REAL Science Odyssey
A secular, lab-based homeschool science series from Pandia Press: Level 1 courses for grades K–6 in life science, biology, astronomy, Earth and environment, chemistry and physics, and Level 2 courses for grades 6–10 written to the student.
What is REAL Science Odyssey?
REAL Science Odyssey, often shortened to RSO, is a secular homeschool science series from Pandia Press. It covers kindergarten through 10th grade in two levels. Pandia describes it as evidence- and fact-based study, free of religiously biased material.
Each course goes deep on one subject for a year. Lessons read like a story, then move straight into a lab, so kids do science, not just read about it.
How it works
A Level 1 lesson usually follows the same pattern:
- Gather the materials on the lesson's list.
- Read the bold introduction aloud to your child.
- Do the lab, using the activity sheets to record results.
- Finish with notebook pages written directly to the child.
A common weekly rhythm is one day for the lesson and lab, one day for journaling, and the remaining days for related reading from the book lists. At Level 1 the parent prepares and leads most of each lesson, but no science background is needed.
Level 2 changes the format. The textbook is written to the student, who works more independently, and a teacher guide supports the parent.
What it covers
| Level | Course | Grades | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life | K–2 | Human body, animals, plants |
| 1 | Astronomy 1 | 1–4 | Solar system, light, gravity, cosmology |
| 1 | Earth & Environment 1 | 1–4 | Earth's spheres, weather, climate, plate tectonics |
| 1 | Biology 1 | 2–5 | Cells, evolution, genetics, organisms |
| 1 | Chemistry 1 | 2–5 | Atoms, periodic table, acids and bases, reactions |
| 1 | Physics 1 | 3–6 | Motion, sound, magnetism, electricity |
| 2 | Biology 2 | 6–10 | Full-year lab biology |
| 2 | Earth & Environment 2 | 6–10 | New release |
| 2 | Astronomy 2 | 6–10 | Semester course, pairs with Stargazer's Notebook |
Who it's best for
RSO is a top pick for secular families, hands-on learners and parents who want clear lab instructions. It fits well in secular homeschool curriculum plans and works for elementary science through early high school.
Look elsewhere if you want a Christian worldview or a no-prep program. If writing is a struggle, plan to trim the journaling.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, most Level 1 courses cost $87.99 in print or $52.99 as an eBook. Astronomy 1 and Earth & Environment 1 are a bit less. Biology 2 needs a textbook, workbook and teacher guide. Family copy rights make one purchase work for siblings.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Homeschool curriculum is commonly an allowable ESA expense in states such as Arizona and Florida, and RSO's secular content fits programs that limit religious materials. Each program decides what it covers. Read how scholarships and ESAs for homeschool families work, save RSO to your wishlist, and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
Noeo Science uses living books and ships a full kit, but its guides are Christian unless you buy the charter edition. Elemental Science is a lower-cost classical option. Mystery Science offers video-led K–5 lessons with less prep. For a Christian alternative, see Apologia.
See the best homeschool science curriculum for ranked picks.
