Homeschool Science Curriculum

Studying science encourages children to wonder about and discover the world around them. The phrase “science class” might bring to mind images of microscopes and safety equipment, bunsen burners and beakers full of chemicals. This can seem intimidating, especially for the majority of parents who don’t happen to have a full science lab in their home! With the right science curriculum, learning at home can be stress-free for parents and students alike.

The Importance of Teaching Science

Every day, the world we live in becomes increasingly scientifically and technologically advanced. Now, more than ever, a solid education in science is crucial for children and their futures.

Even if your child does not pursue one of the many growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields as a career, a background in science will help them navigate our current and future realities. Science sparks natural creativity and curiosity in students, qualities that carry over into other subjects. When children engage with topics such as the solar system and Newton’s laws, they are learning how to think critically, gather information, solve problems, and make informed decisions. Through acquiring these skills, they become stronger learners overall.

Choosing A Homeschool Science Curriculum

Not all science curricula will have the same approach, just as not all homeschooling families will have the same needs. In order to select the program that best suits your child, parents should consider the following:

  • Is your child a visual learner who thrives on watching engaging videos, or do they prefer to study textbooks?
  • What scientific activities does the program offer? Real-world, hands-on experiments, online games and simulations, or a combination of the two?
  • How involved must parents be in the teaching of the material? Will the program require parents to have a background in science, or are there helpful tools for grading and teaching?
  • How does the program gauge students’ understanding of the material? Does it administer tests or quizzes?
  • What is the scientific worldview behind the program? Some online science curricula are taught with a Biblical or otherwise religious worldview, while others are secular in nature. 

Science Curriculum Overview

Quality science curricula do more than just present facts. They turn science into an immersive, interactive experience. A comprehensive science education should instill students with skills such as working collaboratively and engaging with data. The skills acquired through their education in science should guide them into becoming curious, creative, critically thinking learners. Plus, STEM career fields are growing exponentially! Even if your child doesn’t become an engineer or a microbiologist one day, most jobs will require a good understanding of technology. 

There are seemingly endless science curricula available, but finding one that fits your family does not have to be complicated. You should look for programs that fit your lifestyle and teaching needs, along with your child’s learning preferences. 

With Miacademy, students learn science through dynamic teaching videos, engaging practice, assignments, and simulations. Through exploration and investigation, we encourage students to be curious about and actively engage with the world around them.

Kindergarten Science Curriculum

Young learners in Kindergarten begin to develop an awareness and curiosity of the world around them. A Kindergarten science curriculum should include lessons that children can connect with. Our Safety science unit includes lessons about wearing a helmet when you ride your bike, observing insects and animals, and more.

Early Elementary Science Curriculum

An early elementary school science curriculum should introduce young learners to the process of scientific thinking with concepts they can easily understand. Our Beginning Science course utilizes elements children are familiar with to help them connect with the lessons. Topics taught at this level include healthy habits, observations (including using our senses and decision-making), and animals. 

Upper Elementary Science Curriculum

At the upper elementary level, students should begin diving deeper into more advanced subjects such as planets, anatomy, and materials. Our Elementary Science courses cover material ranging from biomes to the solar system, in a way that is still navigable for elementary students. Many of these lessons include study guides and packets to help students with these more advanced topics. 

Middle School Science Curriculum

By middle school, students should now be well-versed in making observations and ready to begin utilizing the scientific method to hypothesize and draw conclusions. Middle school science should prepare students for high school Chemistry and Physics by using what students have already learned to introduce these concepts.  

Our program offers Life Science and Advanced Science, which cover topics such as the periodic table of elements, Newton’s laws, gravity, body systems, and an introduction to physics. The curriculum provides a comprehensive introduction to utilizing scientific thinking. 

High School Science Curriculum

A high school science curriculum should build on a student’s existing knowledge to begin introducing topics such as thermochemistry, nuclear chemistry, chemical equilibrium, and forces. Our high school program, MiaPrep, utilizes what students have learned previously to advance their understanding of scientific concepts. We offer courses in Physical Science and Chemistry, with a Survey of Science course for additional review.

Why Choose Miacademy and MiaPrep’s Science Curriculum?

We strive to make learning science exciting and hands-on, while staying accessible and academically enriching. Miacademy’s online science curriculum utilizes animated multimedia content to engage and motivate students. Our dynamic teaching videos and educational simulations make learning science fun! Students will have access to both our online science curriculum and printable PDFs for “beyond the screen” extension activities, which can be adapted for varying learning needs. 

Our curriculum is flexible and customizable, allowing students to develop problem-solving skills through science at their own pace. We strive to be accessible for all learners. As a parent, you are able to move your child up or down a grade in any subject as needed. In the lessons themselves, your child can also click “easier level please” to go back to an easier level and review basic concepts. This helps to keep your children from getting too discouraged on any subject, and makes sure they are being challenged to keep them engaged in their learning. Read-aloud options, non-timed tests and a safe, moderated community are just a few of the features that help to support your child’s learning. 

We provide our curriculum utilizing the spiral method. This is a process in which key concepts are presented repeatedly throughout the curriculum, with deepening layers of complexity, or in different applications. Plus, our customizable learning path is self-guided. Parents may check on their student’s progress through the Reports tab of the parent portal, and in the weekly Reports summary email.

Our goal is for students to have a true understanding of science – not to just be able to regurgitate facts. We want to make learning science enjoyable for both parents and children! Our customer service team is always happy to assist parents with any questions or concerns.

Science Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Give our online science lessons a try, and dive deeper into:

  • Biomes, in our “Tell Me About…” lessons, where students can sharpen their observation skills using deserts, ocean animals, clouds, and more!
  • The five senses, basic anatomy, and germs in our Healthy Habits unit. 
  • Exploring the universe from Mars all the way to Earth, in our Solar System lesson.
  • Gravity, air resistance, and even future science careers through our Introduction to Physics!
  • Thermochemistry, through fun experiments like our At Home Coffee Calorimetry lab.

Science Education Resources:

  • Offline supplemental PDF packets, with memory games, fine motor activities, labs, and library lists
  • For older students: guided notes PDFs to assist with note taking, comprehension and review 
  • 80+ free science activities for kids from Elemental Science
  • Take a virtual field trip to the National Aquarium!
  • Science experiments with materials you already have on hand from weareteachers.com