Fully online science programs are great for kids and families for several reasons: from adaptive resources to needing homeschooled children to do independent work.
Online science curricula and resources are great resources for children with physical, social, or developmental disabilities. Traditional science experiments may focus on aspects that are an area of growth, causing them to focus on this rather than learning the science concept.
I’ve had to dive into this area to support my child, so we have tested and vetted the recommendations below. However, everyone’s experiences and needs will vary, so I have sorted the below into specific categories to help you find what you need.
List of Online Science Curricula and Supplemental Resources
For the sake of simplicity, here is a list of websites, curriculum purchases, supplemental resources, and more that I could find. It must be secular and online without physical experiments as additional requirements to get on this list.
I have defined this as appropriate for public school and genuinely secular. Public schools may opt to use what is known as a “neutral” curriculum: it doesn’t use religious teachings, but it doesn’t disagree with them either. A genuinely secular curriculum is not neutral and doesn’t leave out anything that might conflict with religious teachings.
- Elementary, Middle, High School, and University
- Must register to use teacher resources
- Supplemental, not a full guided curriculum
- Teacher tips, activities, and additional guidance is available if you sign up. Hint: add your local school and choose “parent” if your school is not available
- Middle and High School
- Must download a desktop app
- Supplemental resources, not a full guided curriculum
- Grades 3-12
- Registration is available for schools; homeschool can signup for a free trial and then use the apps for up to 5 minutes per day each.
- Middle and High School
- Courses available, supplements only available with course purchase
- High School and Beyond
- Yearly or monthly subscription available for anyone
- Not core curriculum aligned.
- Courses available, but not in the expected mode of terms and semesters
- High School and University
- Not available to homeschoolers through Labsters directly, but you can purchase it through the Homeschool Buyers Club
- Available as courses, supplemental not available unless you have purchased a course
- Preschool – High School
- Monthly or Yeary Plans available
- Labs are available, but not part of the grading structure. The program may be completed without labs.
- Full curriculum
- Elementary, Middle, and High School
- Monthly or Yearly Plans available
- No labs but also no interactions
- Supplemental to curriculum