriculum Criteria
In order to be listed in our curriculum lists, materials have to meet certain criteria:
Items noted as "Tried and True" resources have been used by our own family, and we welcome questions!
We are not affiliated with any of the curriculum providers we recommend here, and receive no compensation in any form for our recommendation.
Science
Science...oh, it is the very bane of our existence! How many moms have we spoken with who struggle with finding the right fit for a "Blue Collar" kind of education? While the great debate may be assumed to be "Christian vs. Secular", the real debate may more realistically be "Too Rigorous vs. Too Light". We we want our kids to have a strong fundamental understanding of basic science principles, and we know we need to begin at the elementary level and not put it off, but where do we begin? Most conventions feature programs that are geared towards families who lean more toward the rigorous side, leaving "average" families filled with doubt and wondering if it is really necessary to teach their 3rd graders about eukaryotic cells and DNA. The answer is an emphatic "NO!", and you are not doing your child great harm if you elect to allow the elementary years to be about exploration and gaining basic knowledge. The "Rigor" families are simply following a different path, one they deem right for their children.
Warning...to teach science "right", and not just do a smattering of cool experiments from a book with no real rhyme or reason, you will spend some money. Science is one of the few subjects that is rather hard to teach without "stuff", and "stuff" costs money! So let's take a look at some rock solid curriculum that is perfectly rigorous enough for the average learner. We have some GREAT ideas for you!
Home Science Adventures
For those wanting a very hands on, exploration based science program for their K-8 learners, you MUST check this company out! They have really terrific complete science kits with lab sheets on all sorts of topics for the elementary and middle school learner. These are far more affordable kits, and easy to work with. Another Tried and True resource!
Janice VanCleave - "For Every Kid" Series
Maybe you are the kind of mom who loves things to be loose, and you prefer a totally non-textbook approach with experiment after experiment to play with (And yes, you are that mom that is the envy of us all, did you know that? We all wish we were more like you!). However, you want a framework to work with, something to guide you so you are covering all the science principles you feel are important and you aren't missing anything. Chances are you may have already seen this series of longtime favorites, but you may not have ever considered using it as an elementary science curriculum starting point. If not, you should. These books offer such intriguing activities that vividly present science in ways kids will never forget. For some of us, the thought of actually DOING the activities and tracking down supplies for every lesson is overwhelming, but for some, it is invigorating. Shame on the rest of us, but for those Science Rock Star Moms, go for it! You will LOVE this series...and it is completely affordable.
Little Professor Science Kits/Academy of Science for Kids
Do you prefer that your child explores rather than use textbooks? Do you want thematically prepared guided science explorations for your elementary kiddos where they are not told ahead of time what to expect for results, but instead are encourage to draw their own conclusions after performing experiments? For many, this really IS science! This approach may not satisfy those "scope and sequence junkies" out there who feel more confident with a well laid out textbook in their hands, but these kits are fabulous for allowing kids to delve deeply into general areas of science and work hands on as they find out things for themselves. The kits each come with a lab book which asks guiding questions along with giving step by step instructions. Newer versions have DVD's for instruction as well. This is not so much a workbook style text as it is a "make me think" sort of Q & A lab book. Eclectic, hands on homeschoolers might take these well produced kits and run with them, grabbing books from the library to illustrate principles and dig deeper into the subject matter. Kits range in price from $100 to $199, depending on the format, and usually contain 12 activities with accompanying written work, which can be done one a week for 12 weeks...or however else you might decide to structure the lessons.
Mr. Q Science
You're going to love this site! Mr. Q is actually a real life science teacher, Scott McQuerry, who has worked with public students and homeschoolers alike. He saw a curriculum gap and filled it beautifully with his own creation! Offering elementary and high school sciences, he has 36 week downloadable textbooks, separate printable supply lists so you can gather everything needed for the year all at once, and parent's manuals along with general timelines for working through the material, too. He also teaches classes online! Elementary level year long courses include Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Chemistry. High School courses include Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, and Advanced Earth Science. His conversational tone makes this curriculum far more accessible to the average student than the traditional high school textbooks do, and younger students will find his humor appealing while they are still learning real standards based science. At $50 a course, this is honestly a complete bargain, and unlike other resources, you can purchase units within a textbook if you'd prefer to mix and match a year! This is a "must see" curriculum, as I have a sense it would be a terrific fit for Blue Collar Homeschoolers!
