DEEP DIVE: Best Homeschool Science Curriculum

Science is the study of how the world works—it should be the most exciting subject of all. So why do so many students find it boring?

Adam Savage, the former MythBusters host, diagnosed the disconnect in our most viral social media videos of all time:

"When we teach kids that science and math and engineering are all things to memorize, we're missing the point. These are unfettered landscapes of the untried and the untested."

In an analogy that Ed the Horse would love, Savage reminds us that we call math and science "fields of knowledge" because they're open-ended—ripe for curious minds to explore.

At OpenEd, we've watched thousands of families rebuild their relationship with science. This week's deep dive gathers the most-loved recommendations from our teachers and families—tested, hands-on programs organized by type and grade level, honest trade-offs, and high-quality free resources. 

Stop trying to replicate the traditional science classroom when you can do something better.

Read the full guide

PODCAST HIGHLIGHT: Why Your ADHD Kid "Won't Listen" 

Psychologist and education specialist Dr. Amy Moore joined Ela Richmond on the OpenEd podcast to unpack something that frustrates countless families: a child who seems to ignore you the moment you raise your voice. Turns out that's not a coincidence. It's not always defiance, either. Sometimes it's just neurology.

Dr. Moore explains that when we yell, our kids' brains literally can't hear us the way we think they can. There's something called "auditory exclusion" that kicks in during fight-or-flight.

What can you do instead? Lower your voice. Soften your posture. Remove the noise. Then invite problem-solving: "I notice this seems really hard for you. I wonder what we could do to make it easier."

Check out her LearningRx platform for 1-on-1 customized "brain training" for brains of all ages, too!

Listen to the full episode

Trends We're Following

Every Hour Costs Them - A new study tracking 5,400 kids from early childhood through grade six found that every additional hour of daily screen time was associated with a 9-10% lower likelihood of achieving higher test scores in reading and math. Of course, not all screen time is created equal. Doomscrolling isn't the same as focused work in an adaptive learning app or creating worlds in Minecraft. But the data is clear: quantity matters, and quality matters more. 

Curiosity Doesn't Die from Lack of Enrichment - Austin Scholar breaks down the real culprit behind dead-eyed teenagers lacking curiosity: it's parents who light up about report cards but yawn through explanations of how ant colonies work. Research shows curiosity drops dramatically around third grade (right when standardized testing kicks in). The steepest drops happen in households where parents frequently ask about grades and rarely ask about interests. 

Homeschooling Growth by State Since 2017 - @rebeleducator shares a visualization tracking homeschool growth state by state since 2017-2018. Judging by the color scheme, the chartmaker seems alarmed. Is your state in the "danger zone"?

Sound off in the comments

Teach Your Child, Not a Grade Level - From Simply Charlotte Mason: "It's very common for a child to be ready for, say, third-grade math skills while at the same time be working on second-grade or even first-grade reading skills. That's fine!" Grade levels persist not because they're good for kids but because they're efficient for institutions. Charlotte Mason understood this over a century ago: Kids don't develop like cogs on an assembly line. 

Tools We're Bookmarking

What Curricula Actually Work for ADHD and Autism Kids (Reddit r/homeschool) — A parent shares honest wins and losses: All About Reading and Math with Confidence get the stamp of approval, while Memoria Press moves too fast and Singapore Math stays too abstract. 

LearningRx — One-on-one brain training that targets the underlying cognitive skills affecting learning—not just tutoring that reteaches academic content. If your child struggles with attention, processing speed, or working memory, LearningRx offers customized programs delivered in-person or remotely. Featured expert Dr. Amy Moore (who talked with us this week about ADHD) understands how the brain works; LearningRx builds on that foundation with measurable cognitive skill development. 

The Homeschool Family Gift Guide 2025 (Home-Centered Learning) — Cassie Shepherd rounds up 16 categories of meaningful gifts that don't insult your intelligence or clutter your home with plastic junk. From Ninja Warrior obstacle courses for sensory seekers to high-quality art markers (the kind that won't dry out) for read-aloud time.

Boring TV for Children — A curated list from Withyweather Farm & School that asks: what if our kids watched things that demand attention without hijacking it?

• Beatrix Potter Animations — Beautiful, zero manipulation. Part of a curated list of "boring TV" for children—shows that demand attention without hijacking it. (Amazon)
• Roy Underhill's Woodwright's Shop — Watch craftsmanship happen slowly. Traditional woodworking that teaches patience and process. (PBS)
• David Macaulay's Architectural Histories — Learning built into stories about how structures work and why they matter. (JustWatch)
• My Neighbor Totoro — Magical animation without psychological manipulation or sugar-rushed pacing. (Plex)
• Irish Hands (YouTube Playlist) — More traditional craftspeople, filmed slowly and respectfully. A reminder that mastery takes time and that's okay. (YouTube)

Cold Emailing as a Superpower — Henrik Wes notices a pattern among the most successful teens: they get really good at cold emailing. Check out his post for a real example of what successful outreach to strangers looks like. This is already replacing the resume in some industries. (X @Henrik_wes)

State Capitals Song (@marblesthebrainstore YouTube) — OpenEd homeroom teacher Jacinda V. suggests a catchy YouTube song to teach the state capitols. If you're not afraid of earworms, this might be more fun than flashcards.

Ed's Stable

Did you know Ed is on Instagram (@OpenEDHQ)? While he may not be able to compete with top-tier influencer moms (yet), we're having fun testing what sticks. This week we've been playing with a chalkboard, a horse trailer, and a slightly unsettling horse mask to see what resonates.

ICYMI, follow us so you don’t miss out on any gems such as:

• Teach the CHILD not the grade level
• Your kid’s “weird” is their superpower

Or my personal favorite:

• Ed’s escape from detention

Stay tuned for more equine antics...