Different Science Curriculum for Four Kids? Yes, We Are.

I have promoted Family Learning on my blog quite a bit, and I still encourage and utilize Family Learning in our homeschool. But this year, we decided to go a different direction for my children's science curriculums {curricula?}.

Why? I was having a hard time teaching science to a 7th and 5th grader without going over my 2nd grader and Kindergartners heads. When I tried to teach it more simply, my two older kids were bored senseless. I tried adding some extra books for each child, on their level, but I found I was working just as hard to teach them all the same thing as I would be if I were teaching them all different things.

I am all for simple homeschooling but I don't want my older children to be slighted nor do I want my younger children to miss out on hands-on activities and fun learning.

So this year, I ordered all four of my children different science curriculum. Mikaela and Eli, who will be in 8th and 6th grade, will have a textbook-type science curriculum. I ordered them each a set from Master Books in the Wonders of Creation series. There are two textbooks and a Parent Lesson Planner in each set. They will work independently, three days a week, on their science. It counts as 1/2 credit, which is great for my 8th grader. Mikaela will be studying Oceanography and Ecology, and Eli will be studying the Weather and Astronomy. This series is for children in 7th - 9th grade, so the next year, they will swap books and I will order a new PLP for each of them {around $10}. Very cost effective!

Mercie will be in the 3rd grade, and she will be using Science Starters: Elementary Physical and Earth Science from Master Books. This is a 3-day a week program with fun experiments and demonstrations. It's geared for grades 3-6, so I am going to make it more simple for her by not making her do all of the worksheets and quizzes.

Silas has never had science, but he will be only be in 1st grade. I am going to use Winter Promise's The World Around Me with Silas. He will be learning basic science topics such as energy, force and water. This is a literature based program, which I love! Here are some of the books he will be using.

Do you homeschool science together? Separately? What curriculum are you using? Let me know in the comments!