Science Resources

Sometimes the best way to teach a subject is to lay some ground rules and then let students actually "do" what they're studying. This is especially true of science, a study predicated on activity, experimentation and the observation of physical properties. It's also one of the best ways to get kids interested in science in the first place.

If he hadn't stood atop the Tower of Pisa dropping things off the edge, Galileo would never have made his observation that objects of any weight fall at the same rate in a vacuum. Archimedes had to get in the tub to discover that it is volume that displaces water. And the only way Newton could discover calculus was by scribbling numbers on pieces of paper.

Your kid probably isn't the next Einstein, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't learn as much about science as possible, or that he should do so with his hands tied behind his back. The problem with a lot of science textbooks is that they emphasize book knowledge without taking into account the hands-on nature of science and science learning. Observation is often touted as an essential part of the science process, but rarely is it enforced in the typical school curriculum.

Science resources can change all that. There are plenty of fact-based books (particularly those from Usborne) that pair facts with vivid illustrations, and those are fun for rainy days—kids are a lot better at acquiring and retaining raw information than we often give them credit for. But those are just a place to start; the options are limitless.

One of the best sorts of science resource are books filled with experiments. Whether it's Explorabook from Klutz Press which focuses on fun activities and includes everything you need to complete them, or Vicki Cobb's Bet You Can! experiments using household items, or the more advanced Science for Every Kid books by Janice VanCleave, you aren't likely to run out of options.

Astronomy is more observation-oriented, and we offer plenty of books on that topic, too. The Stars by H.A. Rey is a now-classic guide to the night sky for beginners, while Starry Messenger explains some of the basic tenets of modern astronomy through the (detailed and beautifully illustrated) life of Galileo Galilei. Isaac Asimov has written a number of books on space science, as has Seymour Simon.

Just letting your kids outside with notebooks and maybe a magnifying glass is as good as any book for helping them develop a love of nature and nature study, though manuals to help them identify plants, animals, rocks, etc. is a good idea. One of our favorite such books is the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.

Keeping a well-stocked chemistry lab is a good idea for older students. Many experiments require chemicals, ingredients and equipment you aren't likely to just have lying around, so you'll need to be intentional about keeping a lot of those things stocked. Field trips are always a good idea as well, whether to a local laboratory, observatory, zoo, factory, or anywhere else that strikes your kids' fancy and has educational potential.

Whatever else you do, keep an open mind while guiding your kids' science education. The beauty of God's world and the excitement of learning about it should always be kept in view; whatever difficulty there is in physics, biology or chemistry should be met head on but not dwelt on or made cause for discouragement. Have fun, and don't restrict your science time to reading stuff—take time to actually do science, and you might find along with your children that it isn't such a bad thing to study after all.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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Biology
by Joan Distasio
from Instructional Fair
for 6th-9th grade
in Biology (Location: SCI-BIO)
$12.99 $8.50 (2 in stock)
Biology Level I - Laboratory Workbook (old)
Real Science-4-Kids
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for 5th-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (old editions) (Location: OSCI-RS4K)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Biology Middle/Upper Grades Reproducible Workbook
by Martha Schmitt
from McDonald
for 6th-9th grade
in Biology (Location: SCI-BIO)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Biology, Middle/High School (old)
by Joan Distasio
from Instructional Fair
for 6th-9th grade
in Biology (Location: SCI-BIO)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Body Book
by Donald M. Silver & Patricia J. Wynne
from Scholastic Inc.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$18.99 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Birds - Student Workbook
by Sarah Jo Davis & Kalee Miller
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$17.35
Book of Insects - Workbook
by Laura Bateman
1st edition from Memoria Press
for 4th-7th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$17.35 $11.50 (1 in stock)
Book of Trees - Student Guide
by Sean Brooks
from Memoria Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$17.35
Complete Book of Animals
from American Education Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Zoology (Location: SCI-ZOOL)
Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method
by Sally Kneidel
from Fulcrum Resources
Science Curriculum for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Discovering Atoms, Molecules, and Matter
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Chemistry (Location: SCI-CHEM)
Discovering Earth's Landforms and Surface Features
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 2nd-5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$9.00
Discovering the Human Body and Senses
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 3rd-8th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
DK Ultimate Night Sky Glow in the Dark Sticker Book
from DK Publishing
for Kindergarten-5th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Ecology Book - Study Guide & Workbook
from New Leaf Press
for 5th-10th grade
in Ecology (Location: SCI-ECO)
$3.99
Elementary Paleontology - Teacher Guide
from Master Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Master Books Science (Location: SCICUR-MB)
$39.19
Exploring Creation With Biology - Student Notebook
by Vicki Dincher
3rd edition from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 9th-12th grade
in Apologia Exploring Creation (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$35.20
Exploring Creation With Botany - Notebooking Journal
by Jeannie Fulbright
2nd edition from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Young Explorer (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$23.10
Exploring Creation With Zoology 1 - Notebooking Journal
Young Explorer Series
by Jeannie Fulbright
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Young Explorer (Location: SCICUR-AEM)
$23.10
Exploring Creation With Zoology 1 - Notebooking Journal (old)
Young Explorer Series
by Jeannie Fulbright
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for 3rd-6th grade
in Apologia Science (Old Versions only) (Location: OSCI-AEM)
$22.40
Exploring Planet Earth
Exploring Series
by John Hudson Tiner
from Master Books
for 5th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$11.99 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Exploring Planet Earth - Questions, Reviews, & Tests
by Cooper Boldrick
from Memoria Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$5.00
Exploring Planet Earth - Set
Exploring Series
by John Hudson Tiner
for 5th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
Exploring Planet Earth - Supplemental Student Questions
by Cooper Boldrick
from Memoria Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$6.00
Exploring Planet Earth - Teacher Key and Tests
by Cooper Boldrick
from Memoria Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$8.95 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World Around You
by Gary Parker
from Master Books
for 6th-10th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World of Astronomy - Supplemental Student Questions
by Cindy Davis
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$6.00 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World of Astronomy - Teacher Key & Tests
by Cindy Davis
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$8.95
Exploring the World of Biology - Supplemental Student Questions
by Cooper Boldrick
3rd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$6.00
Exploring the World of Biology - Supplemental Student Questions (old)
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World of Biology - Teacher Key and Tests
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$8.95
Exploring the World of Chemistry - Supplemental Student Questions
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$6.00
Exploring the World of Chemistry - Teacher Key & Tests
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$8.95
Exploring the World of Physics - Questions, Reviews, & Tests (old)
by Cooper Boldrick
from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$5.00 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Exploring the World of Physics - Supplemental Student Questions
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$6.00
Exploring the World of Physics - Teacher Key & Tests
by Cooper Boldrick
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$8.95
Focus On Elementary Astronomy - Laboratory Workbook
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Focus On Elementary Geology - Laboratory Notebook
by Rebecca W. Keller
3rd edition from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for Kindergarten-4th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Focus on High School Chemistry - Laboratory Workbook
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for 9th-12th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Focus On Middle School Chemistry - Laboratory Workbook
Real Science-4-Kids
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for 5th-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Focus On Middle School Geology - Laboratory Workbook
by Rebecca W. Keller
from Gravitas Publications, Inc.
for 5th-8th grade
in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
Hands-On Science Mysteries for Grades 3-6
by James Robert Taris, Louis James Taris
from Jossey-Bass
for 3rd-6th grade
in Science Experiments & Activities (Location: SCI-EXP)
$29.95
Human Body
by David Jeffries
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Intro to Forensic Science - Teacher's Guide
by Jennifer Hall Rivera EdD
from Master Books
for 11th-12th grade
in Espionage & Forensic Science (Location: SCI-CRIME)
$39.19
Kaplan Anatomy Coloring Book
by Eric Wise, Stephanie Mccann
7th edition from Kaplan
for 9th-Adult
in Anatomy Coloring Books (Location: SCI-ANACOL)
$24.99
Lyrical Life Science Volume 1 - Workbook
from Lyrical Learning
for 4th-8th grade
in Lyrical Learning Science (Location: SCICUR-LYR)
$3.50 (3 in stock)
Lyrical Life Science Volume 2 - Workbook
from Lyrical Learning
for 4th-8th grade
in Lyrical Learning Science (Location: SCICUR-LYR)
$3.50 (6 in stock)
Lyrical Life Science Volume 3 - Workbook
from Lyrical Learning
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lyrical Learning Science (Location: SCICUR-LYR)
$3.50 (3 in stock)
Mammals - Student Workbook
by Laura Bateman
1st edition from Memoria Press
for 3rd grade
in Memoria Press Science (Location: SCICUR-MP)
$16.75
Milliken: Electricity and Magnetism
by Edward P. Ortleb & Richard Cadice
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Electricity & Magnetism (Location: SCI-PHY)
Milliken: Exploring Space
by Edward P. Ortleb & Richard Cadice
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Space Race & Exploration (Location: HISA-20SPR)
Milliken: Geology - Rocks and Minerals
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Geology (Rocks & Minerals) (Location: SCI-GEO)
Milliken: Machines and Work
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in How Things Work (Location: SCIREF-HOW)
Milliken: Oceanography
by Edward P. Ortleb & Richard Cadice
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Oceanography & Marine Biology (Location: SCI-OCEAN)
Milliken: Solar System
by Edward P. Ortleb & Richard Cadice
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
Milliken: Weather
by Edward P. Ortleb & Richard Cadice
from Milliken Publishing
for 5th-9th grade
in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA)
My Body
by Patricia Carratello
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
for 2nd-6th grade
in Human Anatomy & Physiology (Location: SCI-ANA)
$7.99
Nature Notebooks
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 2nd-8th grade
$62.93
Notes on Birds 1
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Birds 2
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Common Animals
by Anna Botsford Comstock
2021 Printing from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Fishes
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Insects
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Plants and Flowers
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Notes on Trees
by Anna Botsford Comstock
from Living Book Press
for 3rd-Adult
$9.99
Peterson Field Guide Coloring Book: Forests
Peterson Field Guide Coloring Books
by John C. Kricher, Sara Bennett
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-6th grade
in Forests & Mountains (Location: SCI-FOREST)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Physical Science Middle/Upper Grades Reproducible Workbook
from McDonald
for 6th-9th grade
in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
PLP: Intro to Speleology & Paleontology - Package
by Dr. Emil Silvestru, Dr. Gary Parker
from Master Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Master Books Science (Location: SCICUR-MB)
PLP: Intro to Speleology & Paleontology - Parent Lesson Planner
by Dr. Emil Silvestru, Dr. Gary Parker
from Master Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$9.00
Protozoa: A Poseidon Adventure! - Complete Curriculum
by Ellen Johnston McHenry
from Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop
for 5th-10th grade
in Genetics & Microscopic Life (Location: SCI-GEN)
$17.50 (1 in stock)
Protozoa: A Poseidon Adventure! - Complete Curriculum (plus extra student booklet)
by Ellen Johnston McHenry
from Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop
for 5th-10th grade
in Genetics & Microscopic Life (Location: SCI-GEN)
$24.00 (1 in stock)
Science Vocabulary Crossword Puzzles Grades 4-6
by Noreen Conte
from Critical Thinking Books
for 4th-6th grade
in Critical Thinking Vocabulary (Location: VOC-CTP)
$12.00
Seasons & Living Things 1-3
Milliken Reproducible Book
by Edward Ortleb, Richard Cadice & Nancy Mcree
from Milliken Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in Meteorology (Weather & Climate) (Location: SCI-WEA)
Signs & Seasons: Field Journal and Test Manual
by Jay Ryan
from Fourth Day Press
for 5th-9th grade
in Astronomy (Space) (Location: SCI-AST)
Ultimate Dot-to-Dot Book
by Barbara Soloff Levy
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in Dot-to-Dot (Location: COL-D2D)
What's That Bird? - Student Book
by Ashley Gratto
from Memoria Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Old Edition Science (Location: OSCI)
$11.95
World of Light and Sound
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 2nd-5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
World of Plants
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 2nd-5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$9.00 $9.00 (2 in stock)
World of Space
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 2nd-5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Clearance: Science & Health (Location: ZCLE-SCI)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
World of Tools and Technology
Great Science Adventures
by Dinah Zike & Susan Simpson
from Common Sense Press
for 2nd-5th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
in Miscellaneous Science Curriculum (Location: SCICUR-MISC)