Best Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum for Middle School

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Best All-Around

Science Dimensions Series, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

If you are looking for a completely secular homeschool science curriculum for your middle school student, consider the excellent Science Dimensions series from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This program will give your child a thorough, engaging science education in a manner that is creative and customizable. Because of the unique unit-based structure of this program, it is a fantastic choice for many kinds of homeschooling families – families who appreciate a unit study approach, those who have middle schoolers of different ages working together, and self-led learners will all benefit from the flexible structure and dynamic approach of this curriculum.

Science Dimensions was designed to replace the older Science Fusions series, and it really is a fantastic curriculum for the 21^st-century homeschool student. The program builds on a “5E” model of instruction (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate). Each lesson begins with an “engage” activity, then moves onto some type of exploration assignment, followed by an explanation exercise in an experience notebook, a hands-on project, and a lesson that gives further depth to the topic. Regular assessments allow parents to easily evaluate their students’ progress.

One of the most successful aspects of Science Dimensions is its interactive, hybrid structure, which combines virtual instruction with more traditional print-based learning. Students experience the virtual material through videos, online simulations, virtual “field trips”, and more. Print worktexts are also used alongside this virtual instruction. 

Science Dimensions is also innovative in its unique structure, as it does not require students to complete units in any particular order. Instead, the program consists of 12 modules that middle school students can complete in any order that they or their parents choose. Generally, students will complete four modules a year, allowing them to complete all the modules over the three middle school years. Don’t worry if your child is beginning the program partway through middle school, however. Just choose the module or modules you want to begin with and go from there. Much of this material will be retaught and further explored in the high school years, so it’s completely fine if your student doesn’t complete all 12 courses during the middle school years. 

Parents and students alike really love the 12-module structure of Science Dimensions because it offers a great deal of flexibility and allows families to customize the program to meet their individual needs. Many self-led learners will enjoy being able to choose their subject matter as they go. Families who have multiple middle schoolers also appreciate that their children can complete the same curriculum simultaneously even though they might be at different grade levels. There is no prescribed order in which the modules must be completed, so it is fine to have a sixth grader and an eighth grader work together on the same module.

The 12 modules are organized by topic, with each available as its own homeschool package that includes a Student Interactive Worktext, an Assessment Guide, and one-year online access to the HMH Homeschool Learning platform. If you are collecting materials for a full school year, you’ll want to purchase four of these modules; remember, however, that there is no particular order in which they need to be completed, so choose the four that you think your student will most enjoy or that combine best with his or her other core curriculum for the year. The homeschool packages for each of the 12 modules are listed below:

• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module A Grades 6-8 (Engineering and Science)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module B Grades 6-8 (Cells and Heredity)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module C Grades 6-8 (Ecology and the Environment)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module D Grades 6-8 (The Diversity of Living Things)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module E Grades 6-8 (Earth’s Water and Atmosphere)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module F Grades 6-8 (Geologic Processes and History)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module G Grades 6-8 (Earth and Human Activity)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module H Grades 6-8 (Space Science)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module I Grades 6-8 (Energy and Energy Transfer)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module J Grades 6-8 (Chemistry)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module K Grades 6-8 (Forces and Motion)
• Science Dimensions Homeschool Package Module L Grades 6-8 (Waves and Their Applications)

Best Online

Calvert Homeschool Middle School Science Courses

If you are looking for a thorough and engaging homeschool secular science curriculum that your middle school student can complete online, consider the fantastic courses offered by Calvert Homeschool. Calvert has been producing top-notch secular homeschool curriculums for many years. All of its grade 3-12 programs are now available completely online, making for a simple and streamlined experience that is nevertheless academically rigorous. 

Calvert’s online platform is effective for many different types of learners. The material is presented in a media-rich way that will benefit visual learners and those who often get “bored” with traditional textbook material. At the same time, the course is rigorous and expects the student to have solid reading skills. Calvert’s middle school science courses provide excellent preparation for the more advanced science concepts that will be introduced in high school.

Parents really love Calvert’s programs because the online platform keeps track of the student’s schedule and assignments and does much of the grading automatically. Parents can easily access the platform to check on their children’s progress. For this reason, many working parents and homeschoolers instructing multiple children especially love Calvert; much of the preparation, planning, and assessment time traditionally completed by parents is done automatically through the online interface.

The subject matter for Calvert’s middle school science courses is thorough, rigorous, and presented in an engaging manner. The sixth-grade science course focuses on the physical universe, covering the following units: “Plants”, “The Human Body”, “Animals, Plants, and Nature”, “Reproduction and Genetics”, “Chemistry”, “Motion”, “Energy”, “The Atmosphere”, and “Earth and Space”. 

