I recommend using multi-level science units instead of textbooks to teach science in PreK to 5th or 6th grade, possibly up to 8th grade depending on the student. (See Multi-level Teaching and Sample Curriculum Plan for more information.)

If you feel you must have the structure of a textbook during these earlier years, select one textbook (A Beka's 4th grade science is a good choice.) for all your children to use. Read each chapter orally to your children and discuss the questions orally. Complete appropriate lab work and other hands-on activities together as a family project. Finally, assign each child age-appropriate library books and written work to be done on their own as “homework.”

You can rent science equipment from: http://www.sciencecabinet.com/

Beginning in 6th grade or when appropriate for your child, I recommend Apologia's, Exploring Creation series. Another series I recommend is The Rainbow science by Durell C. Dobbins, PH D. Read my granddaughter's adventures with The Rainbow on my blog: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EmptyNestMom/7258/. The Rainbow website: http://www.beginningspublishing.com/

The Apologia series was written especially for homeschoolers and is very easy for the student to use on his own. All the lab materials are easy to find or you can purchase a kit from Home Training Tools.

• Exploring Creation With General Science Written for 7th grade but can be used earlier if the child is ready and spread over two years. This covers the history of science, scientific method, simple machines, archaeology, fossils, geology, creationism, DNA, cells, classification, human body, and body systems. You will also need Exploring Creation With General Science, Solutions & Test Book .

• Exploring Creation With Physical Science Written for 8th grade but can be used earlier if the child is ready and spread over two years. I have written a unit plan for multi-level teaching of this book that can be used with younger children also. Physical Science Unit Study. This covers atoms, molecules, air, atmosphere, water, hydrosphere, the earth, weather, motion, Newton's laws, gravitational forces, electricity, nuclear energy, sound, light, and space. You will also need Exploring Creation with Physical Science, Solutions & Test Book .

• Exploring Creation With Biology A high-school level biology course that covers the study of life, plant and animal kingdoms, chemistry of life, cells, genetics, evolution, ecosystems, animal and plant kingdoms. No human anatomy is covered in this course. For students who are not science/math oriented, you can spread this course over two years. You will also need Exploring Creation with Biology, Solutions & Test Book .

• Exploring Creation with Marine Biology, Student Textbook . This homeschool-friendly high school course focuses on marine wildlife and habitats and covers biological kingdoms, microscopic organisms and their life cycles, marine creature anatomy, and ecosystems such as intertidal zones, estuaries, coral reefs, continental shelf and deep-ocean communities, and more. First year biology is prerequisite. Grades 11-12. Hardcover, 462 pages.

• Exploring Creation with Chemistry Second Edition A high-school level chemistry course that covers measurements, energy, heat, temperature, atoms, molecules, classifying matter, chemical equations, Stoichiometry, atomic structure, molecular structure, polyatomic ions, molecular geometry, acid/base chemistry, chemistry of solutions, the gas phase, thermodynamics, kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and reduction/oxidation reactions. Student must have had Algebra I before taking this course. For students who are not science/math oriented, you can spread this course over two years. You will also need Chemistry Solutions Test Manual Book 2nd edition .

• Exploring Creation With Physics A high-school level physics course that covers advanced topics of measurements, motion, vectors, Newton's Laws, motion, gravity, work, energy, momentum, periodic motion, waves, optics, electrostatics, electrodymnamics, electric circuits, and magnetism. Student must have had Algebra II and beginning Trigonometry before taking this course. You will also need Exploring Creation with Physics, Solutions & Test Book.

• For the science oriented students, Apologia also has the following available: Advanced Biology (no Algebra needed), Advanced Chemistry (Algebra II needed), and Advanced Physics (Precalculus needed).

For those of you interested in a Classical education, you might enjoy Jay Ryan's "Signs & Seasons." This is an in-depth astronomy course from a Biblical perspective. For my review on this curriculum, check out Empty Nest Mom on Homeschool Blogger.

For the Auditory students, I also recommend Lyrical Science for middle grades and up. Example: Lyrical Earth Science -Geology with CD Volume 1

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