Do a quick Google search for “homeschool science curriculum,” and you’ll find countless pages of options. At first glance, this can be overwhelming! What is the mission and theology behind each curriculum? Will it teach your student exactly what they need to know to be on the same level as their peers? How much should it cost? Do you buy an online curriculum or textbook? The list of questions could go on and on, and suddenly, choosing the right homeschool science curriculum seems like an impossible task.
Ultimately, the decision is yours when it comes to choosing a science curriculum, but we want to aid in your decision by offering a few important questions and themes to guide you as you search!
Common Features to Look For
Before you narrow down your options, there are a few specific “categories” that you’ll likely want to consider when evaluating each science curriculum option:
- Instructional format
- Your student’s learning style
- Parent involvement
- Worldview (theology)
- Cost
- Grade level options
Let’s break down each of these categories.
Instructional Format
In today’s day and age, homeschooling has become so much more than just reading a textbook at home. Now, there are also online courses, hybrid learning, and curriculums that encourage co-op-style instruction. So, which one do you choose?
Of course, there are pros and cons to each option. Online courses tend to be more student-led (versus parent-involved), but using the internet comes with its own sets of risks and dangers. (For more insight on using an online curriculum, check out this blog post: How to Choose the Best Online Christian Homeschool Program.) Hybrid learning can be a best-of-both-worlds option, but will it require more oversight from you as the teacher?
As you can see, you’ll want to seriously consider each format of instruction and perhaps even make a pros and cons list yourself! The curriculum format also ties directly into our next two categories…
Your Student’s Learning Style
Even if you have multiple homeschooled students under one roof, you’ve probably noticed that they have different learning styles! While one may thrive in reading and writing, another may be more visual and hands-on. When it comes to science, knowing your student’s learning style is especially important. Some curriculums will be heavy on reading, while others may consist of mostly projects and experiments.
If you don’t already have a good sense of what type of learning style your student prefers, now is the time to figure that out! What are their interests? How do they learn best in other subjects? From there, you can look at curriculum options with a new set of eyes that will help you make the best curriculum decision for your homeschooler.
Parent Involvement
As previously discussed, the format of instruction will heavily impact your involvement as the parent and/or teacher. But first, ask yourself this: How involved do I want to be in my student’s day-to-day learning?
Obviously, as the homeschool parent, you’re going to be involved in some capacity or another, and this might even vary from subject to subject. It will also depend on your student’s learning style; they may need more oversight in subjects that they’re struggling to understand or enjoy.
If you go with a textbook-heavy curriculum, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to be more involved in reading, asking questions, and following up with assignment completion. For online courses, there are generally virtual teachers responsible for teaching, grading, etc. As you consider your contribution as the parent/teacher, also ask yourself what your capacity is when it comes to time, especially if you have other homeschooled children at home.
Worldview (Theology)
For many, this category sits at the top of the list! Many homeschool curriculums lean toward a faith-based worldview, but you may not want that for your family. Would you prefer a neutral approach to science with multiple worldviews addressed, or do you want something on one far end of the worldview spectrum?
Fortunately, most curriculums are pretty up-front about their mission and worldview, and you probably already know where you stand as a family on the topic. This should make it easier to narrow down your choices!
Cost
It’s the one thing nobody likes to talk about: money. If only homeschooling were completely free and we didn’t have to look at cost as a deciding factor when choosing the right homeschool science curriculum! Science curriculum lies on a very wide spectrum of pricing, and this spectrum isn’t always an indicator of how “good” the curriculum is. You may find a super popular science curriculum that is affordable but doesn’t check all your boxes. Or you might come across a no-name curriculum that works perfectly for your family but costs you a bit more.
Like we said, don’t use the cost as a gauge of superiority. Instead, keep an idea of your personal budget in mind, and then look into the other features of each curriculum, besides the cost.
Grade Level Options
This category is important to note if you have multiple homeschooled students in your home. If a science curriculum only offers courses for a few grade levels, you’ll end up having to branch out and buy multiple different curriculums. Nobody wants to do that! So, as you sift through your options, look for a science curriculum that can serve you across many grade levels. This will also make it easier to pass down the curriculum to younger students as they advance through their education. It will also provide consistency for your student(s) so that they don’t have to switch to a new curriculum each year.
So, What Next?
If you’re thinking there’s no chance you’re going to find a homeschool science curriculum that checks each and every one of your boxes, we’re here to tell you that the impossible is possible! But, even if one or two of your boxes aren’t checked, you are still likely to find an excellent curriculum that works great for your homeschool family. There’s also a good chance that your needs and preferences will change as you go through your homeschool journey, so stay flexible, and don’t be afraid to change things up if needed!
You may also find it helpful to read the reviews that accompany each curriculum. Fellow homeschoolers who have tried a science curriculum already will often list the pros and cons of the option they chose, which can make your search even easier. When it comes to choosing the right homeschool science curriculum, we’re all in this together!
Start Your Search with Journey Homeschool Academy
If you’re just starting to look at homeschool science curriculums, we have a great place to begin your search! At Journey Homeschool Academy, we offer a wide array of online science courses for many grade levels. Our curriculum incorporates multiple learning styles into one thorough offering. Who knows … it might be just what you’ve been looking for!