The seventh-grade science course emphasizes the Scientific Method and explores major areas of scientific inquiry. The following units are covered: “Scientific Inquiry”, “Matter”, “Energy and Motion”, “Biology”, “Health and Disease”, “Genetics”, “Ecology and the Environment”, “Earth Science”, and “Life over Time”.

The eighth-grade science course focuses on matter, measurement, and the mathematics involved in science. The following units are covered: “Our Atomic World”, “Perceiving Things”, “Physical Geology”, “Historical Geology”, “Oceanography”, “Balance in Nature”, “Science and Tomorrow”, “The Solar System”, and “Astronomy”.

Calvert’s middle school science curriculums can be purchased individually, or you can choose one of their subscription-based plans. These plans are a great option if your student will be taking multiple courses through Calvert or you want to use the program for more than one student.

Best Classical Program

Elemental Science Logic Stage Science Courses

If you are looking for an engaging, secular homeschool science curriculum for your middle school student that follows a classical homeschool approach, consider the Logic Stage science series produced by Elemental Science. This program uses the classical cycle promoted in The Well-Trained Mind and emphasizes students’ mastery of foundational science concepts through experiments, writing, and memorization. Students also develop their imaginations, writing skills, and artistic abilities with this program. Because this series incorporates writing, sketching, and the development of observational skills, it is also popular among Charlotte Mason-style homeschoolers.

In the classical education framework, the “Logic Stage” refers to grades 5-8, and thus Elemental Science has produced four courses that correspond to these years, though it is fine if you begin the series part way through. With each course, students explore science by reading, completing experiments, doing hands-on projects, memorizing facts, and mastering important concepts. Each course is designed for a full 36-week school year, with topics changing weekly. Topics for each week are taught through dynamic lessons that incorporate experiments, memory work, vocabulary study, sketching assignments, and writing projects. Each course requires a student guide that includes project, narration, and experiment pages, as well as a teacher’s guide that offers detailed, structured lesson plans with the choice of either a 2-day/week or 5-day/week schedule.

This series approaches science in what might be called a “gently secular” way. The series is not religious, and it does include controversial topics such as evolution and the Big Bang. However, some of these more controversial units are included as optional material. If you are looking for a secular curriculum, therefore, Elemental Science is a good option.

Biology

The first course in the series (generally corresponding to fifth grade) is Biology for the Logic Stage. The course covers genetics, ecology, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and the human body. You will need to purchase the following texts:

• Biology for the Logic Stage Student Guide, Paige Hudson
• Biology for the Logic Stage Teacher’s Guide, Paige Hudson
• The Usborne Science Encyclopedia (2015 edition)
• The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia (2017 edition)

Earth Science & Astronomy

The second course in the series (generally corresponding to sixth grade) is Earth Science & Astronomy for the Logic Stage. Topics covered include space, the solar system, planet Earth, rocks, and weather. You will need to purchase the following texts:

• Earth Science & Astronomy for the Logic Stage Student Guide, Paige Hudson
• Earth Science & Astronomy for the Logic Stage Teacher’s Guide, Paige Hudson
• The Usborne Science Encyclopedia (2015 edition)
• The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia (2017 edition)

Chemistry

The third course in the series (generally taken in seventh grade) is Chemistry for the Logic Stage. Topics include the periodic table, chemical reactions, the chemistry of life, acids and bases, matter, solutions, and the chemistry of industry. You will need to purchase the following texts:

• Chemistry for the Logic Stage Student Guide – Second Edition, Paige Hudson
• Chemistry for the Logic Stage Teacher’s Guide – Second Edition, Paige Hudson
• The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science (2012 edition)
• The Usborne Science Encyclopedia (2015 edition)

Physics

The fourth course in the series (generally taken in eighth grade) is Physics for the Logic Stage. Topics covered include forces, motion, electricity, waves, thermodynamics, robotics, engineering, magnetism, and nuclear physics. You will need to purchase the following texts: 

• Physics for the Logic Stage Student Guide – Second Edition, Paige Hudson
• Physics for the Logic Stage Teacher’s Guide – Second Edition, Paige Hudson
• The Usborne Science Encyclopedia (2015 edition)
• The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science (2012 edition)
• Robotics, Kathy Ceceri

Experiment kits with the supplies for all of the experiments in each of these courses are also available at the Elemental Science website.

Conclusion

Fortunately for today’s secular homeschoolers, there are several excellent options for homeschool science curriculum that are thorough, rigorous, and engaging. For families who value flexibility and want a mix of virtual and print instruction, the Science Dimensions series is a fantastic option. If you are looking for an excellent and academically strong program that can be completed online, consider Calvert Homeschool’s science courses. And if you’re interested in using a classical, Charlotte Mason-style approach to teaching science, the Elemental Science series is a wonderful option. If you have older kids, check out our article Best Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum for High School. If you have a younger child, check out our article Best Secular Homeschool Science Curriculum for Elementary. If you have questions or would like more information on this topic, please email us!