Science Units

We have close to a hundred science posts, if not more! So, I made this page to help you find some of the science resources, notebook pages, and hands-on activity ideas we have here on the blog. The table below organizes all of our science posts.  I hope it’s helpful! If you ever have any questions, feel free to drop me a line. Plus, if there’s a topic you need – feel free to reach out to me and I can try to add it to my to-do list!  liesl at homeschoolden dot com.   Don’t forget to subscribe to our Homeschool Den Newsletter! ~Liesl

Below the science unit chart, you’ll find a couple of quick videos including one about Homeschool Science in the Elementary and Middle School Years. It highlights some of the activities and experiments we’ve incorporated in our science units over the years.

How do we know what science units to cover from year to year? I created a Homeschool Science Unit Checklist for Elementary and Middle School that I think about as we move from unit to unit. I have a general goal of what I’d like for the kids to have covered K to 8, but we’re also flexible and go off on tangents when it’s warranted! It many of the units we hope to cover in elementary and middle school.

Science in the Elementary and Middle School Years – Free Homeschool Science Checklist

You can click on the link above to bring up the pdf. It is also located in Our Store (If you use this option, then you’ll be notified if there are any updates to this file).

$0.00 Free Science Unit Checklist for Elementary & Middle School – A list of science units our family hopes to cover in elementary and middle school

Below are some of the units we’ve covered in our homeschool.  Along the way, I’ve made lots of notebook pages for the kids and we’ve done tons of hands-on activities.

I hope you find some posts that help make science come alive for your family!! ~Liesl

PS-This page is always a work in progress!  You know how that goes! 🙂

Notebook Pages: Many of our packets have fill-in-the-blank student pages. You will find the full-text/answer pages immediately after the student pages. The answers are not highlighted because some families use the full-text versions (rather than the fill-in-the-blank pages).

Latest update, 2023: There are now a number of different BUNDLE options available for even better savings.

Here are where you can check out the various science packets we have available. You can also visit our store.

Earth Science Bundles

Big Animal Bundle, (for early elementary)

Biology Bundle of 7 (for late elementary and/or middle school)

the Nature Studies Bundle (for elementary)

Chemistry Bundle (for upper elementary, middle school, high school)

Human Body Bundle – Each year we go over one of the human body systems. We have covered topics such as the skeletal system, muscular system, digestive system, circulatory system, nervous system, endocrine system and more!

Scroll below or visit Our Store for more options.

Homeschool Science Supplies

A reader asked what types of supplies we used in our science units. These materials are listed in our packets (and there are photos and detailed explanations of what we did in the packets themselves), but if you’d like to see the kinds of supplies we used you can visit this Science Supply Page.

Here are our most recent science bundles and packets packets…

Earth Science BUNDLES!

There are two different Earth Science Bundles (units are also sold separately).

These packets can be purchased together or separately: Earth Science Packet (150+ pages), Layers of the Atmosphere Packet (50+ pages), Where I Live Activities: My galaxy, solar system, planet, continent, country, state, town and home!

We also have a Human Body BUNDLE

These can be purchased individually or in the Human Body BUNDLE that includes these packets:

• Cell Packet
• Human Body Systems
• Skeletal System Packet
• Digestive System Packet
• Circulatory System Packet
• Nervous System
• Muscular System
• Endocrine System

If you have younger kids, you might be interested in the Five Senses Unit. It includes a lot of fun hands-on activities about hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch.

The various Animal Units have been put into a Big Animal BUNDLE

One Mum from the UK said: We got the animal bundle a few weeks back. An AMAZING resource! Perfect for a combined geography project. Especially love how you can adapt these packs to suit your learning style.

Quick Previews (These can be purchased separately or in the Big Animal Bundle.)

• Animal Packet
• World Animal Packet
• Rainforest Packet
• Life Cycle Packet
• Winter Packet and Hibernation Unit
• Plus, there are mini-units on Wolves, Cicadas and Chameleons

More details (and to purchase these packets individually or in the bundle) visit this Animal BUNDLE post:

There is a Biology BUNDLE of 5. Again, these units can be sold together or separately.

Biology BUNDLE of 5: 1) Biology Unit (Biomes, habitats, food chains/webs, feeding relationships) 2)  Scientific Classification & Taxonomy Packet 3) Ocean Unit & Layers of the Ocean/Ocean Zone Activities 4) Botany Unit 5) Scientific Classification & Taxonomy

And we also have a Chemistry BUNDLE:

There are a lot of fun, hands-on activities in the Electricity and Circuits Unit!

If your kids are in middle school or early high school, you may want to do some Physics with them.  We spent time (over the course of a couple of years) doing this Energy Unit. The kids learned about Energy, the Carbon Cycle, Renewable & Non-renewable Energy, Fossil Fuels and more:

Here are just a few more pictures of some of our Science Units:

Earth Science Packet

Layers of the Atmosphere Packet

Rocks and Mineral Unit

Magnetism Unit on Magnetic Fields, the Magnetosphere and Animal Migration

This unit can be bundled with the Earth Science materials for even better value! See Our Store for the bundle options!

Hibernation Unit My daughter did a unit on hibernation this past January.  (This mini-unit was added to the Winter Packet.)

With the new hibernation unit, the Winter Packet is now about 100 pages. 

Scientific Classification and Taxonomy: This past fall, we did an in-depth study of scientific classification and taxonomy  (You know, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, etc!)

We spent a lot of time really learning about difference in structure and form among the phyla… what is the difference between platyhelminthes and annelids, for example! My kids can tell you! We also did some simple dissection at the end of the unit.  (If you have younger kids, you would probably be better off to start with the Animal Unit which touches on classification, but goes over broader differences between vertebrates and invertebrates, which animals have feather/fur/skin; insects vs. spiders; domesticated vs. wild animals; animal tongues; animal homes, etc. )

I suggest that you use this Scientific Classification packet with middle school+. The Animal Unit is better with younger (elementary) students and we did that unit a few years before we did this one, although this unit does have a simplified Animal Classification Activity included. 🙂

For younger kids, I suggest the Animal Unit: vertebrates and invertebrates, which animals have feather/fur/skin; insects vs. spiders; basic animal classification, herbivores vs. carnivores, domesticated vs. wild animals; animal tongues; animal homes, and a fun mini-unit on nocturnal animals.

 

We did a unit on Chemistry, going into more detail about the Periodic Table, ionic & covalent bonds, Bohr Diagrams, Lewis Diagrams and more!

The kids really liked working with the chemistry cards and said those really helped them understand electron structure! The cards are included in the packet as is the interactive notebook activity, worksheets, and pictures/instructions with the hands-on activities we did. (Suggested ages: middle school+  — My kids were 10, 12 & 14 when we did this unit).

If your kids are a bit younger, then they might enjoy these chemistry units:

States of Matter Unit

The Electricity and Circuits Unit is really fun and includes a lot of  hands-on activities!

and our Physical & Chemical Properties of Matter Packet:

This year, we also studied the Digestive System again, so that packet also got a huge update (last year we studied the Circulatory System). We spent a lot of time talking about the parts of the small and large intestine as well as the organs such as the liver, gall bladder, pancreas and their role in the digestive process. Not only did I add new notebook pages and interactive notebook pages… but I also added in an entire section on Nutrition – we spent time learning about the role fiber plays in your diet and also learned about some of the important vitamins we need.

Recently, my girls did a units on the skeletal system (AGAIN!!) and on the muscular system:

A couple of years ago, we did a pretty in-depth study of the Rainforest – Rainforest Unit (I added new material to this packet, so it’s now about 75 pages.)

A couple of years ago, my youngest spent time learning about Life Cycles again.  I also made a new Life Cycle Packet — which helps kids become familiar with the different stages in the life cycles of the chicken, sea turtle, frog, mosquito, butterfly, dragonfly, bee, mouse, and ladybug. There are cut-and-paste activities, writing paper, a game, make-a-spinner activities and more.

Five Senses Packet – I finally updated and added to the Five Senses Packet! It is now nearly 100 pages and includes all kinds of hands-on activity ideas, a lapbook, booklest, sorting cards, worksheets and more.

Water Cycle Packet

Then you could go on to talk about Clouds, Winds & Weather and/or Natural Disasters

Simple Machines Unit

Trash & Recycling Unit

One spring around Earth Day, we did an environomental studies unit on trash and recycling. We talked about landfills, what can be recycled (and what the numbers mean on plastic), plastic and the environment and more!

Botany Unit: Parts of a Seed, Parts of a Plant, Plant Kingdom Packet

Note: The links on this page take you directly to the blog posts, so you can read more about our hands-on activities and see more pictures of the what is included in the packets.  If you are interested in purchasing our packets you can also visit Our Store as well.   Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! ~Liesl

P.S. Someone asked me for a printable list of our Science Packets and Bundles. It also includes a list of some of the free resources we have here on the blog. Here’s a pdf you can download and print out. It’s now a bit out of date (it’s on my to-do list again!!), but here’s what I had shared with her:

FREE pdf: Science Resources on the Homeschool Den

I’ve updated this post (above) quite a bit, but below there are some links that I didn’t mention above so I’ll leave this section in! 🙂

Remember, you can see a list of all our science, history, geography, spelling, writing packets, and other units at Our Store.

~Liesl

Our Homeschool Science Units

Earth Science Activities	Earth Science Activities 100+ Page Earth Science Packet – Pangaea, Plate Tectonics, Plate Movement Activities, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, hands-on activity ideas and more This packet includes lots of hands-on activities, lapbook/interactive notebook pieces, notebook pages (with teacher answer pages) and more! It’s actually well over 100 pages, though I haven’t changed the collage below. 🙂 Earth’s 4 Main Systems (Ecospheres) – Biosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere These are free notebook pages about Earth’s major systems. This makes a good introduction to any major study of Earth Science, the atmosphere, biosphere (habitats, biomes etc.) or oceans. Earth Science: Plate Movement Hands-On Activities Earth’s Geologic Timeline – Earth’s history separated by eons in a way the kids could really understand Earth Science – Layers of the Earth Activity Learning about Latitude and Longitude, Using a Compass Earth Science: Plate Movement Hands-On Activities Free Earth Science Packet: Layers of the Atmosphere Learning about the Solar System – Including the hands-on kit the kids loved assembling and painting. Earth Science: Timeline of Earth Activity – A Montessori activity that is meant to impress kids with the enormity of time on Earth. Tissue Paper Volcano – Create a 3-D volcano image. The kids LOVED this craft Hands-On Volcano Activities: Gelatin Volcan0 & Paper Mache Volcano – We learned SO much from the gelatin volcano activity. I highly recommend doing this for understanding how lava flows as it does. How to Make a Shake Table: Earth Science Earthquake Activity – This post includes a quick video of how we made our shake table. Earth Science: Layers of the Atmosphere Worksheets Earth Science Activities: Earthquakes, Plate Movement and Mountain Making
Simple Machines	Simple Machines Simple Machines Packet (About 30 pages) Simple Machines Unit: Hands-On Activities on Levers wedges screws (including the Archimedes screw) pulleys – probably the kids’ favorite day! wheel and axel
Physics Unit	Physics Unit: We did a Physics Unit a number of years ago (when the kids were 8, 6, 4). This post has some of our hands-on physics activities after we had learned about Newton and read through our physics textbooks.
Rocks and Minerals Unit	Rocks and Minerals Unit Rocks and Minerals Packet – I made this packet for the kids when they were PreK and early elementary Three Types of Rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rock Packet – plus some of our hands-on activities The kids loved these activities because they involved chocolate!! Igneous Rock Activities Sedimentary Rock Activities Sedimentary Rock Activity (much older post, using sand) Metamorphic Rock Activities Metamorphic Rock Activity (another older post, where we took “core samples,” excavated and examined this baked rock — a cupcake!) Minerals: Our Hands-On Activities and Seeing the BIGGEST Diamond in the World Earth-Space Science: Topographic Maps
Cell Unit	Cell Unit Cell Unit: Cell Organelles and their Function, Animal vs. Plant Cells, Eurkaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cells, and more – the kids learned about the major organelles of the cell and we did some really fun projects
Human Body Systems	Human Body Systems After our unit on cells, we talked about the Cells of the human body as well as tissues, organs and the major body systems
Digestive System	Digestive System Digestive System Unit: We had such fun with this unit. We did hands on activities to see how the digestive tract works (how nutrients pass through), made “fake”vomit, measured out the length of the digestive system and more! We broke this unit into three sections: Mouth – Digestive System — It All Starts in the Mouth! Swallowing, How the epiglottis works Choking! An Important Lesson for the Kids… The Digestive Tract – Hands On Activity: How Long is the Digestive Tract? Digestive System: Hands-On Activities – Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestines
Skeletal System	Skeletal System We did a unit on the Skeletal System – We studied the bones of the body when the kids were younger (see our preschool science posts), but this time we talked not only about the different bones of the body, but also their function, how they grow and repair themselves, how the skeletal system is divided (axial, appendicular), joints and more.
Circulatory System	Circulatory System
Chemistry Unit	Chemistry Unit States of Matter Unit Changes in States of Matter: Sublimation and Deposition Activities with Dry Ice! States of Matter: Hands-On Activities about Liquids States of Matter: Hands-On Activities about Gases Physical Properties of Matter – Chemical Properties of Matter 45+ Page Packet (Middle School Chemistry Unit) We followed up our States of Matter Unit, with a study of the physical and chemical properties of matter which was geared more for my 11 and 13 year olds.  In this unit, we went into a lot detail about density and did a number of hands-on activities to determine the density of different materials. My older kids did a study of the periodic table: Chemistry Unit: Periodic Table Bohr Diagram Worksheets — Free Notebook Pages While my younger daughter used Real Science-4-Kids Chemistry pre-Level I (affiliate link) and did a lot of science experiments to go along with that. Chemistry Experiments for Kids (Grade 2) – Matter is Neither Created Nor Destroyed — Acids and Bases – Free Chemistry Experiment Printable Packet Chemistry Experiments for Kids (Grade 2) – Mixtures, Chromatography, DNA Kit – Free Chemistry Experiment Printable Packet We all enjoyed the IMAX film, Molecules to the Max which is out on DVD (see more about it at this post) Here are some of our other chemistry posts (from when we studied chemistry a couple of years ago): Chemistry Unit: The Size of Atoms – States of Matter: Solid, Liquid, Gas — Learning Activities Chemistry: Molecule Movement Experiment and Chemistry Review Worksheet These notebook pages are free. Science Experiments: Water Molecule Attraction Building Molecules Chemistry Activity This also has some free notebook pages about building molecules: Explosion of Colors in Milk Experiment and Other Chemistry Fun! Free Science Experiment Packet (for ages 3-7 or so) – Free Printable 3 More Fun Experiments for Kids -Free Printable Chemistry Unit – A Study of the Periodic Table Topics include electrons/protons/neutrons, covalent & ionic bonds, metals/non-metals, ions & isotopes, and more.
Biosphere (Biology) Unit Vertebrates and Invertebrates Biomes Animal Habitats Feeding Relationships Biological Interactions	Biosphere (Biology) Unit Animal Unit: Characteristics of the Animal Groups – 5 Vertebrate Groups, Common Invertebrates, Domesticated vs. Wild Animals, Animal Tracks and more! Biosphere: Biomes, Animal Habitats, Ecosystems, Food chains, food webs and the energy pyramid, animal relationships (symbiosis, mutualism, etc.) Biology Posts from when the kids were younger (4-6) Vertebrate-Invertebrate Unit (PreK – K) Preschool Montessori: Vertebrate and Invertebrate Study and Free Cards Working with Mealworms — This was a series of activities we did when the kids were little! There’s a free Mealworm Activity Sheet. We also studied Earthworms: Hands-On Invertebrate Fun! Part I – Earthworms and the earthworm life cycle And Planaria (a type of flatworm): Hands-On Invertebrate Fun! Part II – Planarian – which you can order to study at home.  They are easy to care for and are fascinating to study because they regenerate.Life Cycles Unit
Earth’s 4 Systems Layers of the Atmosphere	Earth’s 4 Systems Earth’s 4 Major Systems (Free): Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Earth Science Packet on the Layers of the Atmosphere
Ocean Unit	Ocean Unit (ie. the hydrosphere)   Ocean Zones — Layers of the OceanOcean and Whale Unit (the kids were in PreK and early elementary for this unit): Ocean Unit Freebies for PreK-K Ocean Activities: The Ocean Zones Ocean Activities – diorama Ocean Animals and their Groups Whale Unit (and the Arctic) — Icebergs, Blubber experiment, Buoyancy and more Whale Unit – Migration, Echolocation, Baleen vs. Toothed Whales Whale Unit – How salt water affect buoyancy – Drawing whales and dolphins
Weather and Water	Weather and Water Water Unit: Free Worksheets on Water and Free Water Usage Page Free Water and Water Cycle Resources (Really nice free water cycle posters we used for this unit): Water Cycle Review Sheets, Worksheets on Divides, Watersheds, Aquifers, and Ocean Drainage Weather Packet Weather Unit: Experiments about Air Natural Disasters
Plants Unit	Plants Unit Botany Packet (This is a growing packet… we’ll be going into more detail about ferns, moss, and so forth next year). FREE Photosynthesis Worksheets Plants of the Rain Forest Activity: with Free Rain Forest Plant Cards Rainforest Unit Plant Activities: Symmetry, Vascular-NonVascular Plants Preschool Science: Plants Garden Science: Studying Plants: monocot and dicots, plant roots, and the age of trees Trace Your Hamburger Back to Plants (PreK-K Activity) Carnivorous Plants Lapbook Summer Activities: Sun-Sensitive Nature Pictures Above Ground, Below Ground PreK – K Activity (Free Printable)
Astronomy Unit	Astronomy Unit We talked about the solar system and geologic time recently, but many of our activities were from when the kids were younger (ie. PreK and early elementary) Here is an astronomy packet I shared on the blog for younger kids: Planets of the Solar System And here are some for Middle School Students: Astronomy Worksheets for Middle School Learning about the Solar System (Hands-On Kit the Kids Loved) Free Planet Worksheets – Facts about Pluto Earth Science: Timeline of Earth Activity – A Montessori activity that is meant to impress kids with the enormity of time on Earth. Earth’s Geologic Timeline  – How scientists divide Earth’s history into eons and eras Earth Science Unit — Gravity Earth Science — Gravity: the planets, moon and space Astronomy Unit: Refraction, Vacuum, Saturn’s Rings Astronomy Unit: Inner and Outer Planets, The Asteroid Belt Astronomy Unit: The Moon (Day 1) Astronomy Unit: The Moon (Day 2) Phases of the Moon Activity: Homemade Oreo Cookie Recipe (Yum!!)
STEM Electricity and Circuits Engineering Activities	Engineering Activities Electricity and Circuits Unit STEM! Paper Circuits (and More!) Electricity Unit: Atoms, Electrons and More! (Hands-On Activities) We made an art bot as the final project in our Electricity and Circuits Unit! More Engineering and STEM posts: Engineering Activities for Kids 7 Fun STEM Activities for Kids Free Engineering Curriculum for Kids grades 3 to 8 — This was actually from 2014, but it still gets so many hits, I’ll share here anyway. 🙂 Make your own Marble Maze; Make Your Own Flashlight
Dinosaurs	Dinosaurs Dinosaur Lapbook: ED did a unit on dinosaurs last spring and made her own Dinosaur Lapbook. I expanded the packet to include activities for younger kids too because I know my kids all loved dinosaurs around the age of 3 or 4. 🙂 You can check out the Dinosaur Packet here. Dinosaur Body Structure Activity — Marshmallows, Straws and Skewers Measuring Dinosaurs Activity Dinosaur Fossils Impression Activity PreK: Dinosaur Activities Feathered Dinosaurs Huge Dinosaur Activity: Trash-o-saurus Measuring 9 feet by 4 feet!

We did do a Physics Unit early on (the post there has some of our hands-on activities!). Update: in the middle school/early high school years we went on to do units on Energy, the Carbon Cycle, Fossil Fuels and so forth.

Homeschool Den Video Post: Science in the Elementary and Middle School Years

This is a video post about Homeschool Science in the Elementary and Middle School Years. It highlights some of the activities and experiments we’ve incorporated in our science units over the years.

Homeschool Den Video Post: Science in Early Elementary

How do I start teaching science to my kids?  This is a very different answer if your kids are K-2 than if they are a bit older.  Here are some of the science topics you might want to consider if your kids are in early elementary. I put together a video of some of the activities we did when the kids were in early elementary.

Homeschool Science in Early Elementary

One last video for you: Simple Machines

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Happy Homeschooling!

~Liesl

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