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Best homeschool science curriculum for elementary school

Elementary science is where many families settle on a program. These are the most-recommended programs that cover the middle elementary years with a parent involved part of the time.

Updated September 2026 · 29 programs compared · rankings from our published scoring rules

Every child is different. Add your child's grade, your creation/faith preference and your teaching time for a personal ranking.

Try it with elementary school selected

What matters for elementary school

Family-style programs save time. Several of these can teach more than one grade together, with extra work for older children.

Decide on worldview early. It's the biggest difference between programs at this level, so check the creation and faith line on each one.

Build the lab habit now. Regular experiments in elementary make high school lab science much easier.

Our top 6 for elementary school

  1. Apologia Exploring Creation Science

    Conversational Christian textbooks with notebooking and experiments, K–12

    • Covers your grade (K–12th)
    • Elementary lessons a few days a week with parent reading
    • Watch for: text-heavy lessons can overwhelm reluctant readers
    Grades K–12thSingle-topic textbooks with notebooking journals and experimentsCost: $84.60: Elementary course set (textbook + notebooking journal), e.g. Zoology 1, sale price

  2. Berean Builders Science

    Hands-on Christian science taught through the history of discovery, by Dr. Jay Wile

    • Covers your grade (K–12th)
    • Elementary lesson every other day, parent-led
    • Watch for: supplies must be gathered ahead for many lessons
    Grades K–12thHistory-of-science textbook where every lesson starts with an experimentCost: $49: Science in the Beginning set (textbook + Helps & Hints), K–6 multilevel

  3. Blossom & Root Science

    Secular, nature-based science with picture books, hands-on options and nature study

    • Covers your grade (K–6th)
    • Short lessons, mostly around 20 minutes, parent-led
    • Watch for: books and supplies not included; plan on library trips and printing
    Grades K–6thPicture-book and nature-based science with choose-your-own hands-on activitiesCost: $56: Level 3 Science only (Wonders of the Animal Kingdom + Prehistoric World unit), digital PDFs; books not included

  4. Elemental Science (incl. Sassafras Science)

    Secular classical science with real books, experiments, notebooking and Sassafras stories

    • Covers your grade (PreK–12th)
    • Two-day or five-day schedules, parent-guided
    • Watch for: spine books are bought separately
    Grades PreK–12thReference-book readings, experiments and notebooking; Sassafras adds novelsCost: $79.99: Chemistry for the Grammar Stage bundle (teacher guide, workbook, experiment kit); spine books extra

  5. Sonlight Science

    Literature-based Christian science: real books, weekly experiments and videos, K–12

    • Covers your grade (K–12th)
    • Short daily readings plus one experiment day
    • Watch for: expensive, especially with the supplies kit
    Grades K–12thLiving books with a scheduled guide, weekly experiments and experiment videosCost: $418.89: Science D 4-day package ($340.89) plus supplies kit ($78), grades 4–7

  6. Noeo Science

    Living books plus complete experiment kits, Charlotte Mason style, grades 1–8

    • Covers your grade (1st–8th)
    • 15–40 minute lessons with little prep
    • Watch for: expensive per year
    Grades 1st–8thLiving books, narration and notebooking with kit-based experimentsCost: $253: Biology 2 full package (grades 4–6: guide, lab manual, books, 70+ experiment kits, microscope)

Questions parents ask

What science should an elementary homeschooler learn?

Most programs cover life science, earth and space, and simple chemistry and physics, often by topic rather than in a fixed order.

Can siblings share one science program?

Often, yes. Many elementary science programs are written for multiple ages, which saves a lot of teaching time.

How often should we do science?

Two or three times a week is common in elementary, with one longer session for experiments.

How this list is made: each program is scored against the needs above using features documented in parent reviews and publisher materials (sources are listed in each program's profile). It's a starting point, not medical or educational advice.