Nancy Larson Science
Do you have "science guilt"? Have you bought multiple curricula only to have it sit on a shelf unused because you needed some "household item" that you didn't have, or because you had no time to read and prepare lessons before teaching them? Yea...we know...we've been there. How about a program that consists of a year of totally scripted lessons with everything you need right in the box? Sounds great, right? This is it, the real science program that will get done. Written by Nancy Larson, whose name may sound familiar as she is the creator of the elementary levels of Saxon Math...yes, that Saxon. This is solid science, with a vocabulary development factor that is unbelievable, and yet the curriculum is the easiest science to teach and totally "do-able". An entire year of science in a box. Perfect. This is an expensive curriculum, but it is one of those expenses that are totally worth it. When one looks at other curricula and adds up all the necessary "household items" one must go out and buy in addition to the text and workbooks, it is actually more comparable than one might think. This is a secular program and is religiously neutral. It is for K-4 with 5 due out eventually, and it has been easily used by our family with older kids. The higher price is justified, in our opinion, due to the quality of the research that went into making a complete, very full science program that also comes with all the necessary items. This is a Tried and True curriculum!
New Beginnings Publishing - The Rainbow Science Curriculum
So you have done all the fun "build a volcano" kind of stuff, watched phototropism on your kitchen windowsill, and now it is middle school and time to step it up a bit to prepare for more rigorous high school courses. Oh yea, and you never managed to take more than a general science course in high school and you are growing a little sick to your stomach as you contemplate the years ahead. No worries, we have you covered! First, let's look at this amazing, awesome, fully complete middle school science course that covers TWO years for you! Did I mention that it is a self-teaching course? Seriously, if your kid can read, hand them their kit and textbook and walk away.
Rainbow Science is a fully complete two year course covering introductory principles in biology, physics, chemistry and general science. There is a lab kit that contains every single item needed for every single experiment, with the exception of water. The course comes with a lab book in addition to a beautifully well put together softbound textbook, which I found to be exceptionally well done for the average Blue Collar learner. With this curriculum and lab kit, you can be assured that your child is learning the foundational knowledge necessary to be successful in life, whether they are college bound or trade bound...they need to know this stuff, and it will prepare them well for the next step, whatever that might be. The textbook is not arduous, nor is it "fluff". The author, a homeschooling dad himself, explains concepts in easy to understand language, and he gets to the point quickly utilizing carefully selected color photos and graphics to help the learner really visualize the concept. This is the "anti-public school textbook", in that the lessons are presented in a clean format with no busyness to each page. There are 2-3 lesson review questions after each lesson, to make sure the concept is cemented, and that is all. Yes, you can teach higher level science! Though not inexpensive, this program is highly recommended by us, and you will seldom find negative reviews about it. The author is a Christian, but the textbook could pass for secular with little to alter. If you read his web site, he explains where his faith enters the teaching, so you can be prepared should you have a different worldview. This is a Tried and True resource!
Noeo Science
Another "year in a box" sort of curriculum that is definitely more child led and exploratory in nature, Noeo offerings use a variety of "real" books rather than a textbook, along with experiment kits. A science notebook is kept by the learner. Noeo offers different levels of biology, physics and chemistry for the elementary and middle school learner. The book selections are wonderful, while some of the experiment kits might be considered a little on the light side. This curriculum is in the middle price range at about $150 for a year. Written from a Christian perspective, those who have a differing world view can adapt this and use it fairly easily without too much concern. A Tried and True resource.
Quick Study Labs - Electronics for Homeschool
Looking for something very different for science for your upper elementary or middle schooler (or high schooler, for that matter!)? Why not try a detailed electronics course taught by Joel Phillips, a community college instructor? This distance learning course is real electronics, and kids as young as age 8 begin to work their way through "The Edison Project" as they learn basic electronics principles by working through material presented online, as well as by doing hands on work with snap circuits kits and other items. If you are tired of studying the same old topics like magnets, habitats, and metamorphic rocks, take a break and try something completely new.
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey - Pandia Press
The folks at Pandia Press have created a science program with a little different, softer approach. Don't let that fool you though, the science learned is...well...real science! Information is presented in somewhat of a story format, with labs and worksheets as well. Even at young ages, the scientific method is gently introduced and used. I can see this being a very nice fit for a broad range of families. While not "cheap" it is one of the lower cost curriculum for science.
Supercharged Science
Videos, kits, online lessons...this is a science extravaganza! For a more non-traditional approach, you simply must check this site out. Scientist Aurora Lipper has created something very unique in her interactive science program. You really have to check it out yourself to see what it is all about, because describing it is downright impossible! With 800+ activities, experiments and projects, there is enough here to fill an entire childhood of learning. Offered in a monthly subscription plan, or a "Science Mastery" full course, Supercharged Science has options for different budgets. There are a couple of things to note about this very interesting presentation of science. #1. This is all physical science, no life science or chemistry. In order to broaden your child's general science knowledge, those topics would need to be covered using different curricula. #2. Some find her web site difficult to navigate and her looser organizational style contained within a little uncomfortable if they are more "textbooky". #3. If you want your child to get excited about science, just check out some of her videos and watch their reaction.
The Happy Scientist
Robert Krampf is "The Happy Scientist", and his web site offers a wide variety of content to peruse. This is video based learning by subscription with a price of only $29.95 a year. This program feels "looser" to me than some, but for unschoolers or those with lower level learners, this might be just the ticket. There are real concepts and principals taught, so don't fear about that (or we would never mention this site!), however those who prefer a real curriculum with workbooks, etc. might find this a wee bit disconcerting to work with. To those who love YouTube learning, but are looking for more structure in terms of concepts presented in a sequence, this might be a really awesome option! Worth a look, see what you think!
In order to be listed in our curriculum lists, materials have to meet certain criteria:
- It must be uncomplicated to teach with.
- It must be as neutral as possible in terms of world view/religious perspectives. If it is not neutral, it must be an exceptionally good resource and be easy to "neutralize" and be able to be used by people of all faiths. This does not mean there is no mention of religion, but that religious training is not a key component of the curriculum.
- It must provide a good education which would fully prepare a student for the real world. Not all of the curriculum suggestions would be appropriate for the college bound student, but then not every student is headed for college and their needs should not be ignored as they so often are.
Items noted as "Tried and True" resources have been used by our own family, and we welcome questions!
We are not affiliated with any of the curriculum providers we recommend here, and receive no compensation in any form for our recommendation.
Science
Science...oh, it is the very bane of our existence! How many moms have we spoken with who struggle with finding the right fit for a "Blue Collar" kind of education? While the great debate may be assumed to be "Christian vs. Secular", the real debate may more realistically be "Too Rigorous vs. Too Light". We we want our kids to have a strong fundamental understanding of basic science principles, and we know we need to begin at the elementary level and not put it off, but where do we begin? Most conventions feature programs that are geared towards families who lean more toward the rigorous side, leaving "average" families filled with doubt and wondering if it is really necessary to teach their 3rd graders about eukaryotic cells and DNA. The answer is an emphatic "NO!", and you are not doing your child great harm if you elect to allow the elementary years to be about exploration and gaining basic knowledge. The "Rigor" families are simply following a different path, one they deem right for their children.
Warning...to teach science "right", and not just do a smattering of cool experiments from a book with no real rhyme or reason, you will spend some money. Science is one of the few subjects that is rather hard to teach without "stuff", and "stuff" costs money! So let's take a look at some rock solid curriculum that is perfectly rigorous enough for the average learner. We have some GREAT ideas for you!
Home Science Adventures
For those wanting a very hands on, exploration based science program for their K-8 learners, you MUST check this company out! They have really terrific complete science kits with lab sheets on all sorts of topics for the elementary and middle school learner. These are far more affordable kits, and easy to work with. Another Tried and True resource!
Janice VanCleave - "For Every Kid" Series
Maybe you are the kind of mom who loves things to be loose, and you prefer a totally non-textbook approach with experiment after experiment to play with (And yes, you are that mom that is the envy of us all, did you know that? We all wish we were more like you!). However, you want a framework to work with, something to guide you so you are covering all the science principles you feel are important and you aren't missing anything. Chances are you may have already seen this series of longtime favorites, but you may not have ever considered using it as an elementary science curriculum starting point. If not, you should. These books offer such intriguing activities that vividly present science in ways kids will never forget. For some of us, the thought of actually DOING the activities and tracking down supplies for every lesson is overwhelming, but for some, it is invigorating. Shame on the rest of us, but for those Science Rock Star Moms, go for it! You will LOVE this series...and it is completely affordable.
Little Professor Science Kits/Academy of Science for Kids
Do you prefer that your child explores rather than use textbooks? Do you want thematically prepared guided science explorations for your elementary kiddos where they are not told ahead of time what to expect for results, but instead are encourage to draw their own conclusions after performing experiments? For many, this really IS science! This approach may not satisfy those "scope and sequence junkies" out there who feel more confident with a well laid out textbook in their hands, but these kits are fabulous for allowing kids to delve deeply into general areas of science and work hands on as they find out things for themselves. The kits each come with a lab book which asks guiding questions along with giving step by step instructions. Newer versions have DVD's for instruction as well. This is not so much a workbook style text as it is a "make me think" sort of Q & A lab book. Eclectic, hands on homeschoolers might take these well produced kits and run with them, grabbing books from the library to illustrate principles and dig deeper into the subject matter. Kits range in price from $100 to $199, depending on the format, and usually contain 12 activities with accompanying written work, which can be done one a week for 12 weeks...or however else you might decide to structure the lessons.
Mr. Q Science
You're going to love this site! Mr. Q is actually a real life science teacher, Scott McQuerry, who has worked with public students and homeschoolers alike. He saw a curriculum gap and filled it beautifully with his own creation! Offering elementary and high school sciences, he has 36 week downloadable textbooks, separate printable supply lists so you can gather everything needed for the year all at once, and parent's manuals along with general timelines for working through the material, too. He also teaches classes online! Elementary level year long courses include Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Chemistry. High School courses include Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, and Advanced Earth Science. His conversational tone makes this curriculum far more accessible to the average student than the traditional high school textbooks do, and younger students will find his humor appealing while they are still learning real standards based science. At $50 a course, this is honestly a complete bargain, and unlike other resources, you can purchase units within a textbook if you'd prefer to mix and match a year! This is a "must see" curriculum, as I have a sense it would be a terrific fit for Blue Collar Homeschoolers!
Nancy Larson Science
Do you have "science guilt"? Have you bought multiple curricula only to have it sit on a shelf unused because you needed some "household item" that you didn't have, or because you had no time to read and prepare lessons before teaching them? Yea...we know...we've been there. How about a program that consists of a year of totally scripted lessons with everything you need right in the box? Sounds great, right? This is it, the real science program that will get done. Written by Nancy Larson, whose name may sound familiar as she is the creator of the elementary levels of Saxon Math...yes, that Saxon. This is solid science, with a vocabulary development factor that is unbelievable, and yet the curriculum is the easiest science to teach and totally "do-able". An entire year of science in a box. Perfect. This is an expensive curriculum, but it is one of those expenses that are totally worth it. When one looks at other curricula and adds up all the necessary "household items" one must go out and buy in addition to the text and workbooks, it is actually more comparable than one might think. This is a secular program and is religiously neutral. It is for K-4 with 5 due out eventually, and it has been easily used by our family with older kids. The higher price is justified, in our opinion, due to the quality of the research that went into making a complete, very full science program that also comes with all the necessary items. This is a Tried and True curriculum!
New Beginnings Publishing - The Rainbow Science Curriculum
So you have done all the fun "build a volcano" kind of stuff, watched phototropism on your kitchen windowsill, and now it is middle school and time to step it up a bit to prepare for more rigorous high school courses. Oh yea, and you never managed to take more than a general science course in high school and you are growing a little sick to your stomach as you contemplate the years ahead. No worries, we have you covered! First, let's look at this amazing, awesome, fully complete middle school science course that covers TWO years for you! Did I mention that it is a self-teaching course? Seriously, if your kid can read, hand them their kit and textbook and walk away.
