As a home educating parent of 11 years, I love sharing some of the best homeschool resources that I’ve come across for exploring all kinds of subjects and topics. I previously published a post on homeschool secular curricula for history (find secular history curriculum) and Spanish homeschool curriculum. I also wrote about 100+ homeschool resources. Today’s post is about the best secular homeschool science curriculum!
If you are a homeschool mom or dad looking for some of the best secular homeschool science curriculum for every interest and grade level, keep reading (and bookmark) this post.
Although it seems that a lot of science curriculum is developed by faith-based companies, there are several options available for homeschooling families who would rather take a more secular or neutral standpoint.
What Is Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum?
The word secular has evolved to mean a variety of things, so I think it is important to identify what this means from a scientific point of view. Secular science curriculum should not be based on any one set religion.
Instead, it includes acceptable scientific theories that are not influenced by religious beliefs.
Secular science curriculum also doesn’t teach intelligent design (God), or “new Earth science” which is a set of beliefs that isn’t accepted by today’s scientific community.
Overall, a secular science curriculum seeks to present theoretical content that can be further studied and backed up by factual findings. There are a lot of great options so you can design a complete secular homeschool curriculum for your science exploration.
Why Use a Secular Homeschooling Curriculum for Science?
The reasons to use a science program or curriculum that is separate to religious instruction are many and varied. It is possible to argue that children will get a better education if personal beliefs are kept separate to scientific fact.
This doesn’t stop families of faith (usually Christian homeschoolers but also frequently Muslim or Jewish families) from also bringing up their children in a way that aligns with their beliefs. It simply means that children can benefit from an objective view based on physical science facts (as far as we know them).
It may also be the best choice to avoid religious homeschool curriculum when it comes to science if your children may attend public schools at some point. It means that they will be better aligned with what other children are learning in the core subjects, which is an important factor in adapting when moving out of the homeschool world.
I have rounded up some great science curriculum for secular homeschoolers- these are divided into subscription boxes, books, online classes and curriculum packages.
Best Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum
Best Science Subscription Box For Science
The Mel Science subscription box is the most fun and hands-on way to explore science with your children. Every month get up to 5 interactive science projects as well as access to over 70 virtual reality and augmented reality lessons (yay for modern homeschool!) as well as a fantastic app that delves even deeper into the world of science.
Projects include making a dental cast and filling cavities; make a black sugar snake; create ‘fire foam’, practise surgery and more! Try the Mel Science subscription box for kids who don’t love written work or as a fun bonus to your homeschool!
Best Secular Science Books For Elementary Grades / Primary School (Ages up to 11)
(For younger children aged 5-8) Little Kids First Big Book of Science – a great first book and introduction into the different types of science, what scientists do and the amazing things that they study.
Lonely Planet Kids The Big Earth Book – A brilliant book exploring how the four elements (earth, air, fire and water) created everything the world and everything that exists today.
40 Real (and Exciting) Chemistry Experiments For Kids – Super fun chemistry experiments for children to do at home, using everyday household items and with explanations of the science behind each reaction.
Ask a Scientist- 100 Big Questions – A great way for kids to delve into the mind of a scientist and ponder things they may not have thought of before.
125 Cool Inventions (Wacky Gadgets & Super smart Machines) – Kids can find out about dream machines, flying hotels, bread-buttering toasters and more!
Best Secular Science Books For High School Years
What If? Serious Scientific Answers To Absurd Questions – A hilarious and brilliant book answering questions you never thought to ask such as ‘When Will Facebook Contain More Profiles of Dead People Than Alive?” and “How many humans would a T-Rex in New York need to eat each day?”
Engineering for Teens – This beginners’ book for inspiring engineers introduces you to engineering principles and famous engineers throughout time.
Chemistry Made Easy– An illustrated guide to chemistry for high school students, ideal for helping them understand and revise chemistry principles.
Biology Made Easy – Written by the same publishers as ‘Chemistry Made Easy’, this is an illustrated guide for students to understand cellular and molecular biology.
Quantum Physics For Beginners– if you have older kids who are passionate about science and want to explore some more complex principles, this is one of the best additional books to add to your secular science homeschool curriculum. An award-winning scientist explains the elements of quantum physics in an accessible way.
