Best Homeschool Science Curriculum for 3rd Grade

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If you are looking for a homeschool third-grade science curriculum, you have several excellent options to choose from. You’ll need to think about your child’s learning style and your own homeschool philosophy as you choose the program that’s best for your family. Our top three picks are listed below. For more information about each one, keep reading.

Our picks for the best homeschool science curriculum for 3rd grade:

Best All-Around Program

3rd Grade Science, Calvert Homeschool

If you are looking for an excellent, easy-to-use secular science program for your third grader, consider the Grade 3 Science Curriculum offered by Calvert Homeschool. Calvert has been publishing academically strong and engaging homeschool curriculums for many years, and its science courses are no exception. Each level of its elementary science courses explore different topics, and it’s okay to jump right in with the third grade course even if your child has not taken Calvert’s science classes before. 

With Calvert Grade 3 Science, your child will explore broad themes in physical science. The following units are included: “You Grow and Change”, “Plants”, “Changes in Animals and Environments”, “You Are What You Eat”, “Properties of Matter”, “Sounds and You”, “Time and Seasons”, “Rocks and Their Change”, “Heat Energy”, and “Change, Sound, and Heat”.

This curriculum is neatly organized and easy for parents and kids to follow. The program includes daily lesson plans and regular assessments, and the pace is flexible according to your own schedule and your student’s needs. Overall, this is an academically strong curriculum that will help prepare kids for the more rigorous science they will encounter in secondary school.

Best Classical Approach

Classical Science series, Elemental Science

If you follow the classical homeschooling approach endorsed in The Well-Trained Mind, you will be happy to discover that Elemental Science has created an excellent, engaging science curriculum that closely follows the classical education model. The program is mastery-based, incorporating elements of narration, memorization, and hands-on exploration. Students also further develop their writing, sketching, and observational skills, making this a popular program for Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers, as well.

The Grammar Stage series is intended for kids in grades 1-4 and covers four topics: biology, earth science and astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Ideally, children begin with biology in first grade and proceed through each course year by year. If your child is beginning the series in third grade, however, it is fine to start with the first course in the series (biology), as all the courses are written at the same basic level. It is also fine if you want to start with any of the other three courses. If you have multiple children in grade 1-4, they can work together on the same course simultaneously.

Each of the four courses is designed for a 36-week school year, with carefully structured lesson plans broken down day by day. Parents will find that preparation and assessment time are minimal. The required materials for each of the grammar stage courses are listed below.

Biology for the Grammar Stage:

Earth Science & Astronomy for the Grammar Stage:

Chemistry for the Grammar Stage:

Physics for the Grammar Stage:

Please note that some of the titles on the above lists above can be replaced by other books. See the course’s Teacher Guide or the Elemental Science website for alternate titles. For lab kits and additional materials, see the Elemental Science website.

Best Christian Curriculum

Lifepac Science Grade 3, Alpha Omega Press

If you are looking for an academically excellent third-grade science curriculum that is Bible-based, consider the Lifepac Science Grade 3 program from Alpha Omega Press. The program is nicely structured and easy for parents and kids to navigate. The curriculum is comprehensive and mastery-based, teaching students scientific concepts in a step-by-step, incremental way. 

Students and parents enjoy Lifepac because the material is approachable and presented in an easy-to-understand way, while also maintaining a Christian perspective. Learning is systematic, and the structure of the program requires little to no preparation on the part of parents.

Lifepac Science Grade 3 covers the following units: “You Grow and Change”, “Plants”, “Animal Growth and Change”, “You Are What You Eat”, “Properties of Matter”, “Sounds and You”, “Times and Seasons”, “Rocks and Their Changes”, “Heat Energy”, and “Physical Changes”.

Like other Lifepac courses, this one includes 10 consumable worktexts and a teacher’s guide. There are also quite a few materials necessary to complete the hands-on experiments. For the most convenience, purchase the complete Lifepac Science Grade 3 Lab Kit. 

Conclusion

There are many excellent homeschool science curriculum options for third graders. Whichever one you choose, you may want to supplement it with one of the many wonderful science subscription boxes now available. To learn more about our favorite science subscription boxes for homeschoolers, click here. If you have questions or would like more information on this topic, please email us!