Grade-by-grade Guide to Science Homeschooling Curriculum
Science can be the subject kids love or the one that quietly gets skipped when the week gets busy. The good news is that you do not need dozens of activities to build real science understanding. You need a consistent routine, a resource that explains concepts clearly, and just enough hands-on work to make ideas stick. Below, you will find Modulo’s grade-by-grade science curriculum guides from preschool through 12th grade. Each guide names a best overall pick, explains what it does well, flags what can be frustrating, and recommends strong alternatives when a different approach is a better fit. If your child is between grades, start with the guide that matches what they can do comfortably right now, then move up once science is steady and confidence is high.
Jump to your grade
- Preschool
- Kindergarten
- 1st grade
- 2nd grade
- 3rd grade
- 4th grade
- 5th grade
- 6th grade
- 7th grade
- 8th grade
- 9th grade
- 10th grade
- 11th grade
- 12th grade
Preschool and Kindergarten
The Best Preschool Science Curriculum
If you are starting from scratch, our Preschool science curriculum guide helps you choose a simple, repeatable routine built around curiosity, observation, and play. It is designed for families who want science to feel doable on real-life weeks, not just on perfect weeks, and it includes alternatives if you want more nature-based rhythms or a different kit format.
Kindergarten Science Curriculum
Kindergarten is a great time to build consistency: short lessons, simple experiments, and lots of conversation about what kids notice. In our Kindergarten science guide, we break down the best overall choice and practical alternatives so you can keep science moving without spending hours prepping materials.
Watch: A practical walkthrough of what “good preschool curriculum” looks like when you need something you can actually sustain.
Elementary science guides: 1st through 5th grade
The Best 1st Grade Science Programs
First grade science works best when it is gentle, consistent, and rich with real-world noticing. Our 1st grade science guide explains the best overall option and the most useful alternatives when you want more hands-on kits, more structure, or a free supplement track.
The Best 2nd Grade Science Programs
Second graders are ready for stronger routines: observing, recording, explaining, and revisiting ideas until they are truly understood. In our 2nd grade science guide, we lay out the best overall pick and the alternatives that work better when you need lower prep, more explicit instruction, or more built-in practice.
The Best 3rd Grade Science Programs
Third grade is a strong year to deepen science vocabulary and build stamina for longer investigations. Our 3rd grade science guide highlights the best overall choice and alternatives that can help if your child needs more projects, more visual instruction, or an easier on-ramp into consistent science.
The Best 4th Grade Science Programs
Fourth grade is when many families want science to feel more organized and concept-driven, not just “fun activities.” In our 4th grade science guide, we explain why Science Mom is our best overall pick for most students at this level and recommend alternatives if you prefer workbook structure, Montessori-inspired materials, or kits as your main approach.
The Best 5th Grade Science Curriculum
Fifth grade is a bridge year: students can handle deeper concepts, but they still need momentum and clear explanations to avoid frustration. Our 5th grade science guide walks you through the best overall curriculum and practical alternatives if you want a more nature-based year, a more workbook-driven routine, or a project-heavy, screen-free option.
Watch: An interview with Blossom and Root founder Kristina Garner, which is helpful if you are considering nature-based science in the early elementary years.
Middle school science guides: 6th through 8th grade
The Best 6th Grade Science Programs
Sixth grade science is often where gaps show up, because students are expected to connect ideas and explain what they think using evidence. In our 6th grade science guide, we explain why Science Mom is the best overall choice for most sixth graders and recommend alternatives for families who prefer more reading, more projects, or a free supplement plan.
The Best 7th Grade Science Programs for Homeschoolers
Seventh grade is a key year for building real mastery, because science becomes less about memorizing facts and more about explaining how systems work. Our 7th grade science guide highlights the best overall curriculum and strong alternatives when you need more flexibility, more hands-on support, or more free reinforcement.
The Best 8th Grade Science Program for Homeschoolers
Eighth grade is the launchpad into high school expectations, so this is a great year to strengthen scientific reasoning and confidence. In our 8th grade science guide, we explain why Science Mom is our best overall pick for most eighth graders and recommend alternatives if you want less screen time, more project work, or more targeted supplements.
Watch: A behind-the-scenes look at how Science Mom and Math Dad built their programs, which can help you decide if their teaching approach is a good match for your middle school plan.
High school science guides: 9th through 12th grade
The Best 9th Grade Science Curriculum
Ninth grade biology is a major milestone, because many families want a credit-worthy course with meaningful labs and clear, secular science. Our 9th grade science guide explains why Real Science Odyssey Biology Level Two is our top pick for most ninth graders and compares alternatives if you want a more online, school-like course structure or a different balance of reading and labs.
The Best Science Programs for 10th Graders
Tenth grade is when many families get more strategic about rigor, labs, credit documentation, and sequencing for what comes next. In our 10th grade science guide, we highlight Thinkwell as the best overall option for most tenth graders and recommend alternatives that strengthen hands-on work or provide free reinforcement.
The Best 11th Grade Science Programs
Eleventh grade science can become more math-intensive and more demanding, especially if your student is taking physics or an advanced elective. Our 11th grade science guide compares credible options and helps you choose a course that teaches modern science clearly, stays manageable across a busy year, and still supports strong transcript documentation.
The Best 12th Grade Science Curriculum
Senior year science should match what comes next, whether that means a final lab-based credit, a specialized elective, or a course that fits alongside applications and a packed schedule. In our 12th grade science guide, we compare strong options and practical add-ons so students can finish high school science with confidence.
If you are mapping a full high school sequence, it usually helps to start with 9th grade biology, then choose a strong 10th grade course and adjust in 11th grade and 12th grade based on your student’s goals, stamina, and schedule.