Rainbow Science is a fully complete two year course covering introductory principles in biology, physics, chemistry and general science. There is a lab kit that contains every single item needed for every single experiment, with the exception of water. The course comes with a lab book in addition to a beautifully well put together softbound textbook, which I found to be exceptionally well done for the average Blue Collar learner. With this curriculum and lab kit, you can be assured that your child is learning the foundational knowledge necessary to be successful in life, whether they are college bound or trade bound...they need to know this stuff, and it will prepare them well for the next step, whatever that might be. The textbook is not arduous, nor is it "fluff". The author, a homeschooling dad himself, explains concepts in easy to understand language, and he gets to the point quickly utilizing carefully selected color photos and graphics to help the learner really visualize the concept. This is the "anti-public school textbook", in that the lessons are presented in a clean format with no busyness to each page. There are 2-3 lesson review questions after each lesson, to make sure the concept is cemented, and that is all. Yes, you can teach higher level science! Though not inexpensive, this program is highly recommended by us, and you will seldom find negative reviews about it. The author is a Christian, but the textbook could pass for secular with little to alter. If you read his web site, he explains where his faith enters the teaching, so you can be prepared should you have a different worldview. This is a Tried and True resource!
Noeo Science
Another "year in a box" sort of curriculum that is definitely more child led and exploratory in nature, Noeo offerings use a variety of "real" books rather than a textbook, along with experiment kits. A science notebook is kept by the learner. Noeo offers different levels of biology, physics and chemistry for the elementary and middle school learner. The book selections are wonderful, while some of the experiment kits might be considered a little on the light side. This curriculum is in the middle price range at about $150 for a year. Written from a Christian perspective, those who have a differing world view can adapt this and use it fairly easily without too much concern. A Tried and True resource.
Quick Study Labs - Electronics for Homeschool
Looking for something very different for science for your upper elementary or middle schooler (or high schooler, for that matter!)? Why not try a detailed electronics course taught by Joel Phillips, a community college instructor? This distance learning course is real electronics, and kids as young as age 8 begin to work their way through "The Edison Project" as they learn basic electronics principles by working through material presented online, as well as by doing hands on work with snap circuits kits and other items. If you are tired of studying the same old topics like magnets, habitats, and metamorphic rocks, take a break and try something completely new.
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey - Pandia Press
The folks at Pandia Press have created a science program with a little different, softer approach. Don't let that fool you though, the science learned is...well...real science! Information is presented in somewhat of a story format, with labs and worksheets as well. Even at young ages, the scientific method is gently introduced and used. I can see this being a very nice fit for a broad range of families. While not "cheap" it is one of the lower cost curriculum for science.
Supercharged Science
Videos, kits, online lessons...this is a science extravaganza! For a more non-traditional approach, you simply must check this site out. Scientist Aurora Lipper has created something very unique in her interactive science program. You really have to check it out yourself to see what it is all about, because describing it is downright impossible! With 800+ activities, experiments and projects, there is enough here to fill an entire childhood of learning. Offered in a monthly subscription plan, or a "Science Mastery" full course, Supercharged Science has options for different budgets. There are a couple of things to note about this very interesting presentation of science. #1. This is all physical science, no life science or chemistry. In order to broaden your child's general science knowledge, those topics would need to be covered using different curricula. #2. Some find her web site difficult to navigate and her looser organizational style contained within a little uncomfortable if they are more "textbooky". #3. If you want your child to get excited about science, just check out some of her videos and watch their reaction.
The Happy Scientist
Robert Krampf is "The Happy Scientist", and his web site offers a wide variety of content to peruse. This is video based learning by subscription with a price of only $29.95 a year. This program feels "looser" to me than some, but for unschoolers or those with lower level learners, this might be just the ticket. There are real concepts and principals taught, so don't fear about that (or we would never mention this site!), however those who prefer a real curriculum with workbooks, etc. might find this a wee bit disconcerting to work with. To those who love YouTube learning, but are looking for more structure in terms of concepts presented in a sequence, this might be a really awesome option! Worth a look, see what you think!