Curriculum, books, equipment, videos, web sites, magazines, TV programs, ideas, more!

Most parents don't get the heebie jeebies* about science until middle or high school. But they still want great science materials. They want to develop in their children a fascination with the world and how it works so when high school comes their students will be ready to buckle down to the hard work of Really understanding it all.

There's a ton of great science stuff out there. We've tried here to make it easy for you to find a lot of it.

*heebie jeebie: A scientific term for micorscopic organisms that crawl up your spine, causing cold chills, and settle in your brain to plague you with doubt and fear -- mostly after you've gone to bed at night.

The Younger & Middle Years (Grades K-8)

Do you really need formal curriculum in the elmentary and even middle school years? No, but if you feel more comfortable with it, you should use it. But be sure to supplement with books and materials that will hook your child on the world around him. This isn't nearly as hard as it sounds, and we're going to help.

The Curriculum Approach.

If you're using a packaged curriculum, it will come with your science. If not, check out Home Science Tools for science curriculum (all grades, BJU, Apologia, Alpha Omega, more), Moody science videos, kits, and lots of other great stuff. This web site has the added benefit of being extremely well-organized. Take a look below at the resources under "A Non-Curriculum Approach" for supplements to your program.

A Non-Curriculum Approach.

For most families, this will be a delight-driven approach. That is, find materials that fascinate your child and delve into them. It's a great way to foster a love of science. To that end, here are ideas, as well as web sites that provide truly delightful materials.

- The library will probably be your greatest resource. Let your child skim through the children's books about science, nature, technology, anything that looks interesting. Then take home an armload and read, read, read. Check out our list of topics to get you started.

- Science programs on TV and on video offer a fun and great way to learn. This will get you started:
Great List of kids' science programs on TV
Moody Science Videos 
National Geographic DVDs 
Insights Visual Productions 

- Subscribe to one or two kids' science magazines. Take a look at these:
Cobblestone Publications (several science titles)
National Geographic Kids
Great list of kids' magazines at Monroe Public Library.
Science Made Simple (On-line newsletter, also available in print, experiments, how things work, lots more)
Also look for appropriate articles in adult science and nature magazines at your local library.
Nature Friend Magazine (Christian nature magazine for ages 5-14)

- Web Sites you'll love
How Stuff Works You could spend forever on this site. Learn how science stuff, auto stuff, people stuff, money stuff and all sorts of other stuff works. You can even learn how Narnia works. Or how about animated tattoos (maybe not)? Lots of great links, too.
Science Buddies (grades 7-12, but good for serious younger students, too) A really neat and highly useful site. Find ideas for science projects, as well as outlines, research guidelines and good links, and how to display a project. Learn about the scientific method. Find top science fairs and competitions. Mentoring, Ask an Expert, much more.
Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab Experiments and explanations from easy to advanced, lots of fun stuff.
Northwest Creation Network. Quite possibly the mother of all creation science sites. Resources and links to dozens and dozens of great books, videos, etc.
Home Science Tools. This will take you to a page of links to great and often interactive science web sites, but also check out Home Science/Training Tools' other wonderful aids, books, equipment, etc. A very good and useful site.
Discover This. Educational science kits of all sorts, toys, gifts, tons of great stuff. Well organized. Shop by age, price or category.
Nature's Workshop Plus! Lots of great books, science kits, equipment, curriculum, more.

The Middle & High School Years

Somewhere in here, many parents and students wish to become more serious and organized in their pursuit of science. This is a good time to invest in some quality curriculum.

That doesn't mean you should leave behind the less structured and fun stuff, but by now your student is probably ready to dig deeper and really understand how the world works.

Here are some good and popular science programs, as well as links to information about others.

Apologia Science (at Home Science Tools) is making quite a name for itself in homeschooling circles, and with good reason. Its creative approach to elementary and middle level science in Exploring Science with Zoology, Astronomy and Botany (three separate programs) is refreshing, and you can buy lab kits to go with the books, so it's hands-on, too.

Apologia Science at the high school level includes general and physical sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, the human body, advanced chemistry and physics, and marine biology. Lab kits are available.

BJU Science also continues to enjoy great popularity among home schoolers. You'll find it here at Home Science Tools, as well as other popular programs such as: Alpha Omega, Real Science 4 Kids, God's Design Curriculum, Castle Heights Science Curriculum, Lyrical Learning, Stratton House, Eagle's Wings, Media Angels, Creation Science, Moody Videos, and More.

Reasons Institute. Challenging creation science and critical thinking courses for the high schooler and college student. High school and college credit available or audit courses. Give your student a taste of disciplined and rigorous study. For the very serious student.

More Science Resources

Science Reviews. Cathy Duffy reviews many dozens of science books and curricula.

Science Buddies (grades 7-12). A really neat and highly useful site. Find ideas for science projects, as well as outlines, research guidelines and good links, and how to display a project. Learn about the scientific method. Find top science fairs and competitions. Mentoring, Ask an Expert, much more.

Drawing as a form of science learning. Very good essay by Karen Andreola about how to incorporate drawing into your science lessons.

What if my child is not a science kid? We can't all be Newton or Einstein or Edison.

Scroll back up this page and take a look at all the neat things we have listed under A NON-CURRICULUM APPROACH. Even if you're using curriculum or if you've reached the high school years you'll want to consider some of these excellent resources.