Best Homeschool Science Curriculum Options (And When to Skip Them)
Choosing the best homeschool science curriculum options can feel a bit like trying to pick the perfect ice cream flavor at a shop with 87 choices—fun, but also kind of overwhelming. If you’re wondering how to teach homeschool science without the overwhelm, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re drawn to a ready-made boxed curriculum or thinking of piecing together your own resources, this post will guide you through the most popular science options, how to match them with your child’s learning style, and even when it might make sense to ditch the curriculum entirely.
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Popular Homeschool Science Curricula
Here are a few of the big names that come up again and again in homeschool circles, with a quick idea of what makes them stand out:
- Apologia: Faith-based and heavy on reading and writing. Great for older students and families who want a Biblical worldview in science. Comes with labs, notebooking journals, and audiobook options.
- Real Science Odyssey (RSO): Secular and super hands-on. Written directly to the student, it’s especially good for younger grades and kids who love experiments and labs. Organized into life, earth, chemistry, and physics.
- Noeo Science: Combines living books with hands-on experiments. It’s somewhere in the middle—gentle but structured. Uses beautiful literature and is great for families who enjoy Charlotte Mason-style learning. Secular but not aggressively so.
- Berean Builders: Also faith-based and structured chronologically, which is a fun twist. Like Apologia, it’s reading-heavy but includes experiments with everyday items.
- Mr. Q Science: Free PDF downloads for some levels, you can download the Life Science level for free. Secular, straightforward, and easy to follow. Light on prep, which busy parents appreciate.
Choosing a Curriculum Based on Learning Style
Here’s where things get personal. What works beautifully for one child might be a total miss for another. Here’s how to match your child’s learning style with a science program:
- Hands-on Learners: Look for curriculum with LOTS of experiments and activities. RSO and Noeo are solid choices. Mr. Q can also work if you supplement with your own hands-on extras.
- Reading/Writing Learners: These kids thrive with notebooking, reading assignments, and written narration. Apologia, Berean Builders, and even some open-and-go workbooks will do the trick.
- Visual/Auditory Learners: Consider programs with audiobooks or video components. Apologia’s audio options, plus adding YouTube science channels or DVDs to any curriculum, can be helpful here.
Recommended Science Books for Kids
Introduce some fun science books to get them interested in learning and asking questions about the world they see around them.
Ada Twist, Scientist: A Picture Book (The Questioneers)The Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature (Dover Science For Kids)National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)Physics for Curious Kids: An Illustrated Introduction to Energy, Matter, Forces, and Our Universe! (Curious Kids, 4)The Elements Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table (DK Our World in Pictures)My First Book of Planets: All About the Solar System for Kids
Secular vs. Faith-Based Curriculum Options
This is one of those areas where knowing your goals really helps. If you want science presented from a Biblical perspective, look into:
- Faith-Based: Apologia, Berean Builders, Master Books science
- Secular: Real Science Odyssey, Noeo, Mr. Q, Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
Most secular options don’t push an anti-religious agenda—they just present science without commentary. Faith-based curricula, on the other hand, will often interpret scientific topics through a creationist lens.
When You Might Want to Skip a Curriculum Altogether
Yes, it’s totally okay to NOT use a formal curriculum! Here are some times when skipping might be the better choice:
- You’re homeschooling a science-loving kid who devours science books and begs to do kitchen experiments.
- You’ve got a busy season ahead (new baby, moving, job change) and just need something lighter.
- You want to try unit studies instead—these can cover a lot of ground and include science naturally.
- Your child’s interests don’t fit neatly into a textbook—hello, animal-obsessed or space-curious kids.
Skipping the boxed curriculum doesn’t mean skipping science. It just means getting a little creative.
How to Build a DIY Science Curriculum
This is my favorite options as a mom who loves science. A lot of the time, my kids had their own interests and they really wanted to dive in deeper than one unit of a year long curriculum.
With my first, we did a lot of unit studies doing lapbooks and notebooking pages from Hands of a Child. They use to have their own website, but now I only see their stuff on Teachers Pay Teachers.
But we could pick a topic, get our own library books, read and notebook what he was learning followed by documentaries and crafts. My child thrived learning this way because he could pick what we learned about next and if he was interested he enjoyed doing the work.
Making your own science plan isn’t as scary as it sounds. Here’s a basic formula you can follow:
- Choose a Theme or Topic: Animals, weather, the solar system, chemistry, you name it.
- Pick Books: Use library nonfiction, Usborne books, DK Eyewitness series, or science storybooks.
- Find Documentaries: Look on YouTube, Netflix, or Curiosity Stream.
- Add Experiments: Pinterest and science blogs are full of free ideas. Or grab a kit like Magic School Bus Science Labs.
- Plan a Loose Weekly Layout:
- Monday: Read
- Wednesday: Watch and discuss
- Friday: Experiment or nature journal
You can cover just as much (or more!) as a formal curriculum, and it’s usually much more fun.
Recommended Science Encyclopedias for Kids
I used these reference encyclopedias for my kids. I like the Usborne books for younger kids and they are great for kids up to grade 3, and then the Kingerfisher book for grades 4 to 8.
Usborne Science EncyclopediaThe Kingfisher Science EncyclopediaFirst Encyclopedia of Science (First Encyclopedias)
The best homeschool science curriculum really depends on your child, your teaching style, and your season of life. Some years, a structured program like Apologia or RSO makes everything easier. Other times, a DIY mix of books, videos, and experiments is just what you need. Don’t be afraid to switch things up or skip the curriculum entirely if it’s not working. There’s no wrong way to do homeschool science, as long as your kids are learning, observing, and staying curious.