Who REAL Science Odyssey is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Secular families who want evidence-based science with evolution taught directly
- Hands-on learners who want a real lab every week
- Parents without a science background who want clear teacher instructions
- Middle schoolers ready for a lab-based biology course
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want a Christian or creation-based worldview
- Parents who need open-and-go lessons with minimal prep
- Kids who resist writing; journaling adds a lot of it
REAL Science Odyssey pros and cons
Pros
- Hands-on, minds-on labs with clear parent instructions
- Topics narrowed for depth, and lessons build on each other
- Strong introduction to the scientific method
- eBook option and family copy rights keep costs down for siblings
- Level 2 Biology counts as a lab course
Cons
- Level 1 requires a lot of parent preparation and supervision
- Some lab supplies must be ordered
- Some math and reading may be hard for younger kids
- No high school chemistry or physics at Level 2
What’s included
- Level 1 (K–6): Life, Biology 1, Astronomy 1, Earth & Environment 1, Chemistry 1, Physics 1
- Level 2 (6–10): Biology 2, Earth & Environment 2, Astronomy 2 with Stargazer's Notebook
- Story-like lessons followed by labs, activity sheets and journaling
- Print or eBook; pages may be copied for your own family
- Level 2 Biology counts as a lab course
- Free samples on the Try Before You Buy page
REAL Science Odyssey levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Life | K–2 | The human body, animals and plants, with story-like lessons and simple labs. |
| Level 1: Astronomy 1 and Earth & Environment 1 | 1–4 | The solar system, light, gravity and cosmology; Earth's spheres, weather, climate and plate tectonics. |
| Level 1: Biology 1 and Chemistry 1 | 2–5 | Cells, evolution, genetics and organisms; atoms, the periodic table, acids and bases, and reactions. |
| Level 1: Physics 1 | 3–6 | Motion, sound, magnetism and electricity. |
| Level 2: Biology 2, Earth & Environment 2, Astronomy 2 | 6–10 | Written to the student with a textbook, workbook and teacher guide. Biology 2 is a full-year lab course; Astronomy 2 is a semester that pairs with the Stargazer's Notebook for a full year. |
How much does REAL Science Odyssey cost?
REAL Science Odyssey is a one-time purchase per course, sold directly by Pandia Press. As of October 2026, Life, Biology 1, Chemistry 1 and Physics 1 cost $87.99 in print or $52.99 as an eBook, and Astronomy 1 and Earth & Environment 1 cost $72.99 in print or $43.99 as an eBook. For Level 2 Biology, the textbook is $89.99 in print, the student workbook $68.99 and the teacher guide $50.99, with eBook versions at $52.99, $52.99 and $34.99.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 course (Life, Biology 1, Chemistry 1 or Physics 1), print | $87.99 | One-time | — |
| Level 1 course, eBook | $52.99 | One-time | — |
| Astronomy 1 or Earth & Environment 1, print | $72.99 | One-time | — |
| Biology 2 textbook, print | $89.99 | One-time | — |
| Biology 2 student workbook, print | $68.99 | One-time | — |
| Biology 2 teacher guide, print | $50.99 | One-time | — |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Reviewers praise RSO's depth, sequential lessons and real labs, and it is one of Cathy Duffy's 103 Top Picks. The main cautions are heavy parent prep at Level 1, supplies that sometimes need ordering, and a journaling load that adds writing.
Common praise
- In-depth topics that build on each other
- Engaging hands-on, minds-on labs
- Clear supply lists and resource lists
Common complaints
- Parents must prepare and supervise most lessons
- Some supplies need to be ordered
- Journaling can add a lot of writing
Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com · real science odyssey series
REAL Science Odyssey family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
REAL Science Odyssey FAQs
Is REAL Science Odyssey secular?
Yes. Pandia Press describes it as evidence- and fact-based study free of religiously biased material. Biology courses teach evolution directly, and Pandia also sells a short Evolution Unit Study for K–3.
Which REAL Science Odyssey course should I start with?
Use the grade ranges: Life for K–2, Astronomy 1 and Earth & Environment 1 for grades 1–4, Biology 1 and Chemistry 1 for 2–5, and Physics 1 for 3–6. Level 2 courses are for grades 6–10. Free samples help you check the reading level.
How much does REAL Science Odyssey cost?
As of October 2026, most Level 1 courses are $87.99 in print or $52.99 as an eBook, and Astronomy 1 and Earth & Environment 1 are $72.99 or $43.99. Biology 2 runs about $210 in print for the textbook, workbook and teacher guide together.
Can I use RSO with more than one child?
Yes. Pandia Press lets you copy pages for your immediate family, and it sells extra student page sets if you prefer them printed.
Is RSO Level 2 Biology a lab course?
Yes. Biology 2 can count as a lab course for transcripts. It includes a textbook written to the student, a workbook and a teacher guide, and most lab supplies are household items.
How much parent time does Level 1 take?
Quite a bit. Parents read the introduction aloud, set up and supervise the lab, and guide the activity sheets. A common rhythm is one day for the lesson and lab, one for journaling and the rest for reading.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: