Curated guide

Best Homeschool Science Curriculum

14 curricula in this guide

Homeschool science curricula range from inquiry-based programs with hands-on investigations to traditional textbook approaches and creation-based programs that integrate a Christian worldview. The right pick depends on your goals: college prep, casual exploration, or compliance with state requirements.

Below we feature standout options across worldview and approach. For families wanting NGSS-aligned secular science, Mystery Science and Generation Genius lead. For young-earth Christian science, Apologia has the strongest college-recognition track record. Pair any of these with hands-on lab kits for the strongest learning outcomes.

Editor's selection

Our picks

Mystery Science

Inquiry-based elementary science with engaging video lessons and hands-on investigations using household materials. NGSS-aligned, zero prep required.

PreK K–2 3–5

$199–$259/year

Apologia Science

Apologia Educational Ministries

Rigorous college-prep science curriculum written from a young-earth Christian perspective. Conversational writing style with notebook-based learning and strong lab components.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$42–$93/grade

Generation Genius

NGSS-aligned K-8 science and Common Core math video lessons with kid hosts, paired with lesson plans, worksheets, and hands-on activity guides. Top secular science supplement.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$163–$325/year

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BrainPOP

Animated explainer videos with Tim and Moby covering 800+ topics in science, social studies, ELA, math, and arts. Strong supplement for visual learners and topic intros.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$295–$430/year

Generation Genius

NGSS-aligned K-8 science and Common Core math video lessons with kid hosts, paired with lesson plans, worksheets, and hands-on activity guides. Top secular science supplement.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$163–$325/year

Mystery Doug

Discovery Education

Free weekly science videos answering kid-submitted questions like 'Why do we have eyebrows?' Doug Peltz is the host. Companion to the paid Mystery Science elementary curriculum.

K–2 3–5

Mystery Science

Inquiry-based elementary science with engaging video lessons and hands-on investigations using household materials. NGSS-aligned, zero prep required.

PreK K–2 3–5

$199–$259/year

Khan Academy

Featured

Free, nonprofit, mastery-based online learning platform spanning PreK through college. Short video lessons paired with adaptive practice and unit tests, especially strong in math and SAT prep.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Acellus Academy

International Academy of Science

Fully accredited online K-12 school with WASC accreditation, AP courses, NCAA-approved cores, and military Tier I status. Same video content as Power Homeschool but with diploma, transcripts, and teacher support.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$2000–$4500/year

BookShark

Secular literature-based curriculum adapted from the Sonlight model. One of the few non-religious, book-rich options for families who love reading together.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$500–$1045/year

Build Your Library

Secular, literature-based curriculum following a historical timeline with Charlotte Mason methods. Teacher's guide PDFs are affordable; books purchased separately.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$30–$60/grade

IXL Learning

Adaptive skill-by-skill practice platform with over 17,000 standards-aligned skills across math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Strongest as practice and diagnostic, not initial instruction.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$79–$159/year

Khanmigo

Khan Academy

Khan Academy's GPT-4-powered Socratic AI tutor. Guides students to answers rather than giving them. Integrates with Khan content across math, science, humanities, AP, and SAT prep. $44/yr covers up to 10 children.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$44/year

Oak Meadow

Waldorf-inspired secular curriculum emphasizing creativity, nature, and hands-on learning. Offers both independent homeschool materials and an accredited distance-learning school option.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$120–$2500/year

Outschool

Marketplace of independent teachers offering 140,000+ live small-group video classes, 1:1 tutoring, and self-paced courses for ages 3-18. Supplemental enrichment, not a full curriculum.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$480–$2880/year

Power Homeschool

International Academy of Science

Self-paced video curriculum sharing identical content with Acellus Academy but without enrollment, accreditation, or teacher support. Significant 2025 price increase from ~$31/mo to $99/mo.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$948–$1188/year

Time4Learning

Secular self-paced PreK-12 full curriculum with animated lessons, automated grading, and recordkeeping. Most popular secular all-subjects digital subscription.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$335–$479/year

Common questions

Frequently asked

How much science does a homeschooler actually need?

In elementary, less than most parents fear. Curiosity, reading, and hands-on exploration matter more than formal coursework, and many states do not name science as a required subject before middle school. High school is different: colleges typically expect three years, and at least two of those should include lab work.

Do we need to do labs at home?

For high school credit, yes, and it is more manageable than it sounds. Lab work can be kit-based, video-guided, or done through a co-op or community college. What matters for a transcript is that the student did hands-on work and that you kept a record of it. Keep lab reports and photos in the portfolio.

What is the difference between secular and faith-based science?

The divide is mostly origins and earth age. Faith-based programs may teach young-earth creation, old-earth creation, or intelligent design, and vary widely in how much biology and geology they adjust. Secular and neutral programs teach mainstream scientific consensus. Check the publisher's stated position directly rather than assuming from the brand.

Can one science program cover multiple ages?

Yes, and for elementary and middle school it is often the sane choice. Unit-study and literature-based science programs are built for mixed ages, with the same topic taught at different depths. Save individually leveled coursework for high school, where credits have to be attributable to one student.

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