SCIENCE CURRICULUM, Grades K-5

TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOKS
These curricula are the California state-adopted, standards-aligned programs. They are the easiest way to insure that your child is covering the state standards for their grade level. These curricula have components that address the needs of children with visual, auditory, and often kinesthetic learning styles.
GRADE
CURRICULUM

PUBLISHER
(Vendor)
COPYRIGHT
MEETS CA STANDARDS
K - 6 Houghton Mifflin California Science
CDE Ordering and Pricing		 Houghton Mifflin Company
2007
Yes
K - 6 California Science
CDE Ordering and Pricing
 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2008
Yes
K - 6 Macmillan/McGraw-Hill California Science
CDE Ordering and Pricing
e-Review (FREE online lesson resources: Computer read summaries, quizzes, vocabulary games, Science in Motion, eJournal web research and notetaking activities, and eGlossary).		 Macmillan Mcgraw-Hill School Division
2008

Yes
K - 6 Scott Foresman California Science
CDE Ordering and Pricing		 Pearson Curriculum Group / Scott Foresman
2008
Yes
K - 5 Full Option Science (FOSS), CA Edition
CDE Ordering and Pricing		 Delta Education, Inc.
2007
Yes
         
HOMESCHOOL FAVORITES
These curricula are often written by subject or needs-specific publishers, single item publishers, or by homeschooling families who know the needs of homeschoolers. The curricula are typically not aligned to the California state standards. They tend to be homeschool user-friendly in that more of the content is in the student edition and less in the teacher edition, there may be fewer teacher manuals, and tests with answer keys are often included in the curriculum package, not in a separate, teacher resource book.
K - 3 Real Science 4 Kids, Pre - Level 1
One semester (10-14 weeks) chemistry course for early elementary in fun-to-read textbook, understandable language, with hands-on experiements.
Pre-Level 1 Chemistry Set includes a student text, workbook, and teacher manual. Components can be purchased individually.
Home Science Tools: http://www.homesciencetools.com
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Gravitas Publications: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/
Rainbow Resource Center: http//:www.rainbowresource.com/
~Home Science Tools
~A Brighter Child
~Gravitas Publications
~Rainbow Resource Center
  
No
K - 8 Great Science Adventures
Created by Dinah Zike who also created the "foldables" program in which students manipulate paper to show their understanding of the content they are learning. . Great Science Adventures workbooks cover a wide range of topics. Students read the content from the program provided books that the students fold and make. Each lesson is followed by 1-3 hands-on activities. The parents and students are also directed to enrichment activities to further expand the lessons. Students show their understanding of the content using the various "foldable" activities.
To view each course table of contents and book pages, go to the item on the Rainbow Resource Center website, then click "view inside".
Discovering Atoms, Molecules, and Matter
Discovering Earth's Landforms and Surface Features
Discovering the Human Body and Senses
Discovering the Ocean
World of Insects and Arachnids
World of Light and Sound
World of Plants
World of Space
World of Tools and Technology
World of Vertebrates
Rainbow Resource Center: http://www.rainbowresource.com
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
 ~A Brighter Child
~Rainbow Resource Center		    
K - 12 Exploration Education
Year long physical science, project-based curriculum. Each level includes the text and all of the materials. A hands-on experiement is provided after each lesson.
Elementary Level (1 lesson each week), grades K-3
Table of Contents
Intermediate Level - Standard (3 lessons each week), grades 4-6
Table of Contents
Intermediate Level - Advanced (5 lessons each week), grades 7-12
Table of Contents
The California content standards include Earth Science and Life Science standards (as well as Physical Science) in each grade K-5. In 6th grade, the standards cover an entire grade of Earth Science, and in 7th grade, the standards cover an entire grade of Life Science.
Students in grades K-5 using this curriculum will need to supplement those grades with earth and life science content. In middle school, the Intermediate Level-Standard product would most align with the standards for 8th grade where an entire year of physical science is being covered. In high school, Earth Science is a year course. The Intermediate Level-Advanced course for physical science could be used as a supplement, but would not cover all of the standards for an Earth Science course. So it would be easier for the parent to use an Earth Science course, and use this product to supplement that course, rather than the other way around.