For children and teens with dyslexia who may have a hard time, with academic work, this book Exploring Science With Dyslexia can help homeschool families meet the additional needs of their kids while exploring science.
Online Science Classes For Your Homeschool
Outschool – My kids absolutely love Outschool, as do I. It is so easy to find lessons suitable for your child’s age, aptitude and interests, and we have used the platform for multiple subjects. Use the link to get a $20 credit for lessons so you can try it out with no risk!
Simply type ‘science’ in the search bar and choose a standalone class or course that looks good for your child.
Study.com is a great online program that has thousands of lessons and science courses – there is something for younger kids and elementary students all the way to adult education level.
Khan Academy provides free, excellent online lessons in many subjects, including science. It is one of the biggest online resources providing quality secular homeschool curricula.
Elementary Secular Science Curriculum Packages
Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (Volumes I & II)
The setup of BFSU curriculum is with teachers and parents in mind who do not have much prior scientific knowledge. It has been created so you can learn alongside your students.
Other perks include lessons that provide hands-on activities and real-world observations. Volume I is geared toward K-2 grade (ages 5-7) while Volume II is primarily for 3-5 grades (ages 8-10). Both are good to use with progressing science learners.
Moving Beyond the Page
This curriculum resource offers full year science packages, curriculum only, and online options for both. They are broken down in several age categories: 7-9, 8-10, 9-11, 10-12, 11-13, and 12-14. The overlapping in age groups allows for any cushion room needed for developmental needs.
Evan Moor Science Workbooks
If you enjoy workbooks over textbooks, then you’ll like the science resources provided by Evan Moor. They cater to grades PreK – 6 and offer workbooks filled with worksheets, activities, and projects that promote fun learning experiences about the world around them.
Blossom and Root
Blossom and Root offers science curriculum and resources for the early years built on nature studies, STEM, and the arts. They understand the creative and explorative nature of children and harness that in the resources they provide. You can access their full scope and sequence for each grade and curriculum category.
Secular Science Curriculum for Middle Grades (6-8)
Conceptual Academy: Learn Science
Conceptual Academy uses the context of daily lives to help middle school students build a solid foundation in science concepts. They offer pathways from middle to high school scope and sequence so you can see how their textbooks work together.
The Complete Middle School Science Study Guide
Made from the same company that created Brain Games, this huge book pulls together all the most important scientific facts and puts them in an easy-to-learn format. Some topics you’ll find in this book are the Periodic Table, forces and motion, space, biology, and more.
It is a great resource that can accompany any other science curriculum you choose to use.
Next Level Homeschool
Offering a wide variety of secular science classes, Next Level Homeschool provides a pick-and-choose kind of program that allows you to choose exactly what you need. They run their courses in three separate semesters and offer discounts depending on how many students you are enrolling and how many courses you purchase.
High School Secular Science Curriculum
E Equals MC Q
The Classic Science curriculum written by high school science teacher Mr. Q mixes teaching concepts with learning strategies that students love. He offers online courses, classic science textbooks, and workshops to help teach your student science in a way they’ll enjoy!
BioZone Academy
This academy takes ordinary textbooks and turns them into engaging online courses fused with 3D models, weblinks, videos, animations, and simulations. Their courses are very reasonably priced and there are options to purchase the course and textbook together.
They also have a free 30-day trial so you can decide if their program is right for your student.
CK-12
This website is often used for younger ages and grades; however, they do offer courses and resources for high schoolers, especially when it comes to secular science curriculum. From physics and chemistry to biology and life science, your student is just one click away from free, interactive courses.
Oak Meadow High School
Oak Meadow believes education should be both flexible and exploratory while encouraging critical thinking skills. Their courses not only prepare high schoolers for college and beyond, but they’re also accredited. They offer an independent use option, as well as a distance learning option.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this roundup has made your search for the best secular homeschool science curriculum much easier. As you check on the suggestions above, be sure to read more about those who designed it and check for free samples.
Are there other secular science curriculums you’ve tried that aren’t on the list? Put them in the comments below!
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