Homeschool Science Curriculum and STEM Programs
Updated · By Edulist · 8 sources
How to choose homeschool Science Curriculum and STEM Programs
- Match the format to the grade
Short video lessons and kitchen experiments carry K–2 well. From about 4th grade, kids need reading and writing about science. By 8th or 9th grade, look for a full course with labs, tests and a credit-worthy scope.
- Know the worldview
Apologia, Berean Builders, Noeo and Science Shepherd teach from a Christian, creation-based view. REAL Science Odyssey, Mystery Science, Generation Genius and Elemental Science are secular. Read the publisher's statement before you buy.
- Count the real cost of supplies
Some programs ship every item (Noeo, Elemental Science bundles). Others list household supplies, and high school chemistry often needs a separate lab kit. Add the kit to the price you compare.
- Be honest about parent time
Mystery Science and REAL Science Odyssey are parent-led. Science Shepherd's video courses let teens work alone. Choose the level of involvement you can keep up all year, not the one you hope for.
- Teach siblings together when you can
Berean Builders' elementary books have three review levels, so a 1st and 5th grader can share one lesson. Multi-age programs save money and time in large families.
- Plan the high school sequence early
Biology, chemistry and physics often depend on algebra. Berean Builders lists Algebra I as a prerequisite for its chemistry course. Map math and science together from 8th grade on.
What homeschool science looks like by stage
Science changes more across the grades than almost any other subject. Young kids learn best by noticing and asking: why do leaves fall, what makes a shadow move. Older kids need to read, measure, record and explain. Teens need formal lab courses that count toward a transcript.
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which many states use, show the shift. Kindergarten covers pushes and pulls, weather and what plants and animals need. Fifth grade covers matter, energy in ecosystems and the solar system. Middle school splits into physical, life and earth science, and high school goes deeper into each. Homeschool programs don't have to follow NGSS, but it's a useful map. Browse by grade: elementary science, middle school science and high school science.
The four main types of homeschool science curriculum
| Type | Examples | Best for | Typical cost (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video-led lessons | Mystery Science, Generation Genius | K–5 families who want a ready lesson | $199–$250 a year |
| Open-and-go boxed courses | Noeo Science, Elemental Science | Parents who want every supply in one box | About $79–$298 per course |
| Textbook series | Apologia, REAL Science Odyssey, Berean Builders | A clear K–12 path with depth | About $43–$95 per book, plus kits |
| Kits and boxes | KiwiCo, MEL Science, Tinker Crate | Builders and experimenters | From about $29.90 a month (MEL) |
Video courses for teens, like Science Shepherd, sit between textbook and online class. For printed and boxed programs only, see science curriculum. For our ranked picks, read the best homeschool science curriculum and the best science kits and subscription boxes.
A sample homeschool science week
- K–2: Two 30–45 minute sessions. Watch and discuss a short lesson, then do the experiment. Add a nature walk or library book.
- 3rd–5th: Three sessions. Read a chapter, run a lab, write or draw a notebook page.
- Middle school: Three or four sessions of reading, questions and one lab.
- High school: About an hour a day, with a weekly lab write-up and module tests.
Can scholarships or ESAs pay for science curriculum?
In many education savings account programs, curriculum, lab kits and online courses can be allowed expenses. Each program writes its own rules, and some review faith-based materials or subscriptions differently. See what ESA funds can be used for, then save the programs you like to your wishlist so they're ready when you apply.
Featured homeschool Science Curriculum and STEM Programs
Hand-picked from the grid above because they fit this page well.
Best-of lists and guides
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Questions
Do homeschoolers have to teach science?
It depends on your state. Some states list science among required subjects, and others leave the subjects to the family. Check the rules for your state on our homeschool laws pages before you plan the year.
How many days a week should we do science?
Two or three sessions a week works for most elementary families, often one lesson plus one experiment day. Middle schoolers usually move to three or four days. High school lab courses take about an hour a day, five days a week, to earn a full credit.
Can a science kit subscription be our whole curriculum?
Usually not on its own. Kits like KiwiCo and MEL Science are great for building and experiments, but they don't follow a full scope and sequence. Pair one with a core program, or use it as the hands-on part of a literature-based approach.
What is the difference between a STEM program and a science curriculum?
A science curriculum teaches life, earth and physical science in a planned order. STEM programs add technology, engineering and math, and often focus on building and coding projects. Many families use a science curriculum as the core and a STEM kit or class as enrichment.
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