http://www.explorationeducation.com/		 Exploration Education    
1 - 4 R.E.A.L. Science (Pandia Press)
Read, Explore, Absorb, and Learn science in three disciplines:
Chemistry Level 1, Earth and Space Level 1, Life Level 1.
Each discipline book is intended to be used from start to finish much like a math book. Each student notebook page with the concepts is followed by 1-4 activities that build upon and reinforce what they learned. Websites and suggested library books, and journal suggestions are included to enrich the learning.
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Rainbow Resource Center: http://www.rainbowresource.com/		 ~A Brighter Child
~Rainbow Resource Center		    
4 - 6

Real Science 4 Kids, Level 1
Lessons are designed around the scientific method and investigations using household items. Level 1 consists of 3, 10-chapter books designed to provide one year of science: chemistry, biology, and physics doing 1 chapter each week. Level 1 "set" includes Teacher's Manual, 3 student texts (chemistry, biology, and physics), and 3 lab worksheet packs. Components can also be purchased individually. In the charter school, two books in one year, closer to two books would be the more adequate pacing.
Home Science Tools: http://www.homesciencetools.com
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Gravitas Publications: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/
Rainbow Resource Center: http//:www.rainbowresource.com/

 ~Home Science Tools
~A Brighter Child
~Gravitas Publications
~Rainbow Resource Center		  
No
         
HANDS-ON
Most programs today have a hands-on component to them. Items in this column are here because they have a "more than most" emphasis on being hands-on, which helps our kinesthetic learners. These materials are also often "homeschool favorites" because a hands-on emphasis engages and improves learning for most students.
K - 3 Real Science 4 Kids, Pre - Level 1
One semester (10-14 weeks) chemistry course for early elementary in fun-to-read textbook, understandable language, with hands-on experiements.
Pre-Level 1 Chemistry Set includes a student text, workbook, and teacher manual. Components can be purchased individually.
Home Science Tools: http://www.homesciencetools.com
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Gravitas Publications: http://www.gravitaspublications.com
Rainbow Resource Center: http//:www.rainbowresource.com/
~Home Science Tools
~A Brighter Child
~Gravitas Publications
~Rainbow Resource Center
  
No
K - 5 Full Option Science (FOSS), CA Edition
CDE Ordering and Pricing		 Delta Education, Inc.
2007
Yes
K - 12 Exploration Education
Year long physical science, project-based curriculum. Each level includes the text and all of the materials. A hands-on experiement is provided after each lesson.
Elementary Level (1 lesson each week), grades K-3
Table of Contents
Intermediate Level - Standard (3 lessons each week), grades 4-6
Table of Contents
Intermediate Level - Advanced (5 lessons each week), grades 7-12
Table of Contents
The California content standards include Earth Science and Life Science standards (as well as Physical Science) in each grade K-5. In 6th grade, the standards cover an entire grade of Earth Science, and in 7th grade, the standards cover an entire grade of Life Science.
Students in grades K-5 using this curriculum will need to supplement those grades with earth and life science content. In middle school, the Intermediate Level-Standard product would most align with the standards for 8th grade where an entire year of physical science is being covered. In high school, Earth Science is a year course. The Intermediate Level-Advanced course for physical science could be used as a supplement, but would not cover all of the standards for an Earth Science course. So it would be easier for the parent to use an Earth Science course, and use this product to supplement that course, rather than the other way around.

http://www.explorationeducation.com/		 Exploration Education    
1 - 4 R.E.A.L. Science (Pandia Press)
Read, Explore, Absorb, and Learn science.
Chemistry Level 1, Earth and Space Level 1, Life Level 1.
The book is intended to be used from start to finish much like a math book. Each student notebook page with the concepts is followed by 1-4 activities that build upon and reinforce what they learned. Websites and suggested library books, and journal suggestions are included to enrich the learning.
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Rainbow Resource Center: http//:www.rainbowresource.com/		 ~A Brighter Child
~Rainbow Resource Center		  
No
4 - 6

Real Science 4 Kids, Level 1
Lessons are designed around the scientific method and investigations using household items. Level 1 consists of 3, 10-chapter books designed to provide one year of science: chemistry, biology, and physics doing 1 chapter each week. Level 1 "set" includes Teacher's Manual, 3 student texts (chemistry, biology, and physics), and 3 lab worksheet packs. Components can also be purchased individually. In the charter school, two books in one year, closer to two books would be the more adequate pacing.
Home Science Tools: http://www.homesciencetools.com
A Brighter Child: http://www.abrighterchild.com/
Gravitas Publications: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/
Rainbow Resource Center: http//:www.rainbowresource.com/

 ~Home Science Tools
~A Brighter Child
~Gravitas Publications
~Rainbow Resource Center